Neuroscience

Our Mission

To serve all stroke patients through delivery of quality health care, education, research and community service.

What is a Stroke?

A stroke is a “brain attack”!

A stroke is a medical emergency!

A stroke is a condition that occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel or when a blood vessel ruptures, interrupting blood flow to the brain. This leads to destruction (infarction) of brain cells within minutes in the immediate area of compromised blood flow. When brain cells die, normal bodily functions controlled by the dying brain are lost. A chemical reaction occurs that also endangers cells in the surrounding area where blood flow is limited, but not completely stopped. These cascading events occur rapidly, creating a limited amount of time for effective treatment. Therefore, it is critical for stroke victims to obtain Emergency Room treatments aimed at re-establishing blood flow and reducing the amount of damage from stroke.

TIME IS BRAIN!

Because every second counts in minimizing the amount of brain function that can be lost due to stroke.

Warning Signs

The signs or symptoms of a stroke may appear suddenly, without warning. If you or a loved one experiences any of these symptoms, act quickly and call 911:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg - especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding
  
  
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Types of Stroke

• Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)
• Ischemic stroke
• Thrombotic stroke
• Embolic stroke
• Hemorrhagic stroke
• Aneurysms and AVMs

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Stroke Treatments Provided By Baylor Stroke Program

• Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA)
• Intra-arterial Thrombolysis
• Clot retrieval device
• Carotid stenting/angioplasty
• Surgical procedures including carotid endarterctomy, aneurysm clipping and AVM resection
• Endovascular coiling of aneurysms
• Cerebrovascular bypass procedures
• Ongoing clinical trials for potentially neuroprotective agents
• Evidence-based secondary stroke prevention regimens

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Emergency Care

Stroke is an emergency that requires rapid assessment and evaluation to maximize the benefits of treatment and reduce brain damage. The emergency department at Baylor Dallas offers all of the components integral to treating acute stroke patients. Pre-hospital notification systems allow Emergency Medical Services to notify the Emergency Department of a potential stroke patient so that the team is ready when the patient arrives.

“Brain Attack” protocols (treatment plans the medical community has determined to be appropriate treatment) help provide eligible patients with ischemic stroke thrombolytic, “clot-busting” therapy without delay to restore blood flow to the brain.

Neurology consultations, laboratory and radiology services operate 24 hours a day for stroke patients. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound is available to rapidly identify where the blood vessel is blocked and monitor response to treatment in real time. After initial treatment and stabilization, stroke patients are admitted to the appropriate location in the hospital, based upon their condition.