Using the Merci Retrieval System, radiologists at Methodist University Hospital are able to quickly dislodge dangerous blood clots in the brain. The Merci Retrieval System is inserted through a catheter in the groin and fed up to the blood clot in the brain where a corkscrew-like basket collects the clot and pulls it out.

“I am thrilled to have this life-saving technology to help patients in our community,” said Bob Laster, M.D., a radiologist with Methodist University Hospital. “The Merci Retrieval System extends the window of opportunity for intervention for stroke patients from three hours to eight hours which gives patients more time for intervention and a better chance of a full recovery.”

According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the third leading cause of death and is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability. Every year in the United States 700,000 strokes are diagnosed. Someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds. 

Traditionally, stroke patients have had a three hour window for interventional venous treatment where tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) is given to a patient through a vein and a 6 hour window for intra-arterial treatment where tPA is given to a patient through an artery to reduce the damage a stroke can cause. During this window of opportunity, thrombolytic therapy with tPA is given intravenously to help dissolve a blood clot which can reduce brain damage and increase a patient’s chance of survival and recovery. When the Merci Retrieval System is used along with tPA, the window of opportunity stretches to eight hours.

“By removing a significant portion of the clot, Merci helps tPA as it works to dissolve a blood clot,” explained Dr. Laster. “The tPA then has a better chance of dissolving the mass and restoring blood flow to the brain.”

For more information, visit The Neuroscience Institute.