This Brain Procedure Could Save Your Life- Learn More On World Stroke Thrombectomy Day

Every two seconds, someone around the globe suffers a stroke, a
serious medical event that can drastically alter lives. By the end of
this year, more than seven million will have lost their lives, and
millions more will experience long-term disabilities that may affect
their mobility, speech, and overall quality of life. A thrombectomy, a
minimally invasive procedure to remove blood clots from the brain, can
change that.(It can save your life, but with no followup interventions that address the 5 causes of the neuronal cascade of death in the first week! you will lose additional hundreds of millions to billions of neurons. THAT IS PURE INCOMPETENCE ON YOUR STROKE MEDICAL ‘PROFESSIONALS’ PART! Why haven’t they been fired yet?)

May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and it is vital that we shine
a spotlight on this escalating public health crisis. Today—World Stroke Thrombectomy Day—serves
as a critical reminder that strokes are not only preventable but also
treatable, and in many instances, beatable. A stroke is not merely a
personal tragedy; it is a global emergency that demands our attention.
The emotional toll is staggering, the impact on families is
immeasurable, and the economic burden stands at an estimated $890
billion annually, projected to soar to $1.6 trillion by 2050 if no action is taken.

Who Should Get Thrombectomy For Stroke

Preventing strokes through controlling blood pressure, diabetes, and
tobacco use could cut their burden in half. A stroke is a medical
emergency characterized by a sudden disruption of blood flow to the
brain, often caused by a blood clot blocking a large artery. This type
of stroke is referred to as a large vessel occlusion stroke, and it is
one of the most deadly and debilitating forms of stroke. Every minute
without treatment results in the loss of millions of brain cells and
without treatment, could lead to death. Remembering the BE FAST mnemonic
is a straightforward way to identify a stroke and save someone’s life:

• Balance problem: Loss of balance, headache, or dizziness
• Eyes: Blurred vision, loss of vision or visual field
• Face drooping
• Arm weakness: This could be arm or leg weakness
• Speech difficulty: Slurred speech, difficulty getting the right words out
• Time to call emergency services

It is advisable to call 911 for emergency services rather than using a
personal vehicle to get to the hospital. Once at the hospital, medical
staff will examine the patient, conduct laboratory tests, and perform
brain scans. One of these scans will focus on the blood vessels in the
brain to check for a large vessel occlusion. If an LVO is identified,
the patient may be eligible for mechanical thrombectomy. This treatment
offers the potential for full recovery, provided it is administered in a
timely manner.

During my neurology residency, thrombectomy was not yet a viable
treatment option for patients suffering from strokes. It is incredibly
fulfilling to now have the ability to provide this life-changing
procedure to my patients. Each time a clot is removed from a patient’s
brain, we are restoring not just their physical health, but reopening a
door that had seemingly closed, offering patients and their families
renewed opportunity for a brighter future filled with restored
capabilities. Being part of this change reaffirms my commitment to
advancing stroke care.

Access To Thrombectomy

Although this remarkable technology has the potential to save lives
and significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients, the harsh
reality is that the vast majority of individuals around the world lack
access to such advancements. Addressing barriers to access—such as
economic factors, healthcare infrastructure, and education about stroke
symptoms and treatments—is critical. Taking proactive steps to improve
accessibility to this life-saving technology can play a vital role in
reducing the overall impact of strokes on individuals, families, and
societies.

“Stroke is one of the few major diseases with a potential cure—yet it
remains overlooked and underfunded,” says Dr. Fawaz Al-Mufti, chair of
the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology’s Mission
Thrombectomy and my colleague at WMCHealth Network. “It’s a silent
pandemic that kills more people annually than COVID-19 did in its first
three years combined,” adds Dr. Al-Mufti.