Stroke

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is cut off. Before too many brain cells are compromised, you or your loved one must "B.E. F.A.S.T." when recognizing the following symptoms:

• Balance — Sudden loss of balance?
• Eyes — Sudden blurred or double vision?
• Face — Is either side drooping?
• Arms — Does one drift down when raised?
• Speech — Slurred or garbled speech?
• Time — Call 911 and note when symptoms began.

Using our experience and expertise, we are proud to have become a trusted stroke care resource in Western North Carolina. While we work fast, as is necessary in the case of a stroke, we still work to understand your personal condition and how your current health impacts the effects of a stroke. Depending on the severity of your condition, we may use more conservative treatments related to long-term prevention such as medication. However, sometimes surgery is necessary to most effectively treat a stroke.

Demonstrating our commitment to advanced surgical practices, we use minimally invasive techniques whenever possible. These types of procedures leave you with minimal-to-no scarring, and allow you to have a faster recovery and shorter hospital stay.

Clot retrieval (embolectomy)

Clot retrieval can be a viable option if you have had a stroke and have not positively responded to clot-dissolving medications within the first few hours. The procedure usually takes just a few minutes, and uses catheters to remove the stroke-causing clot. We have seen most recovery periods include little-to-no long-term damage.

Coiling for brain aneurysms

Similar to the clot retrieval procedure, coiling involves neurointerventional radiologists inserting a catheter into an artery in your groin and threading it up to the site of the aneurysm (otherwise known as a bulge in a blood vessel). As this procedure is anchored by two-to-three-millimeter-sized coils, it is an extremely delicate process than can take longer than three hours.

Once you have stabilized following a stroke, our rehabilitation team will evaluate your needs and work with you to regain function, skills and independence. We help you see the hope and possibility following recovery from a stroke, and we are proud to offer both >inpatient rehabilitative care, as well as outpatient rehabilitation. These two therapeutic avenues can each be personalized to your needs, with physical, psychological, occupational, speech and cognitive rehabilitation at your disposal. Our hope is to help you achieve the best possible quality of life as a true stroke survivor.