Stroke and Cerebrovascular Program

Together, Overlake Medical Center and EvergreenHealth are making world-class cerebrovascular care accessible to our Eastside community 24/7.

With strokes and other emergency cerebrovascular conditions, it’s critical to receive a diagnosis and appropriate treatments as quickly as possible. At the Eastside Neuroscience Institute, Overlake and EvergreenHealth cerebrovascular experts come together to provide patients with the best possible outcomes. Our entire team is trained in the most advanced treatments, and we’re available 24/7. That means you can trust you’ll receive the highest level of care no matter when you arrive at our locations in Bellevue and Kirkland.

Conditions we treat

Our experts provide preventative care, acute treatment and follow-up services for these conditions:

• Stroke: Also known as a brain attack, a stroke is when blood flow or oxygen stops to the brain. This is typically caused by a blood clot or bleeding into the brain.
• Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs): These are like strokes that don’t last for very long. They have the same symptoms and are a sign that you are high risk to have a full stroke.
• Brain aneurysms: Weakened areas in arteries in the brain that can tear (rupture).
• Intracranial hemorrhage: Also known as a brain bleed, intracranial hemorrhage is bleeding within the brain or skull. This is typically caused by a ruptured artery or head injury.
• Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs): These are abnormal groups of arteries and veins that can rupture and reduce oxygen to the brain or spine.
• Carotid artery disease: Also called stenosis or narrowing, carotid artery disease happens when one of the major arteries to the brain becomes narrowed.
• Moyamoya disease: A rare disease caused by blocked arteries at the base of the skull.

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Treatments

We tailor the treatment plan to meet each patient’s needs. The treatment plan can include:

• Medication: About 80% of strokes are ischemic, which means there is a blockage in blood flow to the brain caused by a blood clot. When patients experience a new stroke, time is critical. Some patients who present to the hospital within a critical time window may be candidates for treatments that can reduce their risk of disability or even death from stroke. Our team will immediately evaluate stroke patients and determine if they may be a candidate for a clot busting drug to dissolve the blood clot or a minimally invasive surgical procedure to extract the blood clot.
• Catheter-based procedures: In these minimally invasive procedures, the physician treats damaged or blocked arteries in the brain by using a long, thin tube (catheter). The catheter is inserted through a tiny incision in the groin and guided to the brain. Our experts are the only practitioners on the Eastside to provide these advanced procedures, which can result in dramatic improvements if patients are treated immediately.
• Open surgery: When the cerebrovascular condition is caused by bleeding in the brain, sometimes open surgery is necessary. Our Overlake and EvergreenHealth cerebrovascular neurosurgeons are trained in the least invasive surgical options. This enables them to use advanced methods to provide effective surgical treatment and the fastest possible recovery.
• Rehabilitation: After being treated and stabilized, our rehabilitation specialists help you regain as much function as possible. This can include the ability to move, swallow and speak. Our rehab team starts assessing and treating your condition while you’re recovering in the hospital and continues care as needed after you’re discharged home.

A team of top experts delivering the best possible outcomes

Our multidisciplinary team includes emergency physicians, neurologists, interventional radiologists, neurosurgeons, hospitalists and nurses. The entire team has specialized training in cerebrovascular conditions. Together, they evaluate each patient from all angles to quickly reach a diagnosis and determine the best treatment plan.

Our team has unmatched cerebrovascular expertise on the Eastside, and we’ve received many regional and national awards for our care. Overlake is recognized as a Thrombectomy Capable Center by The Joint Commission, and EvergreenHealth is recognized as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by DNV Healthcare, which means we meet the highest national standards for stroke care.

Advanced treatments and technology

Our experts use state-of-the-art technology to diagnose and treat emergency cerebrovascular conditions as quickly as possible. If surgery is necessary, we use advanced technology to treat patients with the least invasive method. This technology includes biplane imaging, which combines diagnosis and treatment into one minimally invasive procedure. Our experts often use biplane imaging to treat stroke patients with catheter-based procedures. Because it’s minimally invasive, patients recover faster than traditional open surgery.

Comprehensive follow-up care after strokes and other cerebrovascular conditions

While recovering in the hospital, here’s what you can expect from our rehabilitation specialists:

• Physical therapists may take you through range-of-motion exercises to evaluate and restore your ability to move.
• Speech therapists screen you for facial weakness and assess whether you have difficulty speaking or processing what is being said to you so you can begin the process of recovery.
  Occupational therapists help you and your family understand your condition and how you may need assistance in your daily routine when you return home.
• Our rehab team and neurologists teach you and your family about any medications you may need. They may also explain ways to prevent strokes and other cerebrovascular conditions in the future, including diet and lifestyle changes. We’re here to answer all your questions about your condition and follow-up care.

After you’re discharged home, our team continues working with you to provide any support or treatment you need for improved quality of life.

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BE FAST: Recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke