New Stroke Treatment Offered

A new approach to treating strokes, including the use of emergency care similar to that used for heart attacks, could help the half-million Americans who suffer strokes each year, health experts said Friday.

“We’re entering a new era in the treatment of stroke, prompting major changes in medical practice along the entire spectrum of the health care system,” said Zach Hall, director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, which hosted a meeting to develop a new treatment plan.

The key links in the so-called “chain of recovery” for stroke patients include: fast identification of strokes; quick access to emergency medical assistance via “911” dispatchers; fast transport of patients by emergency vehicle to treatment centers; quick diagnosis and intervention at these centers; specialized treatment and evaluation and appropriate rehabilitation where possible.