Surgical options include:
In some instances, your team may recommend surgery.
Emergency endovascular procedures: These treatments are designed to deal with the stroke from inside the blocked blood vessel. Your surgeon will insert a thin tube (a catheter) into an artery in your groin and guide it through your body to the blockage. From there, there are two options:
- A special medication is delivered directly to the clot to dissolve it.
- A tool at the end of the catheter is used to physically remove the clot.
Carotid endarterectomy: Your surgeon removes plaque from the carotid arteries (they run along each side of your neck) that supply blood to your brain. The procedure requires your surgeon to make an incision in the front of your neck.
Eversion carotid endarterectomy: With this variation of the procedure, your surgeon removes a section of your carotid artery and turns it inside out before reattaching it.
Angioplasty and stents: A catheter is threaded from an artery in your groin to your carotid arteries. By inflating a special balloon, your surgeon expands the artery to improve blood flow. Tiny metal stents are used to reinforce the expansion.
Surgical clipping: Your surgeon puts a clamp at the base of the aneurysm to stop the flow of blood. It can keep the aneurysm from bursting.
Endovascular embolization: A catheter is threaded (guided by advanced imaging) through an artery in your groin to the spot of the aneurysm in your brain. Your surgeon places platinum coils into the troubled artery, creating a blockage and causing blood to clot.
Surgical AVM removal: An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels that can cause hemorrhagic strokes. If this bundle of vessels is in an accessible area, your surgeon may recommend removal.
Stereotactic radiosurgery: This minimally invasive procedure uses tightly focused beams of radiation to repair blood vessel malformations.
Carotid endarterectomy: This is the most common treatment for carotid stenosis. Your surgeon will make an incision in the front of your neck to access the clogged carotid artery. The blood vessel is then opened, cleaned and repaired with stitches or a graft. The procedure is helpful for reducing stroke risk if the narrowing is 70 percent or more.
Carotid angioplasty and stenting: This procedure is performed from inside the blood vessel. Your surgeon will insert a long, thin tube (catheter) into an artery in your groin and guide it to the spot of the blockage in your neck. At the tip of the tube is a tiny balloon that is inflated to widen the artery and improve blood flow. A small wire mesh coil (stent) is used to reinforce the expanded opening.
Stroke Centers and Resources
If you or a loved one have recently suff ered from a stroke, seek treatment at one of our premiere facilities.
A Comprehensive Stroke Center is designated to treat the most critical and complex strokes. The Comprehensive Stroke Center is located at Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) in downtown Orlando – the region’s only Level One Trauma Center. Coordinated teams provide seamless care, from advanced imaging and therapies through neurointensive care and rehabilitation. The center is recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) with distinct honors. Learn more about the Comprehensive Stroke Center.
Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, Orlando Health – Health Central Hospital, Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital, Orlando Health South Seminole Hospital and Orlando Health South Lake Hospital are designated Primary Stroke Centers. These facilities meet advanced certification standards through state and national healthcare-accreditation organizations.
Our Primary Stroke Centers evaluate and stabilize patients. They can deliver emergency treatments such as clot-busting therapy. Doctors may transfer critical patients to our Comprehensive Stroke Center at Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) in Downtown Orlando. Telemedicine technology keeps our Primary Stroke Centers connected to ORMC specialists.
Learn more about our Primary Stoke Centers.
Stroke can cause mild-to-severe loss of function. It may limit your movement, vision, speech or other abilities, such as swallowing. Through compassionate care plans, innovative technologies and professionally supervised therapies, our stroke specialty teams will help you get back to living life more fully.
Orlando Health provides stroke rehabilitation services in Downtown Orlando and in Ocoee.
- Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center (BIRC) — Part of the Orlando Health Advanced Rehabilitation Institute, this stroke program is recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for quality, transparency and patient satisfaction.
- Orlando Health - Health Central Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center — Located in Winter Garden, this center offers compassionate, comprehensive care. Therapies focus on the unique needs of stroke patients.
Strokes affect every part of your life, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Orlando Health stroke support groups offer professional guidance. Connect with other survivors and caregivers. Find encouragement, tips, referrals and more to adjust to life after stroke
