Stroke Center
718.246.8614
NYM is designated as a Stroke Center by the New York State Deparment
of Health. This designation means that the Hospital has a full team of
neurologists and other specialists on-call 24 hours a day. We are also
recognized by the American Stroke Association as a Gold Plus hospital for stroke care.
Conditions Treated
Stroke is now the third-leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability, with almost 800,000 Americans experiencing a stroke every year. A stroke—which is actually a "brain attack"—comes in two forms: ischemic, caused by the blockage of a blood vessel supplying the brain, and hemorrhagic, caused by bleeding into or around the brain.
Eighty-three percent of strokes are ischemic strokes, which occur when blood clots or other particles block arteries to the brain and reduce blood flow, depriving the brain cells of oxygen and nutrients. Within minutes, cells may begin to die.
Ischemic strokes can be caused by complications from smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure (hypertension), which all can lead to the narrowing of arteries in the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or ruptures. Uncontrolled hypertension and weak spots in blood vessel walls (aneurysms) can cause hemorrhages.
Treatment
NYM's stroke program offers an array of medical and interventional
treatment options for acute stroke, including dissolving blood clots (ie
t-PA administration) and restoring blood flow to the affected part of
the brain. Our Center is equipped with the tools needed to quickly
assess stroke, including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI), duplex ultrasound, carotid ultrasound and Transcranial
Doppler, which provides real-time information that cannot be obtained
through static images like CT and MRI.
Unforutunately t-PA is not
an option when the patient arrives in the emergency room after three
hours from the onset of a stroke, nor is it an option for hemorrhagic strokes. Additional options for treatment of stroke are now available at the Stroke Center at New York Methodist Hospital.
NYM is now one of the few hospitals to offer a "stroke reversal" alternative to tPA, utilizing the Penumbra System, first approved by the FDA in 2009, and the Merci System, introduced in 2006. Both procedures enable the neurosurgeon to remove blood clots through the femoral artery through a catheter attached to a pump.
Our Team
The Stroke Center of the Institute for Neurosciences offers expert
diagnosis and medical and surgical treatment for vascular conditions
such as stroke, brain aneurysms, and arterial venous malformations.
Our team of board certified experts include:
- Specialists in neurocritical care
- Neuro and vascular surgeons
- Neuroradiologists
- Interventional neuroradiologists
- Vascular neurologists
NYM's emergency facilities perform a rapid evaluation of patients with stroke and offer medications that may reverse damage done by the stroke. Moreover, our specialists are involved in the study and use of the latest innovative therapeutic approaches and equipment.
What to Expect After Stroke Treatment
Rehabilitation occurs under the direction of a full-time physiatrist (a person specializing in rehabilitation medicine). The process generally begins as soon as a patient's vital signs are stable, which usually happens within 48 hours after being treated for a stroke. Rehabilitation therapy continues for about two weeks in the Hospital's rehabilitation unit and may include physical, occupational and speech/language therapy. Following the Hospital stay, patients generally receive additional therapy at home or at a long-term care facility.
For more information, please call 718.246.8614.
Download our fact sheet on stroke.
