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ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE

Learn about the condition and treatment options.
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WHAT IS A STROKE?

A stroke or a “brain attack” is a sudden interruption in the brain's blood supply. When the blood supply is interrupted, your brain no longer gets the oxygen and nutrients it needs, therefore causing brain cells to die by the minute.1

An Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) occurs when a vessel supplying blood to the brain is blocked. Ischemic strokes account for about 87% of all strokes.2

WHAT ARE STROKE SYMPTOMS?

Stroke is an emergency. It’s imperative to know the symptoms. 

Use the letters in “F.A.S.T.” to spot stroke signs and know when to call 9-1-1.

FACE Drooping: 

Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven or lopsided?

ARM Weakness: 

Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

SPEECH: 

Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.

TIME to Call 9-1-1: 

If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.

FAST Stroke Symptoms Image

HOW IS STROKE TREATED?

There are several ways Acute Ischemic Stroke can be treated:

MEDICAL MANAGEMENT WITH IV T-PA

  • Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV t-PA) is a clot busting drug.3 
  • Patients must be indicated for the drug and have the drug administered within the time window of 0-3 hours from symptom onset per IV t-PA indications for use. 3

MECHANICAL THROMBECTOMY WITH A STENT RETRIEVER

  • This minimally-invasive procedure uses a stent retriever device to remove the blood clots in the brain in order to restore blood flow.
  • During the procedure, a catheter is introduced into an artery at the groin and guided up through the neck until it reaches the blood clot causing the stroke.
  • Using X-Ray guided imaging, a stent retriever is inserted into the catheter. The stent retriever crosses past the clot then expands to retrieve the clot and restore blood flow. The stent retriever is then removed along with the clot.  
  • Mechanical Thrombectomy can be performed in combination with IV-tPA.
    • Mechanical thrombectomy can also be considered if the patient fails IV-tPA or is ineligible for IV t-PA,
1

About Stroke. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke

2

Ischemic Strokes (Clots). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/types-of-stroke/ischemic-stroke-clots

3

Mozaffarian D, et al. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2017 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2017;135:e119-361