Six successful procedures carried out using new stroke-reversing equipment

New equipment, introduced some weeks ago at Mater Dei, allows doctors to remove blood clots from patients who have suffered strokes and six such procedures have already been carried out.

Parliamentary secretary for health Chris Fearne said that the equipment was part of the government’s commitment to providing the health sector with cutting-edge technology.

Neuroradiologist Reuben Grech explained how the equipment allows doctors to access the clot within the blood vessel, while the patient is under aneasthetic.

Hepatobiliary radiologist Kelvin Cortis said that not every stroke sufferer could benefit from this equipment – only clots caught within the first six hours could be treated in this way.

So far six of these procedures have taken place at Mater Dei, all of which have been successful. Each procedure costs about €6,000.

Today is World Stroke Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the condition, which this year was the cause of death of 116 Maltese men and 160 women.

Stroke is the cause of 7% of all deaths in men and 10% of female deaths, making it the third most common cause of death in men and the second in women.