Stroke Treatments and Outcomes

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Stroke Types and Treatment Approach

We treat different types of stroke and track outcomes to ensure safe, effective care. Our coordinated stroke team includes, neurologists, emergency physicians, nurses, therapists and specialists work together from the moment you arrive.

Below is an overview of how strokes are classified and what treatment methods our team provides.

Understanding the Two Main Types of Stroke

Treatment depends on whether a stroke is caused by a blocked blood vessel or bleeding in the brain.

1️⃣ Ischemic Stroke (Blocked Blood Vessel)

Clot-busting medication may be given to dissolve the blockage. In some cases, specialists at our Comprehensive Stroke Center perform minimally invasive procedures to remove the clot.

2️⃣ Hemorrhagic Stroke (Bleeding in the Brain)

Our team works quickly to control bleeding and reduce pressure in the brain. Neurosurgical care is available at Renown Regional when needed.

Services

Acute Stroke Care

Stroke survivors require additional treatment and rehabilitative therapies to prevent future strokes. The Renown Neurovascular and Stroke Program offers many different treatments to minimize reoccurrence and optimize chances for functional recovery.

Ask your primary care provider for a referral, or call 775-982-5000 for more information.

These programs include:

Diagnostics tools including MRI, CT angiography, catheter angiography, echocardiography, and long-term cardiac monitoring.
Surgical treatments including: carotid artery stenting, intracranial percutaneous angioplasty, intracranial stenting, carotid endarterectomy.
Consultations with physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and physiatry.
Comprehensive evaluation by a Stroke specialist to initiate medications to prevent future strokes.

Rapid Stroke Response – Code Stroke

When a stroke occurs, it is a medical emergency where minutes matter. At Renown Regional, a Code Stroke team responds 24 hours per day, 365 days a year. During a Code Stroke, a series of evaluations and stroke treatment occur, including:

Activation of the Stroke team by first responders before hospital arrival.
Immediate assessment on hospital arrival by a stroke neurologist.
Expedited advanced neuroimaging to determine if brain tissue can be saved.
Initiation of acute stroke treatment within tens of minutes of patient arrival. This can include the administration of a clot-busting medication (thrombolytics) and/or the surgical removal of the blood clot by neurointerventional surgery (surgery completed via blood vessels).

Advanced Stroke Treatment

Treatment depends on the type and severity of stroke.

Ischemic Stroke Treatment

IV clot-dissolving medication (for eligible patients)
Mechanical thrombectomy at Renown Regional

Hemorrhagic Stroke Management

Multidisciplinary medical management
Neurosurgical evaluation and intervention when required

Multidisciplinary Stroke Team

Neurologists
Neurosurgeons
Critical care specialists
Internal medicine physicians
Specialized stroke nurses
Pharmacists
Rehabilitation therapists

Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery

Recovery begins in the hospital and continues long after discharge.

Inpatient and Early Rehabilitation:

Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Speech and swallow therapy
Early mobility and strength training
Cognitive and language evaluation

Visit Outpatient Therapy Services

Discharge & Ongoing Support:

Daily interdisciplinary care planning
Stroke prevention and risk factor education
Post-hospital follow-up call
Neurovascular Clinic follow-up (Comprehensive Stroke Center)
Community resources and support groups

Visit Outpatient Physical Therapy

Additional Neurovascular Care

In addition to the care provided to stroke patients, Renown Neurovascular and Stroke Program provides care to patients with other neurovascular diseases:

Aneurysm coiling: An aneurysm is a weakening in the blood vessel wall. Renown Neurointerventional surgeons place coils and/or stents to re-strengthen the blood vessel wall to prevent future brain bleeding.
Carotid Artery Occlusion Procedures: Carotid artery stenting and angioplasty completed as a minimally invasive procedures by Northern Nevada's only Neurointerventional Radiologists. Carotid endarterectomy performed by Renown’s Vascular surgeons.
Hemorrhagic strokes: These strokes result from brain bleeding, and patients may have life-threatening complications related to brain swelling, which is treated by neurosurgery.
Vascular malformations: Some hemorrhagic strokes are caused by an underlying abnormality in the blood vessels. Examples are arteriovenous malformations or dural arteriovenous fistulas. Treatments for vascular malformations require a multidisciplinary approach of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Neurointerventional Surgery available at Renown Regional Medical Center.

Stroke Performance Metrics and Outcomes

Timely Treatment

Percent of Patients Receiving IV Thrombolytic Therapy Within 60 Minutes of Hospital Arrival Goal

“Time is brain” and timely treatment of a stroke is critical for excellent patient outcomes. When compared to other Comprehensive Stroke Centers in the U.S., Renown has consistently exceeded national averages for timely administration of thrombolytics (within 60 minutes of hospital arrival).

*National average data obtained from Get With The Guidelines stroke registry.

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Blood Clot Removal

Percent of Patients Completing Clot Removal Procedure Therapy Within 120 Minutes of Hospital Arrival Goal

In addition, we also exceed other Comprehensive Stroke Centers in timeliness to remove blood clots with a thrombectomy procedure.

*National average data obtained from Get With The Guidelines stroke registry.

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Better Outcomes for Stroke Patients

Stroke Patients Discharging Home vs Nevada vs National Average

Not only do our stroke patients receive the right care and in a timely manner, they also consistently demonstrate better outcomes when compared to national averages. The CDC’s latest report from 2019 revealed a national average of 45% of Ischemic Stroke survivors that were discharged home from the hospital without requiring skilled care through rehab, nursing facility, or home health. At Renown, our patients consistently exceed this national average.

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