Penn Highlands Elk Expands Stroke Services With CT Perfusion Technology
New imaging capability will help identify stroke patients who may benefit from treatment beyond traditional time windows
Penn Highlands Elk is upgrading its stroke services with the addition of CT perfusion technology, an advanced imaging capability that can provide physicians with important information to help determine the most appropriate treatment for patients experiencing a stroke.
CT perfusion is a specialized imaging test that uses an injected contrast dye and rapid X-ray scans to measure blood flow through the brain. The technology helps identify areas of the brain that have sustained damage during a stroke as well as areas that have reduced blood flow but may still be saved with timely treatment.
The addition of CT perfusion at Penn Highlands Elk supports Penn Highlands Healthcare’s updated clinical approach to identifying patients who may be eligible for treatment with tenecteplase, or TNK, a powerful, fast-acting emergency medication used to dissolve dangerous blood clots during a defined treatment window.
“Stroke care is a race against time, but not every stroke progresses in exactly the same way,” said Gerald Smith, DO, MBA, director of emergency medicine at Penn Highlands Elk. “CT perfusion gives our physicians additional information about what is happening inside the brain, helping us identify patients who may benefit from treatment even when they present outside the traditional treatment window. Expanding this capability at Penn Highlands Elk means we can provide more timely, informed stroke care for patients in the communities we serve.”
Bringing Advanced Stroke Care Closer to Patients
The addition of CT perfusion at Penn Highlands Elk, a certified Acute Stroke Ready Hospital, expands advanced stroke imaging within the health system. Penn Highlands DuBois, a certified Primary Stroke Center, currently employs CT perfusion technology, and Penn Highlands Healthcare is actively working toward introducing this offering at other facilities across the region.
Increasing access to CT perfusion throughout the health system may help reduce delays in treatment by decreasing the need to transfer patients to another facility solely to obtain advanced imaging.
“Every minute matters when treating a stroke, and expanding access to advanced imaging can help us make important treatment decisions more quickly,” said Dr. Smith. “This is another step in strengthening stroke care across the system and ensuring that patients have access to the right resources when they need them most.”
Anyone experiencing possible stroke symptoms should seek emergency medical attention immediately. Common warning signs include sudden weakness or numbness, particularly on one side of the body; sudden confusion or difficulty speaking or understanding; sudden trouble seeing; sudden difficulty walking, dizziness or loss of balance; or a sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
