Apollo Hospitals uses revolutionary procedure to save Ischemic Stroke Patients

Stroke cases see a surge in Chennai, Dr. S. Karthikeyan, Consultant Interventional Neurologist saved more than 22 patients between 20 to 80 years of age from paralysis caused due to Ischemic Stroke within a span of few months at Apollo Hospitals, OMR.

Chennai, May, 2019: According to the World Health Organization, the biggest cause of mortality in the world is ischemic heart disease and the second is stroke. Stroke cases are on the rise in developing countries, alarmingly in the metropolitan cities of India. Apollo Specialty Hospitals, OMR receives more than 12 stroke patients in a month, and most of them are under 45 years of age.

 

(L-R) (Patient) Ms.Bavithra 35, (Patient) Mr.Prakash 38, Dr. S. Karthikeyan, Consultant Interventional Neurologist, Apollo Hospitals -OMR, Chennai and (Patient) S.Narasimhan 67.

Around 22 patients were admitted to Apollo Speciality hospitals OMR, Chennai within a span of few months under Dr. S. Karthikeyan, Consultant InterventionalNeurologist, among which 50% of the patients were between 20 to 40 years of age. He claims that stress and sedentary lifestyle is the key cause for this rise. 

Majority of stroke (85%) occurs when blood stops flowing to a part of the brain due to a clot or thrombus, usually referred to as ischemic stroke. This interruption in blood flow leads to damage to the surrounding brain cells. Patients who had large blood vessel blockage underwent a procedure called mechanical thrombectomy at Apollo Specialty Hospitals OMR. Mechanical Thrombectomy is a new revolutionary procedure for acute ischemic stroke. Mechanical thrombectomy is an endovascular procedure in which a catheter with a stent is passed through the patient’s leg to the brain and the clot is identified, captured and removed by a stent.

 

(L-R) (Patient) Ms.Bavithra 35, (Patient) Mr.Prakash 38, Dr. S. Karthikeyan, Consultant Interventional Neurologist, Apollo Hospitals -OMR, Chennai and (Patient) S.Narasimhan 67.

Speaking about this rise, Dr. S. Karthikeyan, Consultant Interventional Neurologist, Apollo Specialty Hospital, OMRChennaisaid, “Stress, Lifestyle changes and dietary habits seems to be the main cause of brain and heart diseases. Youngsters follow a frantic lifestyle spending more than 12 to 14 hours at work including late night, sleep deprived shifts. They cause more harm to themselves by eating junk foods, smoking and alcohol abuse. These are observed as some of the causes of stroke in young people, on the other hand genetic factors, coagulation disorder, vasculitis and dissection could also be the cause.”

He also said, “Most of the cases reported in our hospital fall under this category, the major stroke risks in young patients is that their brain swells faster, hence they should reach the hospital within the golden hour for stroke patients which is 4 hours. We used Mechanical Thrombectomy to treat majority of the patients while we also used intravenous thrombolysis in a few, a procedure that helps in lysing the blood clot. All thesepatients recovered remarkably from paralysis after undergoing these procedures. With these recent medical advancements stroke is no longer a disabling disease if treated on time.”

ABOUT APOLLO HOSPITALS

It was in 1983, that Dr. Prathap Reddy made a pioneering endeavour by launching India’s first corporate hospital - Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. Over the years Apollo Hospitals has established itself as home to the largest cardiac practice in India with over 160,000 cardiac surgeries. Apollo Hospitals is also the world’s largest private cancer care provider and runs the world’s leading solid organ transplant program.

As Asia’s largest and most trusted healthcare group, its presence includes 9,215 beds across 64 Hospitals, 2,500 Pharmacies, over 90 Primary Care and Diagnostic Clinics, 110  plus Telemedicine Centres and 80 plus Apollo Munich Insurance branches spanning   the length and breadth of the Country.As an integrated healthcare service provider with Health Insurance services, Global Projects Consultancy capability, over 15 medical education centres and a Research Foundation with a focus on global Clinical Trials, epidemiological studies, stem cell & genetic research Apollo Hospitals has been at the forefront of new medical breakthroughs with the most recent investment being that of commissioning the first Proton Therapy Center across Asia, Africa and Australia in Chennai, India. Every four days, the Apollo Hospitals Group touches a million lives, in its mission to bring healthcare of International standards within the reach of every individual.

In a rare honour, the Government of India issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo's contribution, the first for a healthcare organization. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2010. For more than 30 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Our hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals globally for advanced medical services and research.

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