CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Clinic is trying a new approach to reducing the crucial minutes that pass between when a person has a stroke and when they begin getting treated.
This summer, the medical center will launch a mobile stroke unit.
The Plain Dealer reports (http://bit.ly/1kwNleg) that the $1 million, high-tech unit will respond to 911 calls about suspected strokes, bringing technology to diagnose the condition as soon as possible.
After patients are diagnosed, the unit can begin treatment with clot-busting drugs.
The vast majority of strokes are caused by clots that block blood flow and starve brain cells.
The drug TPA can dissolve those clots and reduce disability but only if it's received within three to four hours of the first symptoms, and the sooner the better.
Information from: The Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.com