The recent recruitment of stroke specialist Marc Chimowitz as co-director of the new Emory Stroke Center fortifies the active program already built by Emory neurosurgery chair Daniel Barrow (stroke center co-director) and neurologists Barney J. Stern and Michael Frankel.
"Tremendous progress has been made in the prevention and treatment of stroke in the last five years, and the Emory Stroke Center is committed to translating these scientific discoveries into outstanding patient care," Chimowitz said.
Frequently referred to as a "brain attack," a stroke is an interruption in blood circulation to the brain. The interruption may stem from blockage of a blood vessel in the head or neck, from structural abnormalities such as atherosclerosis, or bleeding into or about the brain.
The core of the multidisciplinary center consists of Emory specialists in neurology, neurosurgery, vascular surgery, radiology and rehabilitation medicine. Bringing unique perspectives and expertise to each new case, the team can ensure comprehensive patient care. In addition to this core group, the stroke center includes an advisory panel with specialists in atherosclerosis, cardiology, emergency medicine, epidemiology, genetics, hematology, hypertension, pharmacology and psychiatry.
Stroke program specialists have access to diagnostic tools such as positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance angiography, carotid duplex and transcranial doppler with emboli detection capability (an embolus is a dislodged blood clot). Extensive lab support also is available.
Stroke may be caused by many different vascular diseases. Emory stroke specialists have extensive experience in identifying the specific causes of stroke in individual patients and in instituting cause-specific treatment. Examples of cause-specific treatment include carotid surgery (endartarectomy) for narrowing of the carotid arteries in the neck, and the use of anticoagulants (blood thinners) for cardiac emboli and stenosis of major intracranial arteries. Chimowitz recently coordinated a multicenter study that showed the anticoagulant warfarin was 50 percent more effective than aspirin in preventing stroke in patients with narrowing of an intracranial artery. This study was published in the August edition of Neurology.
-- Lorri Preston