New Treatment Can Clear Brain Clots
A new treatment for stroke victims promises to suction out clogged arteries in hopes of stopping brain damage before permanent and lasting harm is caused. The drug, Penumbra, is newly approved and is the latest in a series of inside-the-artery attempts to boost recovery from a stroke.
More than 700,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year, and more than 150,000 of them die. Survivors often face serious disability and permanent brain injuries. While this new treatment drug sounds promising, it may not be ideal for every stroke patient.
Penumbra is ideal for patients who are not able to receive treatment in the very early stages after a stroke has been suffered. It can also be helpful for those patients who have tried other methods of treatment, like the clot-busting drug TPA, and was unsuccessful.
You can read more on Penumbra and its next stages of research here.