Interventional Neuroradiology Expert Discusses Post-Surgical Stroke

Case Overview

This case involves a 25-year-old patient who suffered an ischemic stroke shortly after an aortic stent repair. The patient had a history of dilated cardiomyopathy, and he had received a heart transplant after reaching end-stage cardiac failure. Following this procedure, a covered CP stent was placed due to the discovery of aortic stenosis. However, shortly after it was implanted the stent fractured and a piece lodged in one of the patient’s extremities. It was recommended that stainless steel stents be placed inside the fractured stent to hold it in place. The procedure was completed, however, it was noted that the patient was disoriented and lethargic for an extended period post-surgery, and paralysis of the patient’s left side was also noted. A CT scan revealed a middle cerebral artery stroke. Since the surgery, the patient has suffered serious cognitive and neurological deficits from the stroke.

Questions to the Neuroradiology expert and their responses

Do you routinely treat patients like the one described in this case?

I am a board certified Neuroradiologist so I do routinely treat patients like the one described in this case. I have also published on the treatment of strokes in pediatric patients.

Based on the summary, is it possible that this patient might have had a better outcome had the care rendered been different?

Based on the summary of this case it appears that there was a troubling delay in treatment, a delay long enough to cause severe brain injury. At first blush it does appear that if the care rendered were different the patient might have had a better outcome.

About the expert

This supremely qualified Assistant Professor of Radiology & Neurosurgery is board certified in Radiology and received Fellowship training from the prestigious University of California, San Francisco. He is a member of multiple radiology societies and is a well respected authority in the field having published numerous peer-reviewed articles in a variety of medical journals. Most notably, he received an award from the American Academy of Neurology for his publication on treatment for ischemic strokes in children. His expertise are highly sought after and he is frequently invited to lecture as a guest speaker at at radiology conferences throughout the country. He currently serves as Director of Neurointerventional Radiology at a major university affiliated medical center in addition to his academic and clinical roles.

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Specialties:

Neuroradiology