Brain angioplasty stenting stroke technique saves three
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 26 2022: In a first, Neuro-Vascular Interventional Radiologist consultant of Shija Hospitals and Research Institute (SHRI) Dr Thangjam Gautam Singh reportedly saved three stroke patients by using brain angioplasty stenting stroke technique.

In a release, SHRI business development deputy manager Takhellambam Premkumar informed that the three patients underwent a pinhole neuro-interventional surgery, wherein stent is placed inside the brain to unblock clogged arteries.

Dr Gautam in his diagnosis examined that thickening of the inner layers of brain artery walls, as well as their constriction or blockage known as Intracerebral Atherosclerotic Disease (ICAD), which has been a reason of stroke and recurrent stroke, it said.

The release said three patients suffered recurrence of stroke (3rd episode), despite undergoing numerous treatments at multiple hospitals throughout Imphal city.

They came at different times to Emergency Department at SHRI.

The first patient had slurred speech and weakness on one side of the body, hands, and legs.

Episodes of disorientation and loss of consciousness occurred in the second patient.

One side of the upper and lower limbs were paralyzed in the third case.

The reason for recurrent stroke was unknown or undiagnosed at the time of arrival at Shija.

Dr Thangjam Gautam assessed them and performed necessary imaging.

With thorough examination of these patients, it led to the discovery of previously undiagnosed reasons for stroke recurrence.

The culprit was the thickening of the inner layers of brain artery walls, as well as their constriction or blockage, known as Intracerebral Atherosclerotic Disease (ICAD) .

"The middle cerebral artery was more than 95 per cent blocked in the first and third patients, while the basilar artery (the artery that supplies oxygenated blood to the brain controlling blood pressure and heart rate of the body) was more than 98 per cent blocked in the second patient.

If left untreated, these patients would suffer from severe paralysis, disability, and even death," it explained.

After prompt diagnosis, all these patients underwent a pinhole neuro-interventional surgery to unblock the clogged arteries using Brain Angioplasty stenting (Stent placed inside brain or intracranial angioplasty) by Dr Gautam in Neuro Cathlab at SHRI.

It is worth mentioning that Dr Gautam introduced this ultra-high-tech neuro-interventional surgery for stroke victims for the first time in Manipur in 2019.Not only the precious lives of these patients were saved but also were discharged from the hospital in a stable condition.

This is to emphasise that in the case of a stroke, drugs are not final, and several innovative minimally invasive neuro-interventional treatments are now FDA-approved standard care of treatment and are now available at SHRI.

The release also informed that Dr Gautam has been performing these state-of-the-art neuro-interventional procedures such as mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke, brain angioplasty stenting for chronic or recurrent stroke, carotid angioplasty for transient ischemic stroke on regular basis.

In India, stroke is the third leading cause of mortality.

If a stroke occurs again (recurrent stroke), it is deemed deadly and life-threatening.

Patients who have had a stroke are prescribed drugs for the rest of their lives; yet, strokes can recur despite these treatments.

Stroke symptoms include facial drooping on one side, arm weakness, slurred speech, and loss of consciousness, among others.

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