First stroke patients

Members of the neuroradiology team, who performed the first aspiration thrombectomy at Berkeley Medical Center, are pictured in the operating suite. Left to right: Sean Agoney, radiology technician; Dan Opp, registered nurse; Phong Vu, M.D., interventional neurologist; Michael Czaplicki, M.D., interventional neurologist; Daniel Smith, registered nurse; and Madison Smallwood, radiology technician.

MARTINSBURG — The WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) Stroke Program at WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center recently achieved a major milestone with the successful completion of the hospital’s first aspiration thrombectomy procedures.

An aspiration thrombectomy is a minimally invasive procedure used to remove blood clots from blocked arteries in the brain during an acute ischemic stroke. During the procedure, a neurointerventional specialist inserts a thin catheter through a blood vessel in the groin or wrist and guides it to the clot in the brain using real-time imaging. A specialized suction device then removes the clot, restores blood flow and reduces stroke-related damage.

Phong Vu, M.D., an interventional neurologist with the RNI Department of Neuroradiology, led the first aspiration thrombectomy procedure on a 68-year-old patient who arrived at the Berkeley Medical Center’s Emergency Department exhibiting symptoms of an acute stroke. He was assisted by Michael Czaplicki, D.O., an RNI interventional neuroradiologist.

A CT angiography scan of the patient revealed a critical stenosis and a significant amount of clot material extending to the skull base, which carries a high risk of severe ischemic stroke.

Using aspiration thrombectomy, a five-centimeter blood clot was successfully removed, restoring partial blood flow to the brain. Paired with an angioplasty and a carotid artery stenting procedure to improve blood flow to the brain to prevent future stroke risk, the patient recovered well, showing significant neurological improvement with no complications following the procedure.

A second successful aspiration thrombectomy was performed on a 38-year-old patient who also arrived at the Berkeley Medical Center Emergency Department exhibiting symptoms of an acute stroke. An intracranial aspiration thrombectomy was performed by Dr. Czaplicki, with assistance from Dr. Vu and Farman Ali, M.D., a neuro-hospitalist with the RNI Department of Neurology.

The successful treatment of these patients marks a major advancement toward Berkeley Medical Center’s goal of becoming the second regional hub for comprehensive acute stroke care in the region.

“This achievement is a testament to the skill, dedication, and collaboration of our entire neurointerventional team,” Vu said. “Performing complex stroke interventions like this allows us to provide life-saving treatment right here at Berkeley Medical Center, so more patients can receive advanced stroke care close to home without the need for transfer to another facility.”

Berkeley Medical Center first introduced its expanded neurointerventional surgical program in January. In addition to acute stroke management, the program includes aneurysm treatment, arteriovenous malformation and fistula treatment, carotid and vertebral artery procedures, intracranial atherosclerotic disease treatment, spinal interventions, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis treatment, treatment of chronic cerebrovascular conditions, head and neck vascular procedures and inferior petrosal sinus sampling.

For more information about Berkeley Medical Center, visit WVUMedicine.org/Berkeley. For more information about the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, visit WVUMedicine.org/RNI.