Stroke is one of Australia’s biggest killers and a leading cause of disability.
In the last seven years, Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) has both witnessed and been part of incredible developments in technology and innovation surrounding the treatment of stroke patients.
As a result, RNSH has been able to vastly improve a patient’s quality of life with specialised treatments and procedures, such as INR, that in some cases have restored independence and decreased the likelihood of disability.
“The unit that took out my clot out is only working from 9am to 5pm. There are a lot of patients that couldn’t get here in time to get their clots out. So that’s why I decided to help out, so that other patients can get here 24/7 and be able to get the treatment they deserve.”
In 2020, the Australian Bureau of Statistics named stroke as the third leading cause of death in Australia.
Although there are a number of different types, about 80% of strokes are ischaemic strokes. These are strokes that occur when the arteries to your brain become narrowed or blocked, causing severely reduced blood flow to the brain. This may result in damage to the brain leading to severe disability and in some cases death.
Approximately 65% of stroke survivors suffer a disability which impedes their ability to carry out daily living activities.
This is why improving access to specialised treatments and procedures is becoming even more essential.
INR is a sub-speciality of Radiology, Neurosurgery and Neurology that deals with diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases of the brain, head, neck and spine. INR is capable of delivering precise, targeted treatment for complex diseases and disorders using minimally invasive image-guided techniques and technology.
By treating these conditions through an endovascular approach (using arteries and veins) to reach the site of disease, the need for open surgery can often be avoided. This can not only drastically improve recovery time for patients but can also decrease procedural risks and associated costs.
Endovascular Clot Retrieval (ECR) is a ground-breaking procedure, with the first mechanical stent thrombectomy performed in Australia occurring in 2009. This treatment is used with patients who suffer an ischaemic stroke and uses the latest imaging technology to guide a tiny tube through the body and into the brain in order to locate a blood clot. A stent or suction device is then used to capture and remove the clot.
This has produced incredible results for patients by restoring independence to 70% of eligible stroke patients who undergo ECR. Restoring independence means patients can return to eating, speaking and walking without assistance — it can even mean they can return to work. This can have a tremendous impact on patients, their families and even the broader community.
RNSH is seeing an ever-increasing need for this type of stroke treatment and for our INR consultants to extend their services.
Created in 1992, RNSH has one of two foundational INR Units in Australia. Since its creation, RNSH INR consultants have been at the forefront of research and innovation in the speciality.
RNSH is one of six hospitals in New South Wales equipped to perform ECR procedures. However, current resources are limited and require expansion to meet demand. At present RNSH does not have a specialised INR suite dedicated to neurovascular patient procedures. The current angio-suites are hybrid suites that are shared with the radiology and cardiology departments.
Until late 2022, RNSH was only able to perform INR procedures within set time frames – daily between 8am and 5pm. Patients who required an ECR outside of these hours had to be transferred to another hospital. When it comes to ECR, every hour treatment is delayed a patient’s chance of recovery is reduced by 15% to 20%. Since January 2023, the operational hours have changed and the service is now available 24/7.
However, the ECR, and other neurovascular patients, still currently experience delays due to theatre availability with only one dedicated room. The creation of other specialised INR suites is a crucial factor that will allow RNSH to extend their services and ensure patients receive the immediate treatment they require.
In order to provide the community with a 24-hour service where INR procedures, such as ECR, can be performed when needed in a timely manner, RNSH relies on the creation of specialised and dedicated INR angio-suites.
Specialised INR angio-suites at RNSH will allow to:
Having these facilities will allow RNSH to have a comprehensive neurovascular service and drastically reduce treatment times and delays.
Learn more about this project and how you can help us create specialised INR Suites at Royal North Shore Hospital to improve patient access to the best treatment options.
Your gift will have a real tangible impact on individuals and members of the community who suffer from neurovascular disorders and need quick and effective treatment.
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