Ascension Saint Thomas

Advanced stroke care in Indianapolis

Neurologists and neurosurgeons at Ascension St. Vincent in Indiana, deliver stroke care and rehabilitation to help you recover after a stroke.
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If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of a stroke — every second counts. Signs of a stroke include sudden loss of balance, lost or unclear vision, face drooping or uneven smile, arm weakness and difficulty speaking. Ascension St. Vincent stroke centers and emergency rooms deliver advanced stroke care 24/7. Our doctors specialize in treating stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIA). We quickly work together to help improve blood flow to the brain, stop a brain bleed, and help prevent future strokes.

 
By answering these questions, you can start to better understand your risk:
  • Are you over 65?
  • Do you have a family history of stroke?
  • Do you smoke?
  • Have you had a prior stroke or heart attack?
  • Do you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, peripheral artery disease, AFib, heart valve disease or sickle cell anemia?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, it may be important for you to talk to your primary care doctor about your risk for stroke.

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Ascension hospitals across Indiana have earned the designation Primary Stroke Center or Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission*. At our stroke centers, we use advanced treatments that help minimize brain damage, improve blood flow to the brain and help prevent future strokes. With RAPID technology, an imaging tool that provides quick identification of a stroke, our team is able to respond quickly, helping to reduce the damage caused by a stroke.

Our highly specialized stroke care helps support better outcomes at a time when you need it most. If you have signs of stroke or brain aneurysm, choosing an Ascension St. Vincent emergency room connects you to our network of comprehensive stroke care.

Comprehensive Stroke Center

Primary Stroke Center

Stroke recovery and rehabilitation

Our neurologists and care teams at Ascension St. Vincent specialize in stroke care and recovery. We listen to understand you and your health concerns. Then your care team of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists work with you to create a care plan that's right for you. Our rehabilitation care team provides daily therapies and monitors your progress to help you meet your goals.

Your care doesn't stop when you leave the hospital. We can connect you to transitional care in your home, an outpatient stroke rehabilitation center or skilled nursing facilities. Our goal is to improve your quality of life after a stroke.

  

Featured Locations

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Ascension St. Vincent Evansville

3700 Washington Ave
Evansville, IN 47714
812-485-4000
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Ascension St. Vincent Anderson

2015 Jackson St
Anderson, IN 46016
765-649-2511
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Ascension St. Vincent Hospital - Indianapolis

2001 West 86th St
Indianapolis, IN 46260
317-338-2345
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Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo

1907 West Sycamore St
Kokomo, IN 46901
765-452-5611

  • Frequently asked questions about stroke

    How do I know if I'm having a stroke?

    Stroke symptoms can come on suddenly. Call 911 and go to the nearest ER if you experience any of these stroke symptoms:

    • Sudden loss of balance
    • Lost or unclear vision
    • Face drooping or uneven smile
    • Arm weakness
    • Speech difficulty

  • What is a stroke?
    A stroke occurs when there is a disruption in the blood supply to the brain. This disruption can come from a blocked blood vessel in the brain or a blood vessel that ruptures and bleeds into the brain. When you are experiencing a stroke — every second counts. Call 911 and go to the nearest ER.

    What should I do if I think someone else is having a stroke?

    If you think someone is having a stroke, ask them to repeat a sentence back to you, smile at you, and raise both arms. If they have trouble with any of these tasks, call 911 right away. Stay with the person and note the time they began to have symptoms. This information can help the emergency room care team.

    What is a mini-stroke, also called a transient ischemic attack (TIA)?

    When someone experiences stroke symptoms that go away in a short period of time (typically less than an hour), it may be considered a TIA (transient ischemic attack.) When blood flow to the brain is interrupted for a short period (usually less than five minutes), it may be a sign of a future stroke. TIA is an emergency like stroke. If you experience signs of a stroke or TIA, don't wait to see if the symptoms go away.

    How is stroke treated?

    The sooner you get to the ER, the more options there may be for treatment. Medications and minimally invasive stroke interventions help prevent clots and dissolve blockages to restore blood flow to the brain. Endovascular procedures are used to repair a blood vessel from rupturing. Your doctors, nurses, and rehabilitation therapists help you recover after a stroke and help prevent a future stroke.

    If you or a loved one are experiencing warning signs of a stroke — sudden loss of balance, lost or unclear vision, face drooping or uneven smile, arm weakness and speech difficulty — every second counts. Call 911 and go to the nearest ER.

    *The Joint Commission is an independent accrediting organization. This accrediting body sets standards in healthcare to improve healthcare quality and safety. This recognition reflects our experience and advanced care to help improve stroke recovery outcomes.

Outcomes Data

Ascension stroke care teams closely monitor and evaluate procedural outcomes to ensure the safest care for you and your loved ones. The data below summarizes the most current outcomes at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital.

Neurointerventional Lab Thrombectomy (NIL)

In many cases, patients presenting with an acute stroke are suffering from an intracranial large vessel occlusion. This medical emergency is caused by a blood clot obstructing flow to a major brain artery. This leads to an insufficient amount of blood supply to the brain. If untreated, the brain tissue may die, causing a stroke.

Thrombectomy 2020 2021 2022 2023
Thrombectomies Performed 203 167 157 204
Thrombectomy Deaths 7 11 8 14

 

Carotid Endartarectomy and Carotid Stenting 2020 2021 2022 2023 Target
30-Day Stroke & Death Rate following Symptomatic Carotid Endarterecomy and Carotid Artery Stenting 9/119 = 7% 3/161 = 1% 4/107 = 3% 1/160= 0.01% < 6%
30-Day Stroke & Death Rate following Asymptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy and Carotid Artery Stenting 9/119 = 7% 3/161 = 1% 4/107 = 3% 1/160= 0.01% < 3%

 

EVD Complications/CSF Infection Rate 2020 2021 2022 2023 Target
2/32 = 6% 4/35= 11% 2/38= 5% 0/39= 0% < 5%

 


 Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Home/Rehab Death Non Aneurysmal/ Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Home/Rehab Death Total Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
2023 Q1 14 12 2 5 5 0 19
2023 Q2 16 12 4 7 7 0 23
2023 Q3 12 11 1 8 8 0 20
2023 Q4 19 15 4 3 2 1 22
2024 Q1 19 15 4 6 5 1 25
2024 Q2 7 6 1 4 3 1 11