A breakthrough stroke treatment is saving lives – if you can get it in time

Endovascular thrombectomy—or EVT—was developed over a decade ago, and has now evolved to be something of a miracle for people unlucky enough to suffer a stroke. If performed in time it can turn a potentially deadly or life-altering stroke to something that can be rehabbed in a couple of weeks. 

Eva Holland wrote in The New York Times Magazine about the complex procedure. She says not every hospital has the experts necessary to perform the procedure, and that so-called ‘hub and spoke’ model should be employed to ensure widespread access.  

“That’s part of the challenge of getting access to this treatment… is making sure that people can access the hubs when they need them, that the hubs are ready to receive people and people can get there,” she said.   

So how does a complicated medical intervention go from a lifesaving specialty to globally available? And how many lives could be saved if it does?

https://the-big-story-bb309f15.simplecast.com/episodes/a-breakthrough-stroke-treatment-is-saving-lives-if-you-can-get-it