New Collaboration Allows Thrombectomy Procedures to be Performed at Sundsvall Hospital
Sundsvall Hospital in Sweden is set to offer thrombectomy procedures, a groundbreaking treatment for acute stroke patients. Thrombectomy involves the removal of large clots from the brain using a metal mesh, which has been shown to significantly improve patient prognosis. Currently, thrombectomy procedures are only performed at university hospitals. However, Sundsvall Hospital has partnered with Norrland University Hospital in Umeå to bring this life-saving procedure to their facility.
Under the collaboration, a neurointerventionist from Umeå will be available at Sundsvall Hospital on a weekly basis for one to two weeks each month to perform thrombectomy procedures. The hospital’s own PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) nurse, who is familiar with balloon bursting in heart attacks, will assist in these procedures.
Dr. Fredrik Björck, head physician in charge of stroke at Sundsvall Hospital, has been a strong advocate for bringing thrombectomy to the hospital and is thrilled about the new development. He believes that offering this procedure can have a significant impact on patients’ lives and health, potentially even determining the difference between life and death.
The hospital hopes to be able to perform thrombectomy procedures within a few weeks, allowing nearby hospitals in Sollefteå, Östersund, and Hudiksvall to send their patients to Sundsvall for treatment. Dr. Björck expects to see one to two thrombectomy patients per week.
Time is crucial when it comes to thrombectomy procedures, as patients must undergo the treatment within six hours of experiencing a stroke. However, the northern region of Sweden faces challenges due to long transport times, particularly in Region Västernorrland, where helicopter access is limited. Consequently, plans have been in place for some time to establish thrombectomy capabilities at Sundsvall Hospital.
The lack of access to thrombectomy in the northern healthcare region has been a well-known issue, contributing to poorer outcomes for stroke patients compared to other regions in the country. The collaboration with Norrland University Hospital aims to address this disparity and provide better access to thrombectomy procedures for patients throughout the northern region.
The long-term plan is for PCI operators at Sundsvall Hospital to undergo comprehensive training and eventually be able to perform thrombectomy independently. This model is similar to the arrangement at Örebro University Hospital. However, Dr. Björck noted that this goal is several years away.
Per-Anders Persson, one of two neurointerventionists at Norrland University Hospital, believes that bringing thrombectomy procedures to Sundsvall will greatly benefit patients by reducing the time to intervention. Last year, it took an average of four hours for patients to be transported from Sundsvall to Umeå for treatment, resulting in precious minutes and neurons lost during the critical stage of an acute stroke.
Persson also highlighted the importance of parallel training efforts to ensure an adequate number of neurointerventionists across the region. He stressed the need to expand the expertise in thrombectomy procedures, especially considering new guidelines that call for 24-hour availability.
This new collaboration between Sundsvall Hospital and Norrland University Hospital marks a significant step forward in bringing thrombectomy procedures to stroke patients in the northern region of Sweden. With improved accessibility and shorter time to treatment, patients can potentially experience better outcomes and quality of life.