Wider thrombectomy window chosen as No. 3 medical innovation for 2019
The expanded window for thrombectomy in acute stroke care ranked No. 3 on Cleveland Clinic’s top 10 medical innovations for 2019—one of several developments on the list with implications for cardiovascular treatment.
The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association in January released their latest treatment guidelines, with one of the major changes being a recommendation to extend the time patients with acute ischemic stroke are eligible for thrombectomy from six hours to 24.
“This lengthened timeframe is anticipated to lower the risk of disability and provide opportunity for recovery to an increased number of future stroke patients,” the Cleveland Clinic stated in its news release. A panel of Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists—led by Michael Roizen, MD, chief wellness officer—selected the list of top 10 emerging technologies or innovations.
Other developments in the cardiovascular space that made the cut include a visor to scan for hemorrhagic strokes in the prehospital setting, which could speed diagnosis and time to treatment (No. 7); innovation in robotic surgery (No. 8); and mitral and tricuspid valve percutaneous replacement and repair (No. 9).
The full top 10 is below:
- Non-opioid alternative therapies for chronic pain, guided by pharmacogenomic testing
- The advent of artificial intelligence in healthcare
- Expanded window for acute stroke intervention
- Advances in immunotherapy for cancer treatment
- Patient-specific products achieved with 3D printing
- Virtual and mixed reality for medical education
- Visor for prehospital stroke diagnosis
- Innovation in robotic surgery
- Mitral and tricuspid valve replacement and repair
- RNA-based therapies
Daniel joined TriMed’s Chicago editorial team in 2017 as a Cardiovascular Business writer. He previously worked as a writer for daily newspapers in North Dakota and Indiana.