FDA expands treatment window for use of clot retrieval devices in certain stroke patients

U.S. Food & Drug Administration press release -------- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today cleared the use of the Trevo clot retrieval device to treat certain stroke patients up to 24 hours after symptom onset, expanding the device’s indication to a broader group of patients. This device is cleared for use as an initial therapy for strokes due to blood clots (also known as an acute ischemic stroke) to reduce paralysis, speech difficulties and other stroke disabilities and only as an addition to treatment with a medication that dissolves blood blots called tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). The device was previously cleared for use in patients six hours after symptom onset.“Time is critical following the onset of stroke symptoms. Expanding the treatment window from 6 to 24 hours will significantly increase the number of stroke patients who may benefit from treatment,” said Carlos Peña, Ph.D., director of the division of neurological and physical medicine devices at the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “Health care providers and their patients now have better tools for treating stroke and potentially preventing long-term disability.” To learn more click on the picture below to read the release.