Racing Against Time: Breakthrough Treatments for Stroke Survival
Published Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Stroke is a medical emergency requiring swift intervention to minimize brain damage and improve outcomes. The phrase "time is brain" underscores the urgency of timely treatment, as approximately two million neurons are lost every minute without treatment. Advances in stroke management have focused on reducing delays and expanding treatment windows, offering hope to more patients.
Intravenous thrombolysis or the “clot busting” medication remains the gold standard for stroke treatment within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. Early administration significantly improves neurological function. Northwestern Ontario has five hospitals that provide this treatment due to their imaging capabilities of having a CT scan. Thunder Bay, Fort France, Kenora, Dryden and Sioux Lookout hospitals provide this life-saving medication for stroke treatment.
Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) or “clot removal” has advanced stroke care for patients with large clots in the brain called large vessel occlusions. From symptom onset, EVT is best performed within six hours, but can be done up to 24 hours for select patients. People can receive both treatments if eligible. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is the sole Hospital in the Northwest and one of 11 in Ontario that offers this procedure.
“Stroke is the most feared complication after cardiac surgery,” remarks Dr. Bebedjian, Interventional Neurologist and EVT provider at TBRHSC. “And as our cardiac care grows at TBRHSC, preparing for the opening of the cardiovascular surgery program, it is vital to continue with our progress in stroke care.”
Despite widespread awareness of sudden stroke symptoms such as face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, balance concerns and changes to vision, achieving rapid treatment remains challenging.
The management of stroke continues to evolve, emphasizing the importance of rapid recognition, rapid access to emergency care, and rapid intervention.
If you recognize the stroke signs, don't delay, call 911 and get to the hospital as soon as possible. Receiving time sensitive treatment could be the difference between living independently or living with permanent functional or cognitive disability.
Donations supporting stroke care can be directed to the STROKE FUND through the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation at healthsciencesfoundation.ca/donate or by calling 807-345-4673.
For more information on stroke care in Northwestern Ontario, visit www.nwostroke.ca or email nwostroke@tbh.net.