Johnson City Medical Center Provides Embolectomy To Treat Hemorrhagic Stroke

When Kevin Beard suffered a hemorrhagic stroke at the age of 42, his life depended on a rapid response. When his wife found him unresponsive in the yard at the couple's Unicoi County home, she immediately called 911.

Beard was rushed to Johnson City Medical Center, where neuroendovascular surgeon Dr. Brian Mason performed a life-saving procedure previously unavailable in the region, hospital officials say.

"When they were taking me to the hospital, I thought I was going to die," said Beard in a hospital news release about the treatment. "I kept thinking, 'My 10-year-old daughter is going to grow up without her daddy.' I'm so thankful to the doctors who acted quickly and performed this procedure that saved my life.

"They took out the blood clot that caused my stroke, and I was out of the hospital four days later. Thanks to them, I'll be there for my daughter as she grows up," Beard added.

When someone is having a stroke, every minute counts, stroke experts say.

QUICK TREATMENT

Quick access to stroke treatment "can mean the difference between suffering death or major physical disabilities, or having a full recovery," JCMC officials say in the release.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, either by a clot or by a ruptured blood vessel, depriving the brain of vital oxygen. The longer the brain is without oxygen, the greater the chance of brain tissue damage or death.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States. Each year, approximately 795,000 Americans suffer a stroke, and more than 140,000 die.

TYPES OF STROKE

There are two types of common strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic.

Ischemic strokes involve a blood vessel to the brain being blocked by a clot. These account for 85 percent of all strokes. Ischemic strokes can be treated by a clot-busting drug; however, if the drug is not able to fully clear the blockage, the patient may need intervention to prevent further brain damage.

Hemorrhagic stroke is caused when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, often due to high blood pressure or vessel abnormalities such as aneurysms. Hemorrhagic strokes are devastating to brain tissue and can only be treated by prompt surgical attention.

REMOVES CLOT

The procedure that saved Beard's life is called an embolectomy, which uses a small incision in the groin and a tiny catheter that is carefully threaded up into the brain, the news release explains. The clot is removed through the catheter using suction, allowing oxygen-rich blood to flow to the brain tissue again.

"Any time you're able to restore blood flow to the brain faster, the patient's outcome improves," said Mason, who performed the clot removal procedure on Beard at JCMC.

"Before these procedures were available, certain stroke patients would have been facing a life of rehab and nursing home care," added Dr. Samuel "Chip" Massey, in the release.

"These are life-saving, life-changing experiences. Many of these patients are able to walk out of the hospital and go back to their regular life. It's remarkable," Massey said.

If you suspect you or someone you know is having a having a stroke, call 911 immediately, hospital officials say.