Renowned for spearheading new technology in the healthcare sector, and pioneering new treatments in Sri Lanka, Durdans Hospital introduces Tissue Plasminogen Activator treatment (rtPA) at its Advanced Heart & Stroke Treatment Centre. This clot-busting medication is given to patients shortly after stroke symptoms have started. The treatment is more effective when given early in the course but can be given up to three hours after symptoms start. rtPA can prevent major disability after stroke and speed up recovery.

The Advanced Heart & Stroke Centre at Durdans Hospital and the team of Neurologists and specialists nursing staff are available 24/7 to offer unparalleled care and the latest treatments and expertise including emergency CT/ MRI for accurate diagnosis and identification of affected areas leading to speedy treatment. Durdans encourages family and friends of affected patients to identify and bring them in when early signs of a stroke are seen. Marketing Communications Manager at Durdans Hospital Rae Devadason states, “To help identify signs of stroke, Durdans Stroke Centre introduces the “FAST” campaign which basically indicates simple methods on how to recognise the onset of a stroke. FACE – Drooping or sudden numbness, ARMS - Weakness, SPEECH - Difficulty and trouble understanding are some of the first signs of a stroke and indicates that it is TIME to call an ambulance and is the simple, yet valuable message of the campaign”.

A stroke happens when the brain does not get the blood it needs due to a blood clot or a burst vessel. Strokes can cause serious brain damage, paralysis and disability or even death. There are two main ways a stroke can happen. An Ischaemic Stroke occurs when a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain is blocked by a blood clot, this type of stroke is treatable with the rtPA stroke treatment while a Haemorrhagic Stroke occurs when a blood vessel in part of the brain becomes weak and bursts open, causing blood to leak into the brain. Emergency diagnostics done at the hospital will determine the type of stroke that has occurred and if the rtPA treatment is appropriate to be administered.

Durdans Hospital, Director Medical Services, Dr. Wimal Jayantha also adds, “We are pleased to introduce the Durdans Advanced Stroke Treatment which makes available cutting-edge stroke treatment such as rtPA for the people of Sri Lanka. Stroke is the number 1 cause of preventable disability worldwide and the fourth ranked cause of death of all hospital deaths in Sri Lanka. Our vision is to minimise disability through speedy corrective treatment. We urge the public to bring patients to the hospital as FAST as possible once signs of stroke are noticeable”.

Common risk factors for stroke include; high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or a problem with blood sugar and smoking. The risk of stroke can be controlled by a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, an increase in physical activity, controlling your sugar intake and discontinuing smoking.

Durdans Hospital is recognised as a World-Class healthcare provider and is the first to receive the ‘Gold Seal of Approval’ from the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation for transforming patient safety and quality of care. The introduction of the new advanced stroke treatment places the hospital at a higher dimension in terms of the quality and variety of treatments and care being offered to patients in Sri Lanka.