Horrific consequences occur when scientific advances are delayed from entering everyday medical practice.
The term “ischemia” means insufficient blood flow to a body part. This article addresses acute ischemia to the brain, which is commonly referred to as a stroke.7
In the treatment of acute ischemic stroke, significant advances are being made in the re-opening of blocked cerebral arteries. These lifesaving procedures enable blood flow to be restored before permanent brain damage is inflicted.8,9
The problem is that not enough emergency response personnel are trained to properly utilize these brain-saving techniques. The result is nursing homes that are filled with permanently paralyzed stroke victims whose conditions were reversible after they entered the hospital emergency room—if only appropriate procedures were administered.
The economic cost of not prioritizing implementation of even basic cerebral recanalization (re-opening) techniques is staggering. The human toll of needless paralysis, dementia, and death is beyond civil description in the English nomenclature.
Despite a preponderance of favorable data, there is still debate amongst clinicians as to when to employ advanced techniques in attempting to reverse acute ischemic stroke.
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