Jersey City Medical Center Enhances Emergency Treatment for Stroke with Addition of Thrombectomy Procedure

Jersey City, NJ - October 10, 2024 - Jersey City Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, has expanded its clinical capabilities to treat stroke with the addition of thrombectomy capability in its state-of-the-art endovascular biplane suite. Thrombectomy is a minimally invasive endovascular approach to remove blood clots from arteries or veins in the brain without the need for a craniotomy (opening of the skull) resulting in improved clinical outcomes and efficiency.

"As a Primary Stroke Center, Jersey City Medical Center provides evidenced-based treatment to minimize the effects of a stroke and prevent further brain damage. The addition of thrombectomy at Jersey City Medical Center adds to our arsenal of life saving procedures for stroke and enhances care for all of Hudson County," said Michael Prilutsky, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jersey City Medical Center. "This is another way Jersey City Medical Center and RWJBarnabas Health are dedicated to healing, enhancing and investing in providing patients in Hudson County with the best chance for a complete recovery from a stroke."

During this procedure, a physician guides a catheter through the femoral (thigh) or radial (wrist) artery and up into the brain using x-ray guidance. Once the blood clot is reached, the surgeon can either use suction, retrievable stent, or a combination to mechanically capture the clot and pull it out of the vessel. This endovascular approach has lengthened the treatment time window for ischemic strokes.

"Prompt treatment makes a big difference in outcome," said Anil Nair, MD, Interim Director of Endovascular Neurosurgery at Jersey City Medical Center. "Although thrombectomy can be effective for six to 24 hours after a stroke has occurred, it is important to know that the sooner the blood flow is restored, the better the outcome. This is why implementing thrombectomies locally at Jersey City Medical Center is a game changer for patients."

The type of treatment a stroke patient receives will depend on the type of stroke that has occurred. The most common kind, ischemic strokes, are triggered by a blocked artery from clots in another vessel like the neck or from clots in the heart when people have irregular rhythms of their heart. Jersey City Medical Center continues to improve the quality of care provided to patients experiencing a Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA, often called a mini-stroke). Using a team approach, care is planned through the acute phase of a stroke while designing an individualized rehabilitation program.

Additionally, Jersey City Medical Center is designated by both the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, DNV GL-Healthcare as a Primary Stroke Center, and is also recognized by the American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for 13 consecutive years.

About Jersey City Medical Center

Jersey City Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is Healing, Enhancing, and Investing in Hudson County. It is a comprehensive full-service acute-care 348-bed teaching hospital. A not-for-profit hospital, the Medical Center is a state-designated Level II Regional Trauma Center with over 17,000 admissions and 100,000 Emergency Department visits annually. The hospital specialty services include women's health, orthopedics, heart and vascular care, and behavioral health. JCMC is the only full-service heart hospital in Hudson County, offering access to outstanding cardiologists and sophisticated and advanced treatments, such as cardiac surgery and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacements (TAVR). RWJBarnabas Health and Jersey City Medical Center offer comprehensive, advanced oncology services in Hudson County in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute, the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Jersey City Medical Center is an American Heart Association Gold Plus and DNV certified Primary Stroke Center. It is a regional comprehensive cardiac center, a perinatal intensive care center, a regional level 3 neonatal intensive care unit for critically ill newborns, and home to the most advanced robotic-assisted surgical program in Hudson County. JCMC, a provider of Advanced Life Support for Hudson County, runs 911 Medical Call Screening for Hudson County and operates one of the state's busiest EMS systems.

Contact:
Stacie Newton
Mobile: 201-424-9678
Email: [email protected]