Docs save man from rare ischemic stroke

doctors have successfully saved the life of a 45-year-old man who was suffering from a rare and severe type of ischemic stroke, a condition that can often lead to death or permanent disability if not treated quickly.

The patient was brought to Fortis Hospital's emergency department with sudden paralysis of his left arm and leg, slurred speech and confusion. His symptoms had started nearly three and a half hours earlier. The patient was immediately examined by Dr Manik Mahajan, Additional Director (Neurology). An urgent CT scan showed acute ischemic changes in the right Internal Carotid Artery (ICA) territory without any bleeding.

Dr Mahajn said further imaging confirmed a complete blockage in a major brain artery, along with another critical blockage. Doctors said such cases can be fatal in 50-69 per cent of patients if not treated on time. The condition becomes even more dangerous when there is a tear in the artery wall along with two blockages, a rare situation seen in less than 0.5 per cent of stroke cases, said Dr Mahajan. The patient was immediately given intravenous clot-dissolving medicines as per international stroke guidelines. He was then taken for an emergency endovascular procedure by the neuro-intervention team led by Dr Trimaan Singh Sikand. Doctors removed the clots and placed a small stent to repair the torn artery and restore blood flow to the brain. The procedure was completed within an hour under local anaesthesia.