Doctors perform Endovascular Thrombectomy to save an elderly woman at
Hiranandani Hospital Vashi - A Fortis Network Hospital
~The senior suffered an Acute stroke at the time of Chemotherapy; Doctors
at the hospital performed emergency life-saving surgery~
By Dinesh Kamath
Picture of Hiranandani Hospital Vashi
NAVI MUMBAI: A 72 yr old woman while undergoing Oral Chemotherapy
for Lung Cancer, suddenly developed severe weakness on the right side of her
body and face which also affected her speech. She was doing reasonably well
before the incident. She was brought to the Emergency Department of Hiranandani
Hospital, Vashi- A Fortis Network Hospital where she was attended to by the
Stroke Team headed by Dr Pawan Ojha, Consultant Neurologist and Stroke
Specialist.
The patient was rushed for an MRI
of the Brain which revealed complete blockage of the main blood vessel i.e. the
Left Internal Carotid Artery causing significant brain infarcts(strokes) and
damage due to lack of blood supply. In such a situation, the patient is usually
treated within 4.5 hours of stroke onset using a clot buster medicine names
Actilyse, administered by an intravenous route. Doctors were not able to
administer this medicine as she had tendency to bleeding which was caused due
to a very low platelet count. It was decided to remove the clot using a
technique named ‘Endovascular Thrombectomy’. The procedure is routinely
performed in the Cath Lab of this hospital for patients with acute stroke
caused due to blocked Brain arteries. This procedure needs to be performed
within a 6-8hrs of the onset of stroke, earlier the procedure, better the
chances of a good outcome.
The procedure was done by a team of
Neuro-Intervention Specialists and multiple bits of clots were removed immediately,
restoring blood supply to the affected brain areas. The patient responded well
to procedure and after a few hours was able to move her right limbs, however
continued having some difficulty in speaking and swallowing food due to
residual brain damage. After conducting a repeat MRI Brain angiogram, the scans
showed complete resolution and small residual area of brain damage. If the
procedure hadn’t been conducted, there was a high possibility of damage to the
entire left side of the brain resulting into severe swelling and higher risk of
death due to complications.
A similar clot was found in the
right leg artery which caused the patient intolerable pain and blackish
discoloration of the right foot. With the help of Dr Brajesh Kumar Kunwar,
Interventional Cardiologist at the hospital, the clot was extracted in the Cath
Lab, using a similar procedure. The patient had a difficult time coping with
severe bodily weakness as her platelets were extremely low and she had
difficulty in breathing due to underlying Pneumonia. She underwent
physiotherapy and was initially fed using a nasogastric tube. A magnetic
stimulation device was used which took care of residual spasticity and fastened
recovery.
Speaking about the procedure Dr
Pawan Ojha Consultant Neurologist & Stroke Specialist, said “The patient
has responded well to the procedure and the overall treatment, her health is
now improving. Her feeding tube has been removed. She is able to use her limbs
fully, is able to talk, walk and eat by herself and is currently visiting the
hospital for follow-ups. There are practically no residual symptoms of stroke”.
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