An 84-year-old Mumbai resident, Mrs. Nirmala Desai, suffered an acute ischemic stroke on 2 April 2019 and was successfully treated at Wockhardt Hospital Mumbai Central after reaching within the critical treatment window.
She initially presented with loss of speech and paralysis of the right upper and lower limbs. She was promptly evaluated in the emergency department, diagnosed with acute stroke, and administered thrombolytic (clot-busting) therapy. The intervention restored blood flow to the affected brain region and helped prevent permanent neurological damage.
Clinical overview
Stroke, particularly ischemic stroke, occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked, leading to cell death. In India, it is a major cause of death and disability, with an estimated:
- ~1.5 million new stroke cases annually
- ~0.5 million deaths annually
Medical experts emphasize that treatment is highly time-sensitive:
- Thrombolytic therapy is most effective within 4.5 hours of symptom onset
- In select cases, mechanical clot retrieval may be used up to 6 hours or more
Outcome in this case
- Patient reached hospital within 20 minutes of symptom onset
- Received immediate MRI evaluation and thrombolytic therapy
- Began regaining speech and limb movement within about an hour
- Discharged after 4 days with significant recovery
Medical commentary
Neurologist Dr. Prashant Makhija noted that rapid diagnosis and timely thrombolytic administration were critical in preventing long-term disability. He also highlighted that advanced clot retrieval techniques are available when medication alone is insufficient.
