MedStar Health: Comprehensive Stroke Center at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center

After a physician diagnoses a stroke, they must also determine the type of stroke treatment. Options vary, based on whether the stroke is hemorrhagic or ischemic, as well as on the stroke’s severity.

Neurocritical care is essential to control intracranial pressure as well as blood pressure, breathing, and heart function.

Physicians will order a variety of diagnostic tests to determine the location and extent of brain injury, as well as evaluate the condition of the arteries in your neck and brain that supply blood to your brain.

• Ischemic stroke: The most effective medicine for the treatment of ischemic stroke is a thrombolytic “clot-buster,” such as tenectplase (TNK). Administered intravenously, it works with your body's enzymes to dissolve blood clots. This highly-effective stroke treatment must be given within 4.5 hours of your first stroke symptom (“last-known well”), so it is imperative to seek medical care immediately. Call 911. For certain ischemic strokes where medication cannot be administered or is ineffective, endovascular clot removal may be an option. Learn more about ischemic stroke.

• Hemorrhagic stroke:The best and safest way to remove blood from the brain after a hemorrhage and minimize damage to the brain may include minimally invasive surgical removal of the clot (through small catheters or tubes) or medication. For hemorrhages caused by aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), a skilled neuro-interventionalist or neurosurgeon can repair or block the vessels to prevent further bleeding. Many of these procedures can be performed through a minimally invasive technique. Learn more about hemorrhagic stroke.

Beyond providing the highest level of emergency stroke intervention, our experts are helping to shape new standards of patient care through endovascular approaches and surgical interventions. These consist of minimally invasive and microsurgical treatments for cerebrovascular disease include:

• Acute stroke thrombectomy: technology that allows removal of clots in the brain through small catheters, or tubes.
• Brain aneurysm (ruptured and unruptured) treatment: using coils, stents, flow-diverters, or surgical clipping 
• Brain arteriovenous malformation/fistula (AVM/F) treatment: using liquid embolic agents (such as Onyx or n-BCA) or surgical resection 
• Tumor embolization: using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles 
• Carotid (or intra-cranial) stenosis treatment: using micro-balloons, stents (ISCH), or plaque-removing surgery

At MedStar Franklin Square, we have a 15-bed unit dedicated specifically to neurocritical care, staffed 24/7. Learn more about neurocritical care by watching this video.

Our multidisciplinary group of experienced physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and neurorehabilitation physicians provide comprehensive patient-centered rehabilitation therapies designed to maximize stroke recovery. Learn more about the resources available to you at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital.

The Post-Stroke Follow-Up Clinic at MedStar Franklin Square is a one-stop shop for our stroke patients can meet their needs for a healthy life moving forward. Featuring the only stroke-specific patient care clinic in the Baltimore area, our comprehensive treatment approach improves our patients’ recovery and outcomes. The clinic addresses risk factors, medication compliance, individualized education, and lifestyle modifications. In addition, referrals and physician follow-up are provided as needed. Patients do not need to have received emergent stroke treatment at a MedStar Health hospital in order to participate. To schedule an appointment, please call 443-777-7320.

The MedStar Health Stroke Support Group is for individuals who have had a stroke and their significant others. Members gather for educational programs and social activities. Meetings include informative sessions on stroke-related topics, such as nutrition and stress management. Topics change with each meeting, and membership is free.

Virtual meetings are held the first Thursday of each month from 1 p.m. to  2:30 p.m., using Microsoft Teams. Register in advance to receive the meeting link. To register, call 443-777-7900 or send us an email.