When talking about stroke, the term “intervention” generally refers to thrombectomy– removing a large clot from an artery. Recent evidence confirms that patients with a stroke caused by a large clot which can be treated with clot busting tPA, can then go on to an intervention within six hours of symptoms starting. While symptoms of stroke should be reported immediately to 911, this increase in the window of time clot-busting treatment will significantly improve the chance of surviving stroke and going on to live independently.
Starting in early 2017, when 911 is called, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) will evaluate for a possible stroke AND evaluate for a possible large clot. If a large clot is a possibility, then the probable stroke patient will be taken directly to a select hospital that has 24 hour/7 days a week neuro-intervention available–and Valley Medical Center is one of those hospitals!
