Overview

Overview

Gabor Toth, MD describes when Mechanical Thrombectomy is used to treat a patient who has stroke symptoms.

On average, someone in the United States suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 800,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot – called an ischemic stroke (accounts for ~87% of all strokes) or a ruptured blood vessel – called a hemorrhagic stroke (accounts for ~13% of all strokes). While not classified as a stroke, a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a temporary episode that produces symptoms of a stroke which disappear after a short time. TIAs are strong indicators of a possible major stroke.

With a stroke, time is brain and immediate treatment to restore blood flow is crucial. Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital offers two types of treatment for stroke:

  1. Tissue plasminogen activator-tPA (tenecteplase) – an FDA-approved medication to treat ischemic stroke which is administered through a vein. This drug is often called a “clot busting” medication and is administered to ischemic stroke patients who meet eligibility criteria and arrive at the hospital within 0-4.5 hours of the symptom onset.
  2. Mechanical thrombectomy – a minimally invasive clot retrieval method that involves inserting a very small catheter through an artery until blocked blood vessel is reached, a small stent retriever is deployed, the clot is captured and removed, and blood flow is restored to the brain.

Stroke Center Certification

The Joint Commission Gold Seal | Cleveland Clinic

Fairview Hospital has been designated a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. Obtaining this certification signifies that Fairview Hospital has undergone extensive onsite evaluation and meets strict national stroke care standards as required by The Joint Commission.

Earning this recognition demonstrates that Fairview Hospital’s stroke program follows national guidelines regarding quality and patient safety, which can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients.

Utilizing advanced technology and innovative treatment options, Fairview Hospital’s specially-trained stroke team provides an expert level of comprehensive care, diagnosing and treating patients quickly and significantly improving health and recovery time.

In 2024, Fairview Hospital received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get with the Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus, Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus, Target: Stroke Advanced Therapy Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Award. This achievement recognizes Fairview Hospital’s commitment and success in implementing the highest standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations.

Outcomes

Outcomes

A grading system is used to measure how well blood flow is restored following mechanical thrombectomy treatment. This is called thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) score. Scoring is defined as follows:

  • Grade 3 – Complete restoration of blood flow in the brain.
  • Grade 2b – Complete restoration of blood flow, but slower than normal.
  • Grade 2a – Partial restoration of blood flow to the brain.
  • Grade 1 – Minimal restoration of blood flow to the brain.
  • Grade 0 – No restoration of blood to the brain.

TICI 2b and TICI 3 are considered successful treatments for restoring blood flow in the brain. At Fairview Hospital, 95% of patients (Jan. 2023 – Dec. 2023) who received thrombectomy treatment for stroke achieved a grade of TICI 2b or 3 compared to 76% of patients studied nationally in a recent clinical trial.

Our Doctors

Our Doctors

Learn more about the specialists at Fairview Hospital

Appointments

Appointments

Patients who have suffered a stroke can receive follow-up care from a neurologist at Fairview Hospital. To schedule an appointment, call 216.671.2205.

Resources

Resources

Fairview Hospital reminds you that in a stroke every minute counts. If you think someone is having a stroke dial 9-1-1 immediately and remember the BE FAST method to evaluate whether someone may be having a stroke:

  • Balance: Watch for a sudden loss of balance.
  • Eyes: Is there a sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes? Or double vision?
  • Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
  • Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
  • Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
  • Time: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

To learn more about stroke and stroke services available through Cleveland Clinic, review our resources:

Stroke and Brain Aneurysm Support Group

Stroke and brain aneurysms are serious neurological diseases which can leave a person with a wide variety of deficits affecting them physically, cognitively and/or psychologically. The Cerebrovascular Center at Cleveland Clinic is dedicated to helping those affected by strokes and brain aneurysms by offering a support group that focuses on alleviating the effects of the disease through support and education.

Topics discussed vary by meeting, but may include:

  • Rehabilitation challenges.
  • Recurrent stroke prevention.
  • Updates in stroke treatment.
  • Additional support resources.

Participating in a support group allows you to meet others with similar health concerns and issues. It allows you to connect with others in comparable situations and share experiences and coping strategies. Anyone who has suffered a stroke and/or brain aneurysm is welcome to come with or without a family member or support person.

2024 Meetings

  • Second Thursday of the month starting in June.
    • No meeting in December
  • 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Date/Topics

  • August 8th: Physical therapy.
  • September 12th: The Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center.
  • October 10th: Research studies.
  • November 14th: Mental health.

Location

Cleveland Clinic Independence Family Health Center
Conference Room B (8th floor)
5001 Rockside Road
Independence, Ohio 44131
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

No registration required. Meetings will be streamed virtually as well as in person. If you're interested in attending virtually or have any other questions, please reach out to Kayla Petricini at strokesupport@ccf.org.

For more information: 216.636.0450