Solitaire, a New Stroke Treatment

New treatment guidelines for acute ischemic stroke recommend a clot-retrieval device as the first line treatment, in conjunction with administering the clot-busting drug known as tPA. The encouraging news came this week from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA).

The organization issued the guidelines as a result of a thorough analysis of five clinical trials published in The New England Journal of Medicine, which studied the benefits of the Solitaire, a self-expanding, columnar metal cage. Physicians deploy the Solitaire through a tube into a blood vessel and guide it to the clot. The device lets the doctor to reopen target arteries effectively and efficiently. It combines the ability to restore blood flow to the brain, administer medical therapy and retrieve a blood clot (that is, remove it from the brain so it doesn’t hinder blood circulation). The studies found that the technology dramatically reduced the risk of disability and improved neurological function for stroke patients.

As a vascular neurologist who has used Solitaire, I have witnessed how patients have excellent clinical outcomes and are able to achieve a very good quality of life. With the backing of the AHA/ASA, the new guidelines will certainly attract the attention of stroke specialists who will be confident in offering this treatment to their patients.

North Shore-LIJ hospitals improve outcomes for stroke patients with aggressive, effective interventions. The Cushing Neuroscience Institute’sStroke Center provides some of the region’s most advanced care and treatment for ischemic strokes, hemorrhagic strokes and related neurological conditions.

This post was written by Jeffrey Matthew Katz, MD, vascular neurologist at North Shore University Hospital.

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