May 21, 2020
South Texas Health System McAllen was recently designated as the Upper Valley's first and only DNV-GL Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center.
STHS McAllen CEO Todd Mann says, "Only 90 facilities in the U.S. have earned this designation, and now our hospital is the first one in Hidalgo County."
Neurologist Alexandros Georgiadis, MD, stresses the importance of having a certified Comprehensive Stroke Center close to home. "Time lost is brain lost — every minute, two million neurons die. The sooner a stroke is addressed, the better the chance the patient has for a good neurological recovery," he says. "We are helping to make a difference in the lives of many, and patients don’t have to travel outside the area. They can be diagnosed and treated right here."
The hospital's updated technology allows doctors to quickly see the blood vessels in the head and neck in 3-D, identify the problem and correct it. Dr. Georgiadis says another plus is that the procedures are minimally invasive. "For the patient, that can mean less risk of infection, less bleeding and less pain after," he says.
Along with stroke and aneurysm, doctors can also place stents and repair brain and spinal artery and venous malformations. For those with a possible stroke, clot-busting medication can be administered while checking to see if there are any large clots that need to be retrieved. All of these services are available.