Quick Stroke Treatment Can Save Lives

If you’re having a stroke, it’s critical to get medical attention right away. Immediate treatment may minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and prevent death. Thanks to recent advances, stroke treatments and survival rates have improved greatly over the last few decades.

Medical Therapies

A stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks or ruptures a blood vessel in the brain. A stroke caused by a clot is called an ischemic stroke, making up about 87% of all strokes in the United States.

Alteplase (also known as tissue plasminogen activator) and tenecteplase (also known as TNK) are FDA-approved drug treatments for ischemic strokes. Alteplase and tenecteplase work by dissolving the clot and improving blood flow to the part of the brain being deprived of blood flow. If administered within 4.5 hours alteplase or tenecteplase may improve the changes of recovering from a stroke.

Other Stroke Treatment Options

An endovascular procedure removes the clot by sending a catheter to the site of the blocked blood vessel in the brain. Patients must meet certain criteria to be eligible.

Sometimes these procedures involve administering tPA directly into the blood clot (called intra-arterial treatment) to help dissolve the blockage. In other procedures, the doctor may attempt to remove the clot. Research is ongoing to determine the best clinical protocols for endovascular procedures.