(Mechanical Thrombectomy)

Stroke Intervention

Advanced Brain Stroke Treatment in Mohali, Chandigarh, Punjab |

Advanced Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke – A Minimally Invasive Procedure to Remove Blood Clots from the Brain, Available 24/7 in Mohali.

What Is Stroke Intervention (Mechanical Thrombectomy)?

A stroke happens when a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain, cutting off oxygen and nutrients. Brain cells begin to die within minutes. Doctors call this condition an acute ischemic stroke. It is a life-threatening emergency.

Mechanical thrombectomy is a modern, minimally invasive procedure that physically removes the blood clot from the blocked artery. Think of it like a precision plumbing job for your brain’s blood vessels.

An interventional radiologist, like Dr. Tegbir Sidhu, threads a thin tube (catheter) through an artery in the groin up to the brain. Using a tiny device at the tip of the catheter, the doctor either traps and pulls the clot out or suctions it away. This immediately restores blood flow.

This endovascular treatment offers another option when clot-busting drugs aren’t enough or doctors cannot use them.. It is a cornerstone of emergency stroke treatment, available 24/7 at advanced stroke-ready hospitals.

Who Needs This Treatment?

You might need this brain aneurysm treatment in Mohali if you have been diagnosed with an unruptured or a ruptured aneurysm. The decision depends on several factors, including your aneurysm’s size, location, and shape.

This procedure is often considered when:

✅ The stroke is severe, and a major blood vessel is blocked.

✅ Intravenous clot-busting medication (tPA) does not work effectively or doctors cannot give it.

✅The patient reaches the hospital within the appropriate treatment window.

Stroke Symptoms You Must Know

Recognizing the signs of a stroke is crucial. Time is brain. If you see any of these symptoms in yourself or someone else, act F.A.S.T. and call an emergency ambulance immediately.

F – Face Drooping: Is one side of the face numb or drooping?
A – Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb?
S – Speech Difficulty: Is speech slurred or hard to understand?
T – Time: Time to call for emergency help.

Other sudden symptoms include:

Sudden confusion or trouble understanding.
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance.
A sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

Causes & Risk Factors

Most strokes are caused by a blood clot blocking blood flow to the brain. Understanding the risk factors can help in prevention. Common causes and risks include:

Benefits of the Procedure

Choosing mechanical thrombectomy offers significant advantages over other treatments or doing nothing.

High Success Rate:
Restores blood flow in over 80-90% of cases.

Improved Outcomes:
Significantly increases the chance of a good functional recovery and independence.

Minimally Invasive:
This is a brain clot removal procedure done through a tiny puncture in the groin. No large incisions or open brain surgery are required.

Extended Time Window:
Offers a lifeline to patients up to 24 hours after a stroke when other medications aren’t an option.

Rapid Relief:
It works to reverse disability by restoring blood flow immediately.

How the Procedure Works

The procedure is performed by a specialist in an angiography suite. Dr. Tegbir Sidhu uses real-time X-ray imaging to guide the tiny instruments through the blood vessels.

Step-by-Step:

Access: A small incision is made in the groin to access the femoral artery.
Navigation: A thin catheter is carefully guided through the blood vessels up to the eck and into the brain arteries.
Clot Removal: Once the clot is reached, the doctor uses a special device to remove it.
Stent Retriever: The doctor pushes a tiny mesh stent into the clot, allows it to expand and trap the clot, and then pulls it out.
Aspiration: A catheter uses gentle suction to pull the clot out.
Restoration: “The procedure is complete once blood flow returns to the brain.
Closure: The catheter is withdrawn, and the small puncture site is closed.

Why Choose Dr. Tegbir Sidhu?

For a complex, time-critical procedure like mechanical thrombectomy, you need a skilled and experienced specialist. Dr. Tegbir Sidhu is a highly regarded Principal Consultant in Interventional Radiology at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mohali.

✅ Expertise: With over 15 years of experience, he is an expert in endovascular stroke treatment.

✅ Proven Track Record: He has successfully performed mechanical thrombectomy for a wide range of patients, including complex and rare cases, even in children.

✅ Multidisciplinary Team: At Max Hospital Mohali, he works with a dedicated team of neurologists, neurosurgeons, and anesthetists to ensure comprehensive stroke care.

✅ 24×7 Availability: As part of a comprehensive stroke centre in Mohali, the team is ready to treat patients around the clock, understanding that a stroke doesn’t follow business hours.

Treatment Process Step-by-Step

Emergency Arrival

You or your loved one arrives at a stroke-ready hospital.

Rapid Assessment

A neurologist assesses the symptoms, and a CT or MRI scan is done to locate the clot.

Decision

The stroke team decides if mechanical thrombectomy is the best option.

The Procedure

The patient is prepared for the minimally invasive thrombectomy procedure.

Recovery & Monitoring

After the procedure, the patient is shifted to the ICU for close monitoring.

Rehabilitation

Once stable, a comprehensive rehabilitation plan begins.

Recovery is a journey unique to each patient. After the procedure, patients are closely monitored in an intensive care unit (ICU) to check vital signs and neurological status.

Short-Term: The immediate focus is on preventing complications and starting simple movements. The hospital stay is typically a few days.
Long-Term: The most rapid improvement often happens in the first 3-6 months.
Rehabilitation: This is crucial and involves:

Physical Therapy: To regain strength, balance, and walking.
Occupational Therapy: To relearn daily tasks like dressing and eating.
Speech Therapy: To help with speaking or swallowing difficulties.

Mechanical thrombectomy is generally safe. However, like any medical procedure, there are some risks, although serious complications are rare.

Bleeding: Bruising or bleeding at the catheter insertion site in the groin.
Vessel Damage: Injury to the blood vessel from the catheter.
New Stroke: In very rare cases, a piece of the clot can break off and travel to another artery.
Bleeding in the Brain: Known as an intracranial hemorrhage, which can be serious.

Your doctor will carefully weigh these risks against the very high risk of severe disability or death from an untreated major stroke. The benefits overwhelmingly outweigh the risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is mechanical thrombectomy for stroke?

It is a minimally invasive emergency procedure that physically removes a blood clot from a blocked brain artery to restore blood flow during an acute ischemic stroke.

How long can you do a mechanical thrombectomy?

The procedure can be performed up to 24 hours after stroke symptoms start in carefully selected patients, offering a much longer window than clot-busting drugs.

Is mechanical thrombectomy a major surgery?

No. It is a minimally invasive, image-guided endovascular procedure performed through a small puncture in the groin, not open brain surgery.

Who is a candidate for mechanical thrombectomy?

Patients with an acute ischemic stroke caused by a large blood clot in a major brain artery, especially if clot-busting drugs are not an option or have failed.

Where is the best stroke treatment centre near me in Mohali?

Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mohali, is a leading 24×7 stroke-ready hospital offering advanced mechanical thrombectomy and comprehensive acute ischemic stroke treatment in the region.

What is the success rate of mechanical thrombectomy?

The procedure is highly effective, with a technical success rate of restoring blood flow in over 80-90% of cases.

How much does mechanical thrombectomy cost in Chandigarh?

The cost can vary based on the hospital and the individual case. It’s best to consult with the hospital for a personalized estimate.

A stroke is a race against time.

Don’t wait.

Every minute matters.

If you or a loved one is experiencing stroke symptoms, call for an emergency ambulance immediately.

For consultations or to learn more about advanced stroke care, reach out to Dr. Tegbir Sidhu’s team at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mohali. Timely intervention can save lives and prevent disability.