Aou Sassari, saved from a stroke at the age of 103: «Exceptional intervention»
Timely recognition of symptoms is crucial. The prognosis remains confidential but optimism filters through the doctors
Saved from a stroke at age 103 .
A record-breaking intervention by the Stroke Unit of the Aou of Sassari where the over one hundred year old - last Friday - underwent a combined treatment of intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical removal of the blood clot . The woman, who before the stroke had always been autonomous and in good health, suddenly manifested the first neurological symptoms typical of the pathology : speech disorder, a lack of strength and the sudden paralysis of the right limbs (therefore the crooked mouth).
Stroke is a time-dependent pathology: the earlier the intervention is, the greater the possibility of saving brain cells (and the patient's life). In the specific case of the over 100 year old, the timely recognition of symptoms was crucial.
"With the intervention of the rescue machine, starting from 118, - says Alessandra Sanna, head of the Stroke Unit - a process was set in motion that allowed the woman to be taken in charge and subjected to the necessary treatments over the course of the expected times , i.e. within 4 and a half hours for thrombolysis and 6 hours for mechanical thrombectomy ». The work in synergy with the Emergency Room, Radiology, Angiography and Anesthesia is important.
Once transported from 118 to the emergency room of the Santissima Annunziata, the woman was first subjected to CT and CT angiography in the Radiology department. Having confirmed the presence of a thrombus in one of the most important cerebral arteries, the combined treatment of the pathology was started: first with intravenous thrombolysis in the Stroke Unit - where the patient was assisted by Dr. Bastianina Zanda and by specialized nursing staff - then with mechanical thrombectomy, performed by Dr. Aldo Pischedda of the Angiography Service , with complete revascularization of the brain tissue suffering from ischemia.
With this protocol the patient has «progressively resumed the use of her limbs and speech. The exceptionality of the case is given, on the one hand, by the adoption of a combined treatment on a patient over one hundred years old, on the other, by the positive response from the same patient. Even if we keep the prognosis confidential for a few more days, we are confident that with an adequate course of logotherapy and physiotherapy it will be possible to guarantee a good neurological recovery », concludes Sanna.
(Unioneonline/vf)
