Acute ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked. Symptoms of a stroke include muscle weakness such as paralysis on one side of the body, dizziness and slurred speech. In some cases stroke can cause death. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Canada.
When a patient has an ischemic stroke, health care professionals must work quickly to try to open up the blocked blood vessels to improve blood flow to the brain. This can be done using a treatment called intravenous thrombolysis or a newer treatment called mechanical thrombectomy.
Health Quality Ontario Reviews Mechanical Thrombectomy for Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke
Mechanical thrombectomy involves the insertion of a catheter to guide a clot-disrupting device, known as a stent retriever or thromboaspiration device, to a blockage in a cerebral artery located in the brain. The device retrieves the blockage and removes it from the artery. This report focused on newer mechanical thrombectomy devices (retrievable stents and second generation thrombus aspiration devices).
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has accepted this recommendation.
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has provided the following response: The Ministry is providing funding to support mechanical thrombectomy procedures in six stroke centers.