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At the Hospitals
n Game-Changing Method for thrombectomy.” During this procedure, the screenings ensure athletes can participate
doctor attempts to remove a large blood safely in high school sports.
Identifying Parkinson’s Disease clot or open an occluded blood vessel in the
brain by sending a wire stent retriever to Included in the screening was a general
A team at Carolinas HealthCare System the impacted area. When the stent arrives, medical exam, orthopedic evaluation and,
is investigating if saliva could be used to it captures and retrieves the clot, which then unlike most athletic screenings, heart tests to
diagnose Parkinson’s disease years before gets removed. detect hereditary conditions that could lead to
symptoms begin. sudden cardiac death. Participants received
This technique has seen big improvements an electrocardiogram, and, if necessary, an
Parkinson’s disease is the second most over the last year. The new devices used for echocardiogram to provide a more detailed view
common degenerative brain disease in the this procedure have increased dramatically the of heart function.
world and is becoming more frequent in the effectiveness at removing clots, while being
U.S. Patients often are diagnosed years after less invasive. Previously successful roughly This year, 87 student-athletes were found to
the onset of symptoms, such as difficulty 30 percent of the time, the success has risen have medical issues that will require follow-
walking, shaking, slow movement and falls, in to about 80 percent. Patients who receive this up before they can be cleared to play sports,
which case the disease already has reached an treatment tend to have a lesser amount of a decline from 98 in 2015.These included 44
advanced stage. damaged brain tissue compared to those who general medical conditions, 15 orthopedic issues
do not receive the treatment. and 28 potential heart issues.The screenings,
The Oral Medicine laboratory team is led staffed by nearly 600 volunteers, were held in
by Craig B. Stevens; Farah Mougeot, PhD; While not every stroke patient is a candidate Lincoln County, Mecklenburg County, Union
Jean-Luc Mougeot, PhD; and Mark A. Hirsch, for mechanical thrombectomy, advances in County, and York County, S.C.
PhD, director, Carolinas Physical Medicine & imaging have led to a better selection process for
Rehabilitation Research Core Laboratory. The patients who would benefit from the treatment. Heart of a Champion Day is a team effort
team found that during exercise patients’ So far, the data from clinical trials has been that included five Carolinas HealthCare
brains produce proteins that show doctors if overwhelmingly positive, proving this is the best System (CHS) hospitals — Levine Children’s
the disease is getting worse. These proteins are treatment for carefully selected stroke patients. Hospital, Carolinas Medical Center, Carolinas
found in the saliva of Parkinson’s patients. HealthCare System Union, Carolinas
As with all things related to stroke, there HealthCare System Lincoln and Carolinas
The proteins, referred to as “markers,” give is an incredible amount of urgency needed to HealthCare System Pineville.
early clues about whether exercise slows, stops begin treatment. “Performing the procedure is
or reverses the progression of the disease in very time-sensitive, as there is only a six-to Other CHS participants included Sanger
the brain. Knowing if exercise affects disease eight-hour window after the Heart & Vascular Institute, Carolinas HealthCare
progression gives patients a greater sense of patient begins experiencing
control over the disease — such as choosing symptoms of an acute A Charlotte-
to exercise, which could potentially slow, stop stroke,” says Joe Bernard, Mecklenburg
or reverse the progression of the disease in the MD, director of interventional Schools athlete is
brain. This knowledge can reduce the anxiety services at Carolinas given an electro-
and depression many patients with Parkinson’s HealthCare System. “A cardiogram during
disease experience after diagnosis. common phrase referring to Mecklenburg
strokes is ‘time equals brain,’ County’s Heart of
n Neurosciences Institute Among so everyone involved must a Champion Day
act quickly in order to achieve screening.
Best in the Nation for Endovascular the best result.”
System Orthopedics, Carolinas HealthCare
Procedure Outcomes Even after a serious stroke, Foundation, Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine
the odds of having a good and Injury Care, Dove Internal Medicine, Indian
Carolinas HealthCare System’s Neurosciences outcome are improving Trail Pediatrics, Elizabeth Family Medicine,
Institute is nationally recognized for its greatly, especially for patients Union Primary Care, Shiland Family Medicine
advancements in the prevention, diagnosis and identified through advanced and East Lincoln Primary Care.
treatment of stroke. In particular, their outcomes imaging techniques. Ongoing
for endovascular procedures are among the best studies and clinical trials, along with the External participants included OrthoCarolina,
in the country. An endovascular treatment refers collection of additional data, will ensure these Metrolina Eye Associates, GE Healthcare,
to surgical procedures where a catheter comprised trends continue. Philips Healthcare, Coca-Cola and Gatorade.
of medication or tiny devices is inserted into
blood vessels to help treat vascular diseases. n Nearly 2,200 Screened at Heart of a
The endovascular technique specific to Champion Day Events
the treatment of acute stroke is “mechanical
A total 2,183 student-athletes were screened
during Carolinas HealthCare System’s four
2016 Heart of a Champion Day events. The
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