Stroke Program
View our UCLA Stroke Center presentation (PDF File)
Overview
- Stroke, now also known as “Brain Attack” and transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a complex injury to the central nervous system that originates in inadequate blood supply to the brain. They are treated by the team of specialists in the UCLA Stroke Program.
- UCLA Stroke Program is a world leader for the diagnosis, treatment and management of this type of vascular diseases of the brain and spinal cord.
- UCLA neurovascular surgeons collaborated with colleagues in diagnostic neuroradiology, interventional neuroradiology, stroke neurology, neurological critical care, and neurological rehabilitation to treat thousands of patients over the last 15 years.
- The program specializes in the management of complex central nervous system vascular disorders, including ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, carotid stenosis, intracranial vascular stenosis, cerebral hemorrhage, and moyamoya disease.
- Clinicians and researchers are integral part of the UCLA Stroke Center, the first in Los Angeles County certified by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) as a Primary Stroke Center.
- As part of an academic center of excellence, the program offers opportunities for patients to participate in cutting-edge treatments sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. The neurovascular team is constantly analyzing results to improve outcomes and works tirelessly to provide the very best quality of care.
Features
- The UCLA team has developed a number of state-of-the-art treatments for neurovascular patients.
- The MERCI clot-retrieval device was designed at UCLA and recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for restoration of cerebral blood flow following a cerebrovascular event.
- UCLA was the first center in the United States to participate in a randomized, controlled trial of carotid and vertebral artery angioplasty. Additional trials of combined angioplasty and stenting are ongoing.
- Current research foci include clot dissolving regimens and neuroprotective agents, vasospasm monitoring and treatment, carotid angioplasty and stenting with distal protection, endovascular stenting of intracranial atherosclerosis, minimally invasive endoscopic intracerebral hematoma evacuation, improvement and evaluation of revascularization techniques (Bypass, EDAS, etc).
- Treatment:
-
Several advanced diagnostic and treatment options are readily available at UCLA.
- Comprehensive cerebrovascular imaging studies including state-of-the-art diagnostic MRI and CT with 3D, cerebral perfursion, and flow measurement capabilities. Digital
- angiography with 3D reconstructions, PET scan, TCD (Transcranial Doppler) and Cerebral Blood Flow measurements.
- Extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery for treatment of intracranial vascular insufficiency and aneurysms.
- Revascularization techniques (EDAS, bypass) for moyamoya disease.
- The use of intra-operative brain mapping, transcranial Doppler and cerebral blood flow monitoring for vasospasm.
- Intracranial angioplasty and stenting.
- Carotid and vertebral angioplasty and stenting.
- A "Brain Attack" rapid care program provides the following:
- Immediate evaluation by emergency physicians and neurologists upon arrival.
- CT/MRI scan within minutes of emergency department arrival.
- Prompt neurovascular intensive/intermediate level care if required.
- Randomized clinical trials of novel neuroprotective and anticoagulant pharmacologic therapies.
- The Stroke Clinic provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment recommendations for individuals at increased risk for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.
- Rehabilitation: The inpatient neurologic rehabilitation and research unit and complementary outpatient rehabilitation facilities provide state-of-the-art care for patients with cerebrovascular disorders.
- Facilities: This world-renowned, multidisciplinary program is supported by on-site, state-of-the-art medical facilities:
