The first 6 hours are worth gold in stroke intervention

Approximately 200,000 people in Türkiye experience a stroke each year. This translates to a new case every three minutes. While stroke is the third leading cause of death, it is also the leading cause of disability in adults. Prof. Dr. Murat Velioğlu, a member of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Neuroradiology Association, emphasized the importance of interventional neuroradiology at the Turkish Neuroradiology Association Congress, saying, "Conventional drug treatments are often inadequate for clots that block large vessels, leaving patients at risk of severe disability. However, interventional neuroradiology applications are now offering an antidote to this fear."

STROKE IS NO LONGER A DESTINY Prof. Dr. Velioğlu stated that interventional neuroradiology now plays an indispensable role in stroke treatment, saying, "Our goal is to raise public awareness that stroke is an emergency and to provide our patients with this modern, disability-saving treatment as quickly as possible. Stroke is no longer a fate; it is a treatable disease."

Reaching the Brain from the Groin Prof. Dr. Velioğlu stated that interventional neuroradiology has successfully implemented a groundbreaking method in stroke treatment in Turkey, saying, "With the method called 'Mechanical Thrombectomy,' a thin catheter is inserted through the groin artery to reach the blocked artery in the brain. Specially designed stent-dispensing devices or powerful aspiration systems are used to capture the clot and remove it from the body. The artery is immediately opened, restoring blood flow to the brain."

EVERY MINUTE MEANS THE DEATH OF 1.9 MILLION NEURONS. Prof. Dr. Velioğlu stated that the first 6 hours are of vital importance for MECHANICAL Thrombectomy, and provided the following important information: "The success of this treatment is entirely time-dependent. The brain region supplied by the blocked artery begins to die within minutes. According to statistics, every minute lost after the onset of a stroke means the loss of 1.9 million neurons, or brain cells. The first 6 hours are considered vital for 'Mechanical Thrombectomy.' Thanks to advanced imaging techniques, this period can be extended up to 24 hours in some patients. However, the basic rule remains the same: the sooner the better. Early intervention not only increases the patient's chance of survival but also maximizes the chance of rescuing them from disability and returning them to their normal lives."

TRANSPORT THE PATIENT TO A STROKE CENTER IMMEDIATELY Prof. Dr. Velioğlu stated that success in stroke treatment is the result of the synchronized work of a team, not a single specialty. He said, "This process is carried out in collaboration with the patient's relative who raises the first suspicion and calls 112; the Emergency Health Services teams who transport the patient to the Stroke Center as quickly as possible; the Emergency Room Physicians and neurologists who conduct the initial evaluation at the hospital; the radiologists who confirm the diagnosis; and the interventional neuroradiology specialists who remove the clot."

RECOGNIZE THE STROKE SYMPTOMS, CALL 112 "The abbreviation 'STROKE' is used to remember the symptoms," said Prof. Dr. Velioğlu, and made the following warnings:

Stroke symptoms begin suddenly.

Normal speech is disrupted. (Lisp, slurred speech, or inability to understand.) Loss of facial expressions (falling of one half of the face, crooked smile.) Weakness/numbness in the hand, arm or leg.