Ischemic Stroke
An ischemic stroke results from a blocked artery, so treatment involves unblocking this clot.
Immediate Intervention
There are clot-dissolving drugs which can be administered during and immediately after a stroke. This therapy must begin within 3 hours of the onset of the ischemic stroke. This treatment is referred to as thrombolytic therapy. People with clotting problems might not be candidates for this treatment.
Surgery
Carotid endarterectomy is the opening of the carotid artery and the removal of plaque, or athrosclerosis. This can stop clots from forming, thereby increasing the blood flow to the brain. Angioplasty, less commonly used, is the process of inserting a balloon catheter into the artery and compressing the plaque again the artery walls. A catheter embolectomy involves the removal of clots within the artery.
Medications
Anticoagulants, or anti-clotting drugs, can keep the blood from clotting, lowering the risk for an ischemic stroke. Anticoagulants are generally given in the hospital after a stroke. Anti-platelet drugs are another form of clot-preventing medication. A generic form of this is aspirin.
Hemorrhagic Stroke (Intracerebral and Subarachnoid)
Surgery
Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by the rupturing of an artery. Treatments for hemorrhagic stroke include repairing bursted blood vessels and removing aneurysms that have the potential to burst. Aneurysm clipping involves clamping and stopping a leaking vessel. Coiling is the process of inserting a coil into an aneurysm in order to cut the vessel off from connecting arteries. Artery Removal involves removing the damaged artery. For further reference: http://www.mayoclinic.com.
***For more information about strokes, read Ischemic Stroke, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Intracerebral Hemorrhage, Stroke: TIA, and Stroke Diagnosis.
***For related neurological information, visit the Neurological ARTICLE INDEX and Blog.
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