World Stroke Day
Health Conditions / Stroke
 

WHAT IS STROKE?

Stroke is a medical emergency, a brain attack – the brain equivalent of a heart attack.

A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is reduced or blocked. Without the oxygen-rich blood and nutrients your brain cells need to thrive, they start to die and can cause brain damage.

Every year around 17 million people suffer a stroke worldwide. It is estimated that 1 in 4 people will have a stroke during their lifetime. Although stroke can affect anyone at any time, two-thirds of all strokes occur in people aged over 65 years. The number of people living with stroke is estimated to increase by 27% between 2017 and 2047 in the European Union, mainly because of population ageing and improved survival rate but not only. Innovative medical solutions can save lives and significantly improve quality of life, but like all medical procedures, it may involve risk.

At Boston Scientific we are committed to prevent Stroke risk, learn more here on this page.

 

Learn from the experts, discussing about stroke risk prevention on the World Stroke Day

  • Prof. Ole de Backer, Interventional Cardiologist, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen Denmark
  • Dr. Fabrizio Pennacchi, President of ALICe Italy
 
World Stroke day
 

STRUCTURAL HEART DISEASE

What Is Severe Aortic Stenosis?

Severe aortic stenosis occurs when the aortic valve leaflets becomes stiff, reducing their flexibility and ability to fully open and close properly.

This results in a narrowing (stenosis) of the valve opening. This narrowing reduces and restricts blood flow, requiring your heart to work harder.

An healthy and a deseased vale
 
Statistics of deseased people.

What is atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, affecting 1% – 2% of general population, and it is more common as the population gets older.

HEart with normal conduction
 
Heart with atrial fibrillation
 

STRUCTURAL HEART DISEASE

Severe Aortic Stenosis Pathology & Symptoms

This narrowing reduces and restrict blood flow, requiring your heart to work harder. As a result, less oxygen-rich blood flows from your lungs to the brain and the rest of your body.

Severe Aortic Stenosis Pathology & Symptoms.

Atrial Fibrillation Pathology & Symptoms

In a healthy beating heart, your blood pumps in a steady, coordinated fashion in the chambers of your heart to and from other parts of your body. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) happens when the top two chambers of the heart, the atria, beat too fast and with an irregular rhythm (fibrillation).

Atrial Fibrillation Pathology & Symptoms.
90% of stroke-causing clots that come from the heart are formed in the LAA.
 

FROM PATHOLOGY TO TREATMENT OPTIONS

TAVI and the associated risk of Stroke

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is a less invasive procedure that replaces the diseased aortic valve without opening your chest to reach your heart. TAVI can save lives and significantly improve quality of life, but like all medical procedures, it may involve risk.

TAVI and the associated risk of Stroke.
One of the associated to TAVI risks is stroke which may occur during the procedure. The mechanism leading to stroke is dislodgement of debris peri-procedurally from various sources such as aortic valve, aortic wall and others which may travel in the bloodstream towards the brain causing a stroke.3

Atrial Fibrillation and the associated risk of Stroke

That’s because AF causes your heart to beat irregularly, which affects its ability to pump blood normally and when the heart doesn’t pump as it should, blood can collect and form clots.

Atrial Fibrillation and the associated risk of Stroke.

1. AF causes blood to stagnate in the left atrial appendage (LAA)

2. The stagnant blood becomes an ideal environment for athrombus or blood clot to form

3. The blood clot, or portion of it, dislodges from the LAA and travels through the arterial system

4. The embolism lodges itself in the blood vessels of the brain, restricting blood flow and causing a stroke

 

STROKE RISK REDUCTION IS POSSIBLE

Stroke is a Devasting Event Minimize the risk of stroke during your TAVR procedure

All stroke occurs on average 4% of the time

During the aortic valve replacement procedure, pieces of the calcified heart valve, or other debris, can break loose and travel through the arteries toward the brain. This material is called embolic debris. If left unaddressed, the debris could cause blockages, potentially leading to stroke.

Stroke is a Devasting Event Minimize the risk of stroke during your TAVR procedure

Take charge of atrial fibrillation & stroke risk

Take charge of atrial fibrillation &  stroke risk
 

TREATMENT OPTIONS

How the SENTINEL™ Cerebral Protection System Works

1. The SENTINEL device is placed at the beginning of the TAVR procedure through a small puncture in the right wrist.

2. Two tiny filters are placed in the main arteries that carry 90% of the blood to the brain. These filters collect any dislodged debris, preventing it from traveling to the brain.

3. At the completion of the TAVR procedure, the filters and collected debris are removed from the body.

How the SENTINEL Cerebral Protection System Works
 
SENTINEL CPS captured visible embolic debris headed toward  the brain in 99% of TAVR cases.
 
PROTECTED TAVR study showed in patients treated with the SENTINEL device: 21% relative risk reduction in all stroke through 72 hours or time of hospital discharge and  60 relative risk reduction in disabling stroke through 72 hours or time of hospital discharge
 
SENTINEL CPS is Fast. Intuitive. Safe. Deployment in a median of 4 minutes
 
Stroke happens and is devastating for patients and the healthcare system SENTINEL is safe, captures debris and reduces stroke risk
50k+ Patients Protected with SENTINEL

What is the WATCHMAN FLX™ LAA Closure device?

The WATCHMAN FLX™ device is a permanent implant designed to keep harmful blood clots from entering your blood stream, potentially causing a stroke. It is made from very light and compact materials commonly used in many other medical devices.

The device measures between 20 mm and 35 mm and is implanted at the entrance of the left atrial appendage.
 
The left atrial appendage is a small pouch of the left atrium. More than 90% of stroke-causing clots coming from the heart are formed here.
LAAC punctuation site
To implant WATCHMAN FLX™, your doctor makes a small cut in your upper leg and insert a narrow tube (catheter), as done in a standard stent procedure. Your doctor then guides WATCHMAN FLX™ into the left atrial appendage of your heart. Once the catheter is in the correct position, the doctor will take pictures of your heart via x-ray and echocardiography to measure your left atrial appendage and determine the appropriate device size. Once the device is released, the catheter is removed and the puncture site is closed by a suture or pressure bandage. A minimally-invasive procedure offers the ad-vantage of faster healing, less pain after the procedure and faster recovery, allowing patients to leave the hospital earlier.
 
150,000+ Lives changed.
 
24-HOUR AVERAGE HOSPITAL STAY
TYPICAL PROCEDURE IS LESS THAN 1 HOUR
MINIMALLY INVASIVE, PERMANENT IMPLANT
 
ONE TIME. FOR A LIFETIME.
 

TO LEARN MORE ON THESE THERAPIES, VISIT OUR WEBSITES 

Are you a physician interested by TAVI?
Link to TAVI page
Are you a physician interested by LAAC?
Link to LAAC page
Are you a patient interested to learn more about LAAC Therapy?
Link to LAAC page
 
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