The stroke Episode is one of the most serious medical conditions, with significant impacts on patient health and quality of life.
Early recognition of stroke symptoms and immediate transportation to the hospital can make the difference between complete recovery and permanent lesions.
The HOPA Rule
“In English -speaking countries, a widespread information campaign is based on the word fast (face, arms, speech, time), which has also been adapted to Greek as CHOPA (Hand, speech, face, ambulance). This simple rule helps in timely identifying the basic symptoms:
- Hand: Sudden weakness in one hand or leg
- Speech: Difficulty in joint or curious way of speaking
- Face: Asymmetric smile or twisted mouth
- Ambulance: Instant call for medical assistance
In addition to the above, other less common symptoms may include sudden changes in the field of vision, sudden diplopia, strong unprecedented headache or sudden vertigo with accompanying gait instability, “said Alkis Psychogios Athens.
Time is brain: the importance of immediate treatment
The phrase “Time is brain” reflects the importance of time in the treatment of stroke. Studies show that for every minute that passes without treatment, about two million neurons are lost. Therefore, the faster restored brain hemorrhage, the better the prognosis for the patient.
Therapeutic approaches: thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy
“The two main treatments that are applied today are intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy.
- Intravenous thrombolysis: Administration of drugs aimed at dissolving the thrombus and repair normal blood flow. This treatment is applied up to 4.5 hours from the onset of symptoms.
- Mechanical thrombectomy: Procedure in which a thin catheter is inserted through the femoral artery and reaches the vessels of the brain, removing the thrombus. It can be implemented up to 6 hours after the episode, with the possibility of expanding up to 24 hours to specialized centers with special imaging techniques (CT perfusion) that can depict real -time the Penumbra area and the already lost area (ischemic).