Revolutionary drug for stroke victims
A new drug for stroke victims has started saving lives in Northern Ireland.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Thrombolysis has been available in the United States for 12 years.
Robert Hamilton from Crossgar, Co Down, was one of the first to receive the new treatment after suffering a stroke in August 2008 when he was just 50.
He has since resumed a normal life.
But had his GP not insisted the ambulance rush him directly to the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald it might have been a different story.
According to Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke, thrombolysis breaks up blood clots which cause 80% of strokes but it has to be taken within three hours of onset.
It is only available in Northern Ireland's major hospitals and it is not without risk as Robert told UTV.
"I couldn't walk, couldn't talk. I had no power in my arm. I was just lying there. We got to the hospital and I couldn't consent. We knew there was a risk of bleeding to the brain but we went for it and I've no disabilities, no long-term trouble," he said.
Robert's wife Alison recalled how difficult it was to consent to the treatment due to the risks involved.
"Robert couldn't consent, so I had to. There are risks as it is administered directly into the brain but we thought of the wider picture. We have two young children. We didn't want them to be without a father," she said.
"I was very emotional. I still find it difficult but we look on and are positive. We have Robert back and we just take each day as it comes."
After receiving the drug, Robert was out of hospital within a week, when most stroke victims are in hospital for at least six weeks.
Andrew Dougal, from Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke, told UTV it was vital to take action fast when stroke symptoms occur.
"Stroke victims in the past have sat for hours in Accident and Emergency. Hopefully that won't happen now," he said.
"We've been campaigning for this for 12 years. This drug has been available in the United States for 12 years and it's taken us this time to get it on the ground here."
Every year around 4,000 people in Northern Ireland suffer a stroke. The condition is the third biggest killer in the region, and the leading cause of severe disability in Northern Ireland.
© UTV News