Trust top in the country for blood clot procedure that reduces brain damage in stroke patients
According to the latest figures Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is sending more patients for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) than any other district hospital in the country.
MT is most commonly used to treat acute ischemic strokes, which is a life-threatening condition that occurs when a blood clot or plaque blocks blood flow to the brain. During the procedure, a wire and stent is moved towards the brain to pull out the clot blocking blood flow. This treatment can significantly improve stroke outcomes, potentially reducing disability and improving recovery for stroke patients. In the best possible outcome, a patient could even walk out of hospital the following day.
The Stroke Team, based at Wycombe Hospital, sent 8.4% of stroke patients for thrombectomy during 2023-24, compared to the national average of just 2.7%.
The Trust was also 4th in the country for what is called DIDO (door in door out) times. This means the average time it took for patients to be seen and scanned and then transferred out for the thrombectomy, usually to Oxford or Charing Cross. The DIDO out time for Wycombe Hospital was 87 minutes, compared to the national median of 133 minutes.
Andrew McLaren, Chief Medical Officer at the Trust, said: “Mechanical thrombectomy is one of the most effective clinical interventions that we have in medicine, and we are very proud that our stroke team has been able to offer it to so many eligible patients here in Buckinghamshire. It makes all the difference to patients who have suffered a stroke as they are able to recover more quickly and get back to their lives.”