WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Novant Health Deloris P. Jordan Neurosciences Institute is the first in North Carolina to incorporate the latest innovation in stroke treatment.
Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s Comprehensive Stroke Center has successfully used Penumbra’s new computer assisted vacuum thrombectomy technology. The technology, called THUNDERBOLT, received clearance last month from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, representing the first-of-its-kind advancement, according to the company.
With a recent procedure, Dr. Justin Cappuzzo became the first neurosurgeon in North Carolina to use THUNDERBOLT technology since it was FDA approved. Dr. Cappuzzo is also the first neurosurgeon in the world to deploy this technology using a transradial approach, which accesses an artery in the wrist.
“This technology is a powerful addition to our capabilities and is only the latest example of how our center provides southeastern North Carolina with world-renowned stroke care,” said Dr. Justin Cappuzzo. “Thanks to our advanced protocols, we are already removing clots faster than the national average, and this technology will allow us to be even more efficient in a situation where every minute counts to save brain cells.”
The technology is used to treat ischemic strokes, a medical emergency when a clot obstructs a blood vessel in the brain, blocking needed oxygen. New Hanover’s Comprehensive Stroke Center teams remove these clots through what’s called a thrombectomy, a minimally invasive procedure to restore blood flow. The existing thrombectomy approaches included mechanical thrombectomy, which involves pulling out the clot using a catheter, and aspiration thrombectomy, which incorporates suction to help pull out the clot.
The new technology relies on modulated aspiration, which changes the force of suction used to remove the clot. It can also pull the clot through the catheter instead of manually dragging it out.
Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds, and they remain a leading cause of long-term disability. Novant Health encourages the community to familiarize themselves with the warning signs of a stroke using the BE FAST tool:
B—Balance: Is the person suddenly unsteady?
E—Eyes: Is someone suddenly having blurred vision, double vision or complete loss of sight in one or both eyes?
F—Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A—Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S—Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange?
T—Time: Call 911 right away if you’ve seen any of these symptoms.
