An international clinical study published Feb. 10. in the New England Journal of Medicine has led to the recognition of thrombectomy in treating strokes.

One of many health systems from across the globe providing data for the analysis was Jefferson Health Abington.

The medical definition of a stroke is the condition that results from a clot blocking blood flow from/to the brain.

There are two types:

• Ischemic stroke, the obstruction of the brain’s blood flow; because they can be temporary, these are commonly referred to as mini strokes
• Hemmorhagic stroke, in which a blockage can rupture in the cranium, causing damage that classifies them as large strokes

The findings are significant because thrombectomy was generally recommended only for small-stroke patients, with large-stroke sufferers treated with medications only.

“We found that almost 20 percent of the [large-stroke] patients who received a thrombectomy ended up with functional independence, going back to their family, to the society as almost normal or not needing support,” said Dr. Amrou Sarraj, lead author of the study.

Jefferson Health in Abington was one of 31 medical centers that participated. Worldwide, data were also received from Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

More on the effectiveness of thrombectomy for stroke patients is at the New England Journal of Medicine.

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The Mayo Clinic illustrates stroke.