|
Stroke Center
Clinical Services List
Stroke, also known as “brain attack,” is a
medical emergency requiring swift transportation to the nearest medical center
and immediate medical treatment by the stroke team. If you or a loved one comes to Cayuga Medical Center
with signs of a stroke, you can take comfort in knowing that your medical
center is a designated Stroke Center. This means that we meet the high
standards of diagnosis and treatment prescribed by the American Stroke
Association and the New York State Department of Health. You will find yourself
instantly at the center of a multidisciplinary group of emergency physicians
and nurses, neurologists, radiologists, neurosurgeons, intensivists, and
rehabilitation specialists who are available to respond 24/7 in the Emergency
Department for the evaluation and treatment of stroke patients. To learn more about stroke, just click on the links below. ● The
advantages of a designated Stroke Center ● Types
of stroke and diagnostic imaging ● Risk
factors for stroke you can change with your doctor’s help ● Stroke
Center medical director Stroke is the third leading cause of death in this
country and the leading cause of disability: of those who survive, 90 percent
have a neurological deficit. Studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association have shown that
patients treated at hospitals with Stroke Centers have reduced mortality rates,
fewer complications, improved long-term outcomes, and increased patient
satisfaction. A Code Grey at Cayuga Medical Center calls the stroke
response team into action and things happen very quickly. In the management of
acute stroke, the pressing issue is time: our team has a three-hour window in
which to administer thrombolytic agents to dissolve the clot blocking blood
flow in the brain. Local EMS responders start the process with their
assessment of the patient in the field. As soon as the ambulance calls the
Emergency Department, the response begins. Our CT imaging technologists prepare
the CT scanner and call the radiologist to put him on stand-by alert. Everyone
else on the stroke team assembles in the Emergency Department to be ready and
waiting at the door to receive the patient. There are two types of stroke” ischemic (caused by
a clot or vessel narrowing that blocks blood flow in the brain) and hemorrhagic
(caused by bleeding into the brain or an aneurysm that leaks or ruptures). By
examining a CT scan of the brain, a radiologist can determine if the patient
has, indeed, had a stroke and which type of stroke it is. If diagnosed in time,
ischemic strokes can be treated with thrombolytic (clot-busting) medication to
dissolve the clot and restore blood flow in the brain. Additional brain imaging
studies can be helpful to determine the extent of the impact of the stroke on
the brain. As soon as the initial CT images are taken, they are
transmitted to the radiologist for immediate interpretation. The brain attack
protocols set by the New York State Department of Health require than no more
than 20 minutes elapse between the time the patient reaches the CT table and
the time the radiologist submits his report to the stroke team. At Cayuga
Medical Center, our interpretation time is less than half that time. Signs and symptoms of stroke usually occur suddenly
and may include: Numbness
or weakness of the face, arm, or leg on one side of the body. Confusion, trouble speaking
or understanding Trouble seeing from one or
both eyes Trouble walking, dizziness,
or loss of balance or coordination Severe, unexplained
headache, especially of sudden onset If you have any of these
symptoms, call 911 immediately. Do not try to drive yourself to the hospital –
your symptoms could get worse while you’re driving. ● High blood pressure ● Tobacco use ● Diabetes ● Carotid and other artery disease ● Irregular heart rhythm ● Illegal drug use ● Transient ischemic attacks ● Certain blood disorders ● High blood cholesterol ● Physical inactivity and obesity ● Excessive alcohol use The Stroke Team at Cayuga Medical Center is under the
direction of Dr. Jody Stackman, a board-certified neurologist. Click here for Dr.
Stackman’s bio. |
