Thrombolysis: Clot-Busting Drugs and Clot Removal Treatment

Quickly restoring blood flow to the brain is critical in the event of ischemic stroke, when an obstruction develops in a blood vessel supplying the brain. Both medications and procedures may be used to remove the blockage.

Stopping More Strokes With Thrombolysis Treatment

Restoring Blood Flow
This image shows how applying a thrombolytic (clot-dissolving drug) directly to a blockage (intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy) or removing the clot with a special device can restore blood flow to the brain.

Studies have shown that thrombolytic drugs, or clot-busters, may effectively stop ischemic strokes and improve patient outcomes if specialists trained in giving the drugs are immediately available. Ischemic strokes are the most common type of stroke and are caused by blockage of an artery. An intravenous thrombolytic (clot-dissolving drug) may stop an ischemic stroke if given to carefully selected patients within a few hours of stroke onset. Neuro-interventional treatments offered at Froedtert hospital can expand the treatment window to 24 hours and beyond in some cases. This means a high percentage of appropriate patients can receive thrombolytics or a procedure to open a blocked blood vessel.

Our stroke team has successfully used thrombolytics since 1996, and actively teach other hospitals how to safely administer this drug. Other new advances in stroke treatment are available, including minimally invasive procedures to restore blood flow to the brain. These procedures may remove clots, prop arteries open (carotid artery stenting) and apply clot-dissolving drugs directly to the blockage (intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy).

Intravenous (IV) Thrombolytic

During the first few hours following an ischemic stroke, an IV thrombolytic drug may be used in select patients to break up clots. Around the clock, a team of experienced Froedtert & MCW stroke specialists is available to rapidly administer a thrombolytic drug. Patient outcome statistics show that we are leaders among Wisconsin hospitals in administering an IV thrombolytic quickly.

Endovascular Treatment and Clot-Removing Devices

Clot-Removing Device
The dark streak in the mesh tube is a blood clot extracted with a clot-removing device during endovascular treatment. The procedure is used to restore blood flow to the brain when stroke patients arrive at the hospital too late for effective use of an IV thrombolytic or if an IV thrombolytic is not appropriate for them.

If patients arrive at the hospital too late for effective use of an IV thrombolytic or if an IV thrombolytic is not appropriate for them, physicians may use endovascular surgery procedures or neuro-interventional techniques to remove the clot. Endovascular procedures are those performed from inside the blood vessel. 

They involve navigating a small catheter (a hollow plastic tube) through the blood vessels to the location of the blockage. After the catheter is positioned within the blocked artery, thrombolytics can be injected to dissolve the clot. Alternatively, a device can be used to suction the clot (aspiration) or trap the clot and remove it (retrieval). Our involvement in clinical trials means we bring the latest clot-busting technology and practices to stroke patients.