(Chelsea Update would like to thank Dr. Barry Nemon, director of the Chelsea Community Hospital Emergency Room for this column.)
There are some emergencies in which the outcome can change dramatically depending on how fast you act before the patient gets to the ER. One of those emergencies is when someone has a stroke.
If someone has a sudden change in ability to communicate or think or move an arm or leg, think “stroke”.
A stroke is where a blood vessel to the brain gets blocked. If you think “stroke,” you need to get that person to the ER right away.
I have to be honest and tell that you that some very smart doctors in the US don’t believe that we know if we can actually help a patient who is having a stroke. They believe that we need more evidence.
At the same time, there are other smart physicians who believe that we have enough information right now, and that if someone comes to the ER with a stroke, we should use a “clot busting” drug to open up the blocked vessel and make sure the blood is flowing to the brain.
Today, most ER’s, including Chelsea’s ER, are taking the position that we can help patients ,but only if we can see them right away.
If we wait too long, these “clot-busting” drugs can cause harm. The best results occur if we can get the stroke victim the clot-busting drug before 3 hours have passed from the start of the stroke.
If you come into the ER with a relative who is having a stroke, the doctor will ask your permission to give the “clot-busting” drug. Why? Because it is a dangerous drug that can cause serious bleeding and even early death.
But, if we look at patients who get the drug and those that do not, at 3 months, the death rate is the same. At the same time, the number of patients who have a very good recovery is increased significantly if the drug is used.
Most patients’ families choose to have their loved ones get the drug because they want to increase the chance that symptoms of the stroke can be reversed.
So, it’s very important to remember that if you think a person may have had a stroke, get them to the ER immediately.
Every minute makes a difference.
