Question

A 60-year-old hypertensive male is brought to a Stroke unit with acute onset right hemiparesis and aphasia (NIHSS score 16) of 8 hours duration.
Enumerate the essential endovascular hardware and drugs to be kept in an interventional lab where stroke patients are treated.

Hint:

Having the right equipment and medications readily available is crucial for the timely and effective treatment of stroke patients.

Answer 1

In an interventional lab for stroke patients, the following hardware and drugs are essential for proper management:
Step 1: Endovascular Hardware:
1. Catheters: Various types of catheters for accessing blood vessels, including guiding and aspiration catheters.
2. Guidewires: Used to navigate through arteries to the site of the clot.
3. Thrombectomy Devices: Mechanical thrombectomy devices such as stent retrievers and aspiration systems to remove the clot.
4. Balloon Angioplasty Catheters: Used for balloon angioplasty in cases of arterial narrowing or spasm.
5. Sheaths and Introducers: For vascular access and to guide the insertion of devices into the arteries.
Step 2: Essential Drugs:
1. Tissue Plasminogen Activator (rtP: For intravenous thrombolysis in eligible patients within the time window.
2. Antiplatelet Agents: Aspirin and clopidogrel are used for post-procedure stroke prevention.
3. Heparin: Used for anticoagulation during the procedure.
4. Sedation and Anesthesia: For patient comfort and to ensure the procedure is performed safely.