URGENT TREATMENT TO AVOID SEQUELAS
OF A STROKE

Did you know…

• That stroke is the third cause of death in the US and according to The National Stroke Association of 500 000 Americans who annually suffer from stroke, 150 000 died immediately or a few days after and the lives of   350 000 survivors are affected.

• 10 of every 100 patients who survive a stroke will resume their normal life style completely. 40 will live with an impediment, another 40 will have a severe impediment and the rest will need special care in a specialized institution.

• There is a procedure which uses the latest technology to combat these complications of stroke, called fibrinolysis. This permits the clot to dissolve and resume the blood flow into the brain, inhibiting further damage and tissue loss.
  
  

What is a stroke?

A stroke is a lesion caused by the interruption of oxygenated blood flow into a certain part of the brain. A stroke or "brain attack" occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery, or blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain.  When either of these things happen, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs.

When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain are lost.  These abilities include speech, movement and memory.  How a stroke patient is affected depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged.

For example, someone who has a small stroke may experience only minor problems such as weakness of an arm or leg.  People who have larger strokes may be paralyzed on one side or lose their ability to speak.  Some people recover completely from strokes, but more than 2/3 of survivors will have some type of disability.

What risk factors are associated with stroke?

There are two types of risk factors: controllable and non controllable. Each person has its own risk factors.

1. - Controllable

50 % percent of strokes can be avoided with preventive with medical attention and life style changes. i.e.

• High blood pressure 
• High blood cholesterol  and obesity
• Heart  Rate disorders
• Cigarette smoking 
• Alcohol abuse 
• Drug abuse
• Chronic use of oral contraceptives
• Dehydration

2. - Non controllable

Although we can not change these risk factors, we can reduce the total impact by changing the controllable ones.

• Age
• Sex
• Family history
• Previous strokes
• Herat disease
• Diabetes

What are the main symptoms of stroke?

These appear in a sudden way and we must be prepared to recognize them right away

• Sudden weakness or numbness of face, arms, legs or half body
• Blurry vision or difficulty  to see
• Difficulty speaking or understanding if spoken to
• Inability to walk, loss of equilibrium, dizziness
• Sudden intense headache, unexplained or a change in the usual characteristics of the headache.

What is fibrinolysis ?

Fibrinolysis is a highly sophisticated procedure that allows a micro catheter, introduced inside the artery, at the groin region, to reach the brain area affected by a clot.

Once there, a substance is injected dissolving the clot and restoring the blood flow to the obstructed area, avoiding further damage on it.
The complete procedure requires training and skills, besides of a whole team of specialized physicians and digital x Ray equipment of the highest quality and technology.

Diagnostic Angiography shows complete obstruction of the Left Middle Cerebral Artery

Control Post Fibrinolysis shows opening of the left Middle Cerebral Art.