Medical device first used at London hospital reverses stroke symptoms in minutes
CBC
In what is a medical first for London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), a procedure using a new medical device to help stroke patients has been successfully performed.
The device is called a balloon distal access catheter (BDAC) and was developed to rapidly remove a blood clot in 10 minutes, reversing stroke symptoms and preventing brain damage.
Wilene Leyen was the first patient to successfully undergo the procedure at University Hospital on June 24 by Dr. Michael Mayich and his team.
"Performing more than 200 emergency stroke surgeries each year, our team at LHSC knows the importance of identifying strokes and acting quickly," said Dr. Mayich, an interventional neuroradiologist at LHSC in a statement.
"When a blood clot is causing a stroke, over 2-million brain cells can be lost each minute, so seconds count. By locating and removing the clot in a shorter period of time, the patient has a higher probability of regaining mobility and speech. This device offers the possibility of removing clots in fewer attempts, shortening the procedure and maximizing the chances of good outcomes for our patients."
In Leyen's case, the BDAC was used by making a tiny incision over the right hip. In less than 10 minutes, blood flow was restored to the brain and her movement and speech were restored almost immediately, according to LHSC.
"The LHSC stroke team has given me my life back," said Wilene Leyen in a statement. "I can do almost everything I was able to do before I suffered the stroke and I'm very grateful Dr. Mayich was able to perform this procedure."
The BDAC uses a balloon to temporarily halt blood flow in a vessel, while suction is applied to remove the offending clots, restoring blood flow to the endangered part of the brain.
The medical device was developed by Kitchener-Waterloo-based Vena Medical.
"We're proud to have the first patients to benefit from our Canadian developed technology within driving distance of our office, in the hands of world-class physicians," said Michael Phillips, the CEO of Vena Medical in a statement.
"This is cutting-edge technology that would normally need to be launched somewhere far from here, but we're excited to make an impact locally before we make an impact globally."
The BDAC is now also being used at The Ottawa Hospital.
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