Advanced Practicum on the Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke

Practical courses in intra-arterial thrombolytic stroke treatment are organized by Dr. Stanley Barnwell, the neurointerventional service of the Institute and the Oregon Stroke Treatment Center at OHSU. Workshops are offered to interventional radiologists, neuroradiologists and cardiologists who have experience in microcatheter and microguidewire use.

The two-day practical course consists of didactic training on local intra-arterial thrombolysis for treatment of acute ischemic stroke. This therapy is offering promise in the treatment of large vessel (internal carotid, middle cerebral and basilar arteries) thrombo-embolic occlusion. The course involves training, with emphasis on the technique, and difficulties, of intracranial therapy, and on complication avoidance. The course also offers hands-on application in the Institute’s research laboratory and is geared to the stepwise practical approach for treating a stroke patient.

The goal of the course is to produce highly capable physicians and, ultimately, to assist those trainees in establishing their own comprehensive stroke centers, thus promoting better patient care. The stroke therapy course is approved for 13 hours of category 1 CME credit. Since late 1997, 96 interventionalists have participated in this program.