Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - Syracuse’s Upstate University Hospital is one of the first institutions in New York State that's using a new weapon in the war against strokes. The hospital is using a stent that helps remove deadly blood clots from stroke patients.
The instrument works best within a few hours of the victim suffering from a stroke.
“The faster you get the blood clot out, the sooner you get blood flow and oxygen to the brain, the more likely the patient is to recover,” said SUNY Upstate Neurovascular Center Director, Dr. Eric Deshaies.
The new device cuts procedure time down from a few hours to about 20 minutes.
The stent extends and expands out of a micro-catheter to capture the clot. The device is retractable, and the first specifically made for stroke therapy.
The FDA approved the device for use in the U.S. just more than a month ago and Upstate University Hospital is one of the first hospitals in the country to use the device.
“It's easier to work with and you're not braking anything up so that little pieces of the clot can go further out into the brain and cause strokes,” Deshaies said.
Deshaies has used the stent twice already.
Unlike other stroke therapy methods, there’s no need for blood-thinning medication to prevent further clotting.
The procedure should be conducted three to eight hours after early signs of a stroke. Stroke symptoms include numbness, sudden vision changes, or trouble speaking.
