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.
Lucas Family Brain and Spine Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent

New brain and spine hospital named in appreciation of grateful patient donation

Ascension St. Vincent announces its new brain and spine hospital will be named Lucas Family Brain and Spine Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent. The name honors the donation from an Indianapolis family for their generosity and partnership.

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.

Find A Doctor

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.

  
  • Frequently asked questions about stroke

  • What is a stroke?

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  2024
Thrombectomies Performed 203 167 157 204  136
Thrombectomy Deaths 7 11 8 14  6

 

Carotid Endartarectomy and Carotid Stenting 2020 2021 2022 2023  2024 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% 3/118= 2.5% < 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%  3/118= 2.5% < 3%

 

EVD Complications/CSF Infection Rate 2020 2021 2022 2023  2024 Target
2/32 = 6% 4/35= 11% 2/38= 5% 0/39= 0%  2/32=6% < 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
2024 Q3 13 11 2 9 8 1 22
2024 Q4 10 9 1 12 8 4 22