Media Release
Mangaluru, Jul 20: Reinforcing the message that "Time is Brain" and that age should never be a barrier to advanced stroke care, KMC Hospital Mangaluru successfully treated a 94-year-old woman who suffered an acute ischemic stroke, enabling her to regain mobility and return home with a good recovery.
The elderly patient was brought to KMC Hospital Mangaluru within 30 minutes of developing sudden weakness on the left side of her body, a classic warning sign of stroke. Recognizing the emergency, the hospital's stroke team immediately initiated evaluation under the leadership of Dr Rohit Pai, consultant neurologist, and Dr Keerthiraj B, interventional neuroradiologist. An MRI scan of the brain confirmed an acute ischemic stroke caused by a blockage in the right middle cerebral artery (MCA), one of the brain's major arteries responsible for supplying blood to areas that control movement, sensation, and speech.
To identify the exact location and extent of the blockage, the team performed Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA), an advanced imaging procedure that provides detailed pictures of the blood vessels. The scan revealed a clot completely blocking the right internal carotid artery, the main artery supplying blood to the brain, with the blockage extending into the middle cerebral artery. This significantly reduced blood flow to a large portion of the brain and required immediate intervention.
Following prompt consent from the patient's family, the multidisciplinary stroke team performed an emergency mechanical thrombectomy within an hour of her arrival. The minimally invasive procedure involved navigating a catheter through a blood vessel to the blocked artery in the brain to remove the clot and restore blood flow. The patient recovered remarkably well after the procedure and, by the time of discharge, was able to walk with support, showing significant improvement from the paralysis caused by the stroke.
Mechanical thrombectomy has become the gold standard treatment for selected patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by blockage of a major brain artery. However, its success depends largely on how quickly treatment is initiated. Doctors estimate that nearly 1.9 million brain cells (neurons) die every minute during an untreated stroke. This is why the phrase "Time is Brain" is central to stroke care, emphasizing that every minute of delay increases the risk of permanent disability.
Dr Rohit Pai, consultant neurologist, KMC Hospital Mangaluru, said, "Stroke is a medical emergency where every minute matters. Age alone should never prevent patients from receiving advanced stroke treatment. Early hospital arrival, rapid diagnosis, and timely intervention can significantly improve recovery, as demonstrated by this patient's excellent outcome."
Dr Keerthiraj B, interventional neuroradiologist, KMC Hospital Mangaluru, added, "Mechanical thrombectomy can restore blood flow by removing the clot before irreversible brain damage occurs. This case highlights that with prompt treatment and favourable clinical conditions, even patients in their nineties can achieve meaningful recovery. Time truly is brain."
This remarkable recovery highlights KMC Hospital Mangaluru's comprehensive stroke care programme, which combines rapid diagnosis, advanced brain imaging, round-the-clock neurological and neurointerventional expertise, and timely minimally invasive treatment. The case also serves as a powerful reminder that recognizing stroke symptoms early and seeking immediate medical attention can make the difference between permanent disability and a return to independent living, regardless of age.
About Manipal Hospitals
As a pioneer in healthcare, Manipal Hospitals is among the top healthcare providers in India serving over 8 million patients annually, with a focus on providing affordable, high-quality healthcare services. Manipal’s integrated network today has a pan-India footprint of 49 hospitals across 24 cities with 12,600 licensed beds, and a talented pool of 11,000+ doctors and an employee strength of over 34000.
Manipal Hospitals provides comprehensive curative and preventive care for a multitude of patients from around the globe. Manipal Hospitals is AAHRPP accredited and most of the hospitals in its network are NABH, NABL, ER, Blood Bank accredited and recognized for Nursing Excellence.