STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In a rare case of its kind, a team of doctors from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital (SMVDNSH) saved a patient from being paralysed following sudden ischemic stroke (Brain Attack) with the application of Intravenous Thrombolysis (IVT)-an injection given to a patient within the ‘Golden Hour’ after suffering from stroke that helps in complete recovery from stroke attack.
“38 year old from Katra suffering sudden onset of spinning sensations, blurred vision, slurring of speech and difficulty in walking was rushed to SMVDNSH and reached in three hours thirty minutes,” Dr. Ankush Sharma, Consultant Neurologist, SMVDNSH, who initiated this treatment first time in Jammu and Kashmir, told reporters.
Since he was brought to the hospital within the extended window period of acute ischemic stroke, IVT (clot bursting injection) was given to save him from paralysis after checking for contra-indications, Dr Ankush said.
“SMVDNH is a stroke-ready hospital with a team of trained and experienced personnel to handle stroke emergencies round the clock. The ‘Golden Hour’ period is within 3 hours from the onset of stroke and the extended period is 4.5 hours. If a stroke patient is administered IVT within this span of time, there is a possibility of saving him or her from stroke paralysis to a large extent,” informed Dr. Ankush.
Speaking about IVT he said, “The Intravenous Thrombolysis (IVT) is given immediately to the patient suffering from stroke, which helps in complete recovery provided the patient is given this treatment within the Golden Hours of stroke attack. It is also necessary that the patient doesn’t have any other contra-indications such as being hypertensive, diabetic and so on, which will be assessed based on certain clinical examinations”.
“Any patient who has sudden onset slurring of speech, unilateral weakness of limbs, double vision or sudden loss of vision should immediately be taken to a hospital so that urgent investigations are done and if required patient can be given intravenous clot bursting medicine to save the brain,” Dr. Ankush said and also confirmed that patients who have proximal major artery blockage or those who arrive late can still be managed with the help of clot retrieving devices (Mechanical Thrombectomy), which is available only at SMVDNS Hospital.
“Treated patient is now fully recovered and was subsequently discharged from the hospital,” he said.
The press conference was also addressed by Dr. (Brig) M.M Harjai-Chief Administrative Officer and Dr. Shirish M. Dhoble-Clinical Director of SMVDNSH, Kakryal.
