Ultrasound Technology Can Treat Severe Strokes

By Craig Taylor

March 3, 2010

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating form of stroke that affects more than 100,000 Americans each year. Half of all patients die within one month of the event, and those who survive typically suffer dramatic loss of brain function and motor skills.

A groundbreaking study conducted on patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage showed that a minimally invasive treatment approach that combines catheter-delivered ultrasound and the strong clot-busting drug plasminogen activator (rt-PA), removed the hemorrhage.

“The most surprising thing we discovered was how rapidly the hemorrhage disappeared with ultrasound,” said Dr. David Newell, co-executive director of the Swedish Neuroscience Institute. “And there were virtually no side effects, such as site infections or bleeding, during or after treatment.” Dr. Newell emphasized that a multi-center trial for safety and efficacy with a redesigned catheter is warranted. “If this technique is proven to work on several hundred patients in a controlled study, it will provide huge benefits.”

The study was made possible by funds provided through the tobacco settlement appropriated in Washington state.