Treatment of stroke in an elderly woman at Al Habib Hospital in Al Khobar using interventional radiology
Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital in Al Khobar achieved a remarkable medical success by ending the suffering of a patient in her seventies who had been experiencing serious health complications as a result of repeated strokes. These strokes had caused severe complications that directly impacted her quality of life, most notably general weakness in her upper and lower limbs on the right side of her body, in addition to memory and concentration problems.
In detailing the case, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Abdulwahab, Consultant Interventional Radiologist and Head of the Medical Team, explained that the patient arrived at the emergency department in critical condition. The initial clinical examination revealed significant difficulty understanding others, slurred speech, marked weakness in hand movements, and facial numbness accompanied by a severe headache. These symptoms necessitated immediate intervention, including a series of detailed examinations such as a CT scan and an MRI of the head, along with the necessary laboratory tests.
The diagnostic results revealed severe narrowing of the carotid arteries, the primary cause of the strokes the patient suffered. Her condition was exacerbated by chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension. Consequently, the medical team, comprised of consultants in interventional radiology, neurology, and anesthesiology, decided to intervene urgently using advanced catheterization techniques to prevent future strokes that could be fatal or cause permanent disability.
This procedure is particularly important given the general medical context of strokes, as strokes resulting from carotid artery stenosis are among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Rapid and precise intervention in such cases is crucial in saving brain cells from permanent damage, a principle medically known as "time is brain." Interventional radiology techniques are therefore essential as a safe and effective alternative to traditional open surgery, allowing for the treatment of complex arterial stenosis with minimal invasiveness and high success rates.
Dr. Al-Abdulwahab noted that the procedure took only 40 minutes, during which the narrowed arteries in the neck were precisely accessed and widened, and a sophisticated stent was implanted to ensure the continued normal flow of blood to the brain. Following the procedure, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) for close monitoring. Thanks to God, and then to the efforts of the medical team and the availability of state-of-the-art equipment, the patient's condition improved gradually and rapidly, and she was discharged from the hospital several days later in good health. This reflects the significant advancements in the healthcare sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its ability to handle complex cases with world-class efficiency.
