New Technology Saves Patient from Paralysis
William Johnson went to bed at 2:00am on Monday, May 17, 2010 feeling completely normal. Less than five hours later, Johnson, 54, woke with slurred speech and was unable to move his left side. Luckily, Plano EMS took Mr. Johnson to The Medical Center of Plano Emergency Department where he arrived at 8:30am – six and a half hours from his "last known normal."
Mr. Johnson was evaluated by the Brain Attack Team led by Lisa Kohler, M.D., emergency room physician. Within 60 minutes he was diagnosed by CT with a blood clot in his middle cerebral artery (M1) and a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 12. Mr. Johnson was taken to the hospital's BrainSUITE® and was sedated under general anesthesia by Brian Bravenec, M.D.
Stroke and interventional neurologist Dr. Vallabh Janardhan and his angio team (Corliss Neece, RN and Jacob Matthew, surgical tech) successfully removed the clot using Merci and Penumbra retrieval devices.
This case represents the first time this technology has been performed in Plano and is a big win for Plano residents who may someday be faced with a similar situation. By 11:30am Mr. Johnson was awake, talking and able to move his left side with a NIHSS score of 2. He is happy to share his story about the amazing technologies that are giving him a second chance at a full life.
The Texas Stroke Institute is a collaborative initiative that includes eleven North Texas HCA hospitals. Our goal is to develop an effective and resource-efficient plan to reduce the morbidity, mortality and economic burden of stroke in the region. Incorporating medical education and participating in research will establish us as a National Center of Excellence in Stroke.