Advanced, Life-Saving Stroke Care Available 24 Hours a Day

It’s a normal day until, out of the blue, you notice numbness or a feeling of weakness on one side of your body. You feel dizzy or confused and you may have difficulty speaking or seeing out of one or both eyes. The symptoms might pass quickly, but you still need immediate medical attention – you’ve very likely just suffered a stroke.

“It’s common for individuals to have a ‘mini’ stroke before a larger stroke occurs,” notes Tampa General Hospital Comprehensive Stroke Center Medical Director, Michael Sloan, M.D. “Unfortunately, because the symptoms can pass so quickly, it is easy for patients to ignore the warning signs. Regardless of the severity or length of symptoms, however, getting help fast is crucial to prevent further damage or even death.”

As the nation’s third leading cause of death and a major contributor to serious, long-term disability, stroke is best understood as a “brain attack” that cuts off critical oxygen supply to the brain.

“Brain cells will die if they are deprived of oxygen,” explains Tampa General Hospital Interventional Neurologist, James Lefler, M.D. “And because strokes do not uniformly arise from one single cause, it is not enough to simply administer treatment as quickly as possible. We must also accurately pinpoint the source of an individual’s stroke so that advanced clot-busting drugs or sophisticated technologies like stents and coil embolization can restore oxygen and blood flow to the brain.”

One of 16 state-licensed comprehensive stroke centers, Tampa General Hospital provides patients with a full continuum of leading-edge stroke care and some of the region’s most experienced physicians.

“From diagnosis through rehabilitation, we offer all the capabilities of comprehensive care in one single location,” Dr. Sloan notes. “We understand the complexities of successful stroke care, including gender-specific treatments, and we work as a multidisciplinary team with resources in neurology, pulmonology, cardiology and vascular surgery to ensure each patient achieves optimal results.”

“We’re also one of only a handful of level I trauma centers in the state,” adds Dr. Lefler. “Plus, our Neuroscience ICU, combined with our neurointerventional suites, provides patients with all of the latest technologies they need for the most successful outcomes.”

Recognized as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission and awarded the highest level of certification by the American Stroke Association for the past four years, Tampa General Hospital gives stroke patients access to state-of-the-art treatment.

“We have the skill and experience necessary to effectively address even the most complex cases,” Dr. Sloan says. “Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week – we are ready to give our patients whatever they need to overcome stroke and get back to life.”

Tampa General provides a full spectrum of services for patients experiencing stroke – from aggressive emergency treatment to stop a stroke’s progress, through comprehensive rehabilitation.

A stroke team comprised of stroke attending physicians, interventional neuroradiologists, and emergency, laboratory, and radiology staff is available 24 hours a day to immediately attend to patients with stroke symptoms.

To learn more about Tampa General Hospital and to take a virtual tour of the Neuroscience ICU, visit www.tgh.org.