Kolkata doctors save 32-year-old woman battling serious heart infection from devastating stroke

A visit to the hospital that began with treatment for a serious heart infection suddenly turned into a race against time for 32yearold woman who lost her ability to speak and move the right side of her body within moments after suffering a severe stroke inside the hospitalIn a remarkable example of timely intervention medical expertise and coordinated critical care doctors at Manipal Hospital EM Bypass led by Dr Amlan Mandal HOD and Senior Consultant ndash Neurology Adult and Paediatric Neurology and Dr Nirmalya Ray Consultant Neuroradiology successfully treated the young woman and helped her make a complete neurological recovery without any residual deficitTheir swift action and advanced stroke intervention not only saved her life but also prevented what could have been a permanently disabling outcomeThe woman from Muragachha Nadia with a history of Mitral Valve Replacement MVR in 2023 was admitted for the treatment of infective endocarditis caused by Methicillinsensitive Staphylococcus aureus MSSAmdasha serious bacterial infection affecting the inner lining and valves of the heart During her hospitalisation she suddenly developed complete weakness on the right side of her body and global aphasia a severe neurological condition that significantly impaired her ability to speak communicate and comprehend languageRecognising the symptoms immediately the medical team activated the emergency stroke protocol Neurological evaluation revealed a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale NIHSS score of 14 indicating a moderatetosevere stroke Emergency imaging further confirmed a blockage in the left Internal Carotid Artery ICA one of the major arteries supplying blood to the brain The condition posed an immediate threat of extensive brain damage permanent disability and even loss of life if not treated urgentlyConsidering the critical nature of the case the patient was immediately taken up for Mechanical Thrombectomy by Dr Ray which is an advanced minimally invasive procedure performed to remove blood clots from blocked brain arteries and restore blood circulation The neurointerventional team successfully achieved complete recanalization TICI 3 which indicates full restoration of blood flow to the affected part of the brain within just 30 minutes from groin puncture to completion of the procedure The exceptionally swift intervention played a crucial role in preventing permanent brain damage and ensuring the patientrsquos successful recovery Following the procedure the patient showed good neurological improvement Her NIHSS score reduced from 14 to 2 immediately after the intervention and improved to 0 within the next 48 hours indicating complete neurological recoverySpeaking about the complexity of the case Dr Mandal said ldquoThis was an extremely rare and challenging case because the patient was already critically ill with infective endocarditis and had a history of valve replacement surgery both of which significantly increased the risk of stroke and cardiac complications Managing a large vessel stroke in such a patient requires not only rapid decisionmaking but also seamless coordination across multiple specialties The patient developed sudden paralysis and loss of speech while already under treatment making time the single most important factor Every minute of delay in stroke treatment results in irreversible brain cell loss The prompt recognition of symptoms immediate activation of the stroke protocol rapid imaging and swift intervention helped us prevent what could have been a catastrophic neurological outcome Cases like these highlight the importance of advanced strokeready centres and multidisciplinary expertise in saving lives and preserving quality of liferdquoDuring her postoperative stay in the Intensive Care Unit ICU the patient also developed atrial fibrillation AF an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm that increases the risk of stroke and other cardiac complications The condition was medically managed following which she was started on anticoagulation therapy She remained under close monitoring by the departments of Neurology General Medicine and Cardiology throughout her recoveryCommenting on the procedure Dr Ray said ldquoMechanical thrombectomy is one of the most advanced and effective treatments for acute ischemic stroke caused by large vessel occlusion In this case the blockage involved a major artery supplying blood to the brain making immediate recanalisation critical The procedure involves navigating specialized catheters through blood vessels to reach the clot and remove it thereby restoring blood flow to the affected part of the brain Achieving complete recanalisation within just 30 minutes was a significant achievement and played a decisive role in the patientrsquos full neurological recovery Such outcomes are possible only through rapid coordination precisionbased intervention and timely access to advanced stroke carerdquoSharing his experience the patientrsquos brother said ldquoMy sister was admitted to the hospital for treatment of a serious heart infection When she suddenly suffered a stroke during her hospital stay our family was extremely scared The doctors acted quickly and provided the right treatment at the right time Thanks to their efforts she made a complete recovery and returned home healthy after 45 days We are grateful to the entire team at the hospital for their care and supportrdquoAfter completing six weeks of injectable antibiotic therapy along with comprehensive multidisciplinary management the patient was discharged in stable condition with no residual neurological impairment