ScienceDaily (2011-05-28) -- A new treatment that treats a subset of stroke patients by combining minimally invasive surgery, an imaging technique likened to "GPS for the brain," and the clot-busting drug t-PA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator) appears to be safe and effective, according to new research.
Surgeons drilled hole in the skull over the clot using high-tech neuro-navigational software that provides detailed brain images, the physicians put catheters through the holes into the clots. They used these catheters to drip t-PA into the clot for up to three days at one of two doses, either 0.3 mg or 1 mg, every eight hours.
They found the minimally invasive treatment group did better than the group on supportive treatment only.
Surgeons drilled hole in the skull over the clot using high-tech neuro-navigational software that provides detailed brain images, the physicians put catheters through the holes into the clots. They used these catheters to drip t-PA into the clot for up to three days at one of two doses, either 0.3 mg or 1 mg, every eight hours.
They found the minimally invasive treatment group did better than the group on supportive treatment only.
