Fall 2002 Forward to a Friend


 

 

 

 

 

 

According to the American Heart Association, strokes are the third-leading cause of death in the United States and a major cause of serious, long-term disability. On average, someone in the United States suffers a stroke every 53 seconds.


Dr. Kissela standing in front ofhis Subaru Outback Wagon

The University of Cincinnati is one of the nation’s leading centers in the battle against stroke. The Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Team has made major contributions in the areas of stroke treatment, prevention and epidemiology. The team – a group of physicians and many other allied health professionals – serves the 1.3 million residents of the Cincinnati area by caring for all acute stroke victims.

Brett Kissela is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Cincinnati and a member of the stroke team. Dr. Kissela relies on his 2001 Subaru Outback to help him provide care at a moment’s notice.

A stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery supplying the brain. If the clot is not dissolved as soon as possible, the part of the brain fed by the artery will not get enough oxygen and may be irreversibly damaged. Clot-busting medicine must be administered to stroke victims within three hours.

When an acute stroke patient arrives at any of Cincinnati’s 16 hospitals, the stroke team’s members are immediately called in to assess the patient supply treatment. The team’s physicians take calls 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“I love the Outback,” Dr. Kissela says. “It’s particularly well suited to my profession. I have to get to the patient quickly in any kind of weather if we’re going to reverse the stroke. A dependable vehicle like the Outback is a necessity.”