Stroke Program History
The stroke program was started by Dr. Jim Grotta in 1979 and was supported by the cerebrovascular disease related research interests of the first two Department of Neurology Chairmen (Bill Fields–management of extracranial carotid disease and Frank Yatsu –stroke risk factors). The program was initially shaped by important collaborations with faculty in stroke epidemiology, clinical trial design, and basic science, and the Houston Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
Important milestones have included:
Sean Savitz directs the stroke program which has substantially expanded over the years to encompass the full spectrum of stroke care and stroke research. The stroke program has divisions in pre-hospital care, acute stroke, brain hemorrhage, stroke recovery/rehabilitation, stroke prevention, telemedicine, neuroimaging, and basic science.
Stroke Facts
The stroke program was started by Dr. Jim Grotta in 1979 and was supported by the cerebrovascular disease related research interests of the first two Department of Neurology Chairmen (Bill Fields–management of extracranial carotid disease and Frank Yatsu –stroke risk factors). The program was initially shaped by important collaborations with faculty in stroke epidemiology, clinical trial design, and basic science, and the Houston Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
Important milestones have included:
- Participation as one of the lead sites in the NINDS tPA Stroke Studies from 1990-1995
- A P50 program grant from 2002 to 2014 to serve as one of 8 centers in the US to conduct specialized translational research to develop novel acute stroke therapies (SPOTRIAS)
- A T32 stroke fellowship training grant to train the next generation of academic leaders in cerebrovascular disease
- Participation as a regional coordinating center in the new NINDS Stroke Network (StrokeNet).
- The first joint commission certified comprehensive stroke center in the state
- The first mobile stroke unit in the country
Sean Savitz directs the stroke program which has substantially expanded over the years to encompass the full spectrum of stroke care and stroke research. The stroke program has divisions in pre-hospital care, acute stroke, brain hemorrhage, stroke recovery/rehabilitation, stroke prevention, telemedicine, neuroimaging, and basic science.
Stroke Facts
- Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death in the United States, killing more than 129,000 people a year.
- Someone in the U.S. has a stroke about once every 40 seconds.
- Stroke is the leading preventable cause of disability.
- African Americans have nearly twice the risk for a first ever stroke than white people, and a much higher death rate from stroke.
- Stroke has significant economic impact with $2.7 billion in Texas hospital charges in 2010.
- The highest mortality rates from stroke are found among the African American population, both in Texas and in the United States.
- Younger African-Americans are two to three times more likely to experience a stroke than their Caucasian peers and four times more likely to die from one.
- For ischemic stroke, there is one FDA-approved treatment, the clot-busting drug IV tPA.
- Recanalization of occluded arteries by tPA treatment within 3 hours after onset of ischemic stroke significantly reduces disability and death.
- During an untreated acute stroke, 1.9 million brain cells die per minute.
- Before administration of tPA therapy, neurological examination, imaging, and laboratory analyses are required to exclude hemorrhagic stroke, stroke mimics or other contraindications for thrombolysis.
- Despite the potential for thrombolytic therapy to improve the outcomes of patients after ischemic stroke, only 15–40% arrive at the hospital early enough to be eligible for treatment.
- Studies have estimated that only 1.8%– 3.0% of all ischemic stroke patients in the United States are treated with tPA.
- Since 1989, the UTHealth Stroke Team with Memorial Hermann has had a rapid response stroke team, which works closely with HFD-EMS to recognize and deliver acute stroke patients to the Emergency Department at MHH-TMC.
- At our Stroke Center, over 30% of ischemic stroke patients are treated—roughly 10 times the national average.
- Because of the need to have the patients evaluated and imaged in the ED before starting treatment, average time to treatment for these patients is over 2 hours from symptom onset.