At St. Vincent's, we operate one of the most advanced and comprehensive stroke centers in the area. Our stroke center team includes physicians and nurses from the disciplines of emergency medicine, radiology, vascular and neurosurgery, physical rehabilitation, neurology, and intensive care, all working together to provide a full range of technologically advanced diagnostic and treatment services for stroke patients. Team members ensure that a patient's care is coordinated, starting with specially trained emergency room staff who rapidly identify stroke patients and determine the most appropriate course of treatment.
As a New York State Department of Health designated Stroke Center, we meet the required standards of care for treating stroke victims, and then we surpass those standards by offering advanced therapies that extend the time in which treatment is most effective. Treatments Directed by Albert Favate, M.D., our stroke team rapidly evaluates and directs treatment for all stroke patients. According to the National Institute of Health's (NIH) guidelines for acute ischemic stroke, there is a "golden hour" where quick diagnosis and treatment are critical to saving the patient's life. Dr. Favate and other stroke specialists are aiming to put a stop to the deadly and disabling effects of stroke by offering state-of-the-art care during this "golden hour." Some patients benefit from a clot-dissolving therapy that is administered within three hours of the onset of stroke; however, not all patients are eligible for this treatment, so we employ advanced endovascular techniques that are unavailable at many other hospitals.
Remember, time lost is brain lost! If you or someone you know shows signs of stroke, dial 9-1-1 or come to St. Vincent's Emergency Department immediately.
Advanced Therapies Our stroke center offers advanced therapies for stroke care, including minimally invasive approaches. Our specially trained interventional neuroradiologists are able to make small incisions to locate blood clots and eliminate them. Our physicians use the Merci Retriever, a tool that can be used to prevent the onset of paralysis and brain damage after the onset of a stroke. This technology means that stroke patients can have blood clots removed and recover more quickly than ever before.
The Penumbra System -- Extending the Time Window to Treat Stroke To extend the time window available to treat patients suffering from acute ischemic stroke, our interventional radiologists also use the Penumbra System. Designed by an interventional radiologist, this system has recently been FDA approved for safety and efficacy. It is a package of tools used by neurointerventional specialists to remove clots from the large vessels of the brain that are causing an acute ischemic stroke. It is an improvement over some prior technologies as it eliminates the need for navigation through or beyond the clot. The first component of the system is a clot debulking and aspiration platform that allows soft clots to be gently vacuumed out of the vessel. The second component includes a Thrombus Removal Ring that allows hard clots, such as from the heart, to be captured and removed without the need to cross through the clot. The Penumbra System is a major breakthrough in the treatment of stroke and offers hope to patients who arrive at the hosptial beyond the three hour time limit when clot busting drugs are effective or who for other reasons are not eligible for the drugs. This new endovascular devise system has the potential for allowing safe revascularization of the occluded vessels and restoratin of brain blood flow in acute ischemic stroke for up to eight hours after symptom onset. The availability of a safe mechanical devise that can facilitate cerebral revascularization without having to use thrombotic drugs is a major step forward in the treatment of acute stroke.
Stroke Unit We have created a stroke unit to provide continuous monitored care for patients who require hospitalization. Our specially trained nursing staff, under the management of Margaret Walchak, R.N., provides expert care. They work together to reduce stroke related complications. Patients also receive comprehensive physical therapy rehabilitation from the first day of hospitalization, to ensure that they achieve the best possible functional outcome upon discharge.
Warning Signs of Stroke Stroke symptoms appear suddenly and can include any of the following: • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding; • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination: • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
The Penumbra System -- Extending the Time Window to Treat Stroke
