But a promising pilot study at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center could save stroke victims from suffering such devastating disabilities. I feel I'm a miracle man. His recovery was almost immediate.
Time is critical.
T-PA, a thrombolytic drug that helps dissolve blood clots that block blood flow to the brain, is often given to stroke victims intravenously. In Gerlach's case, a catheter was threaded through an incision in his groin all the way to his brain where the drug was released. The results were immediate and dramatic. If Dr. Weschler's pilot study continues to show promise, it could become standard treatment for stroke patients.