Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and the 4th leading cause of death in the United States.
In Louisiana, the incidence of stroke and death related to stroke has consistently been higher than most other states in the U.S. The Tulane Stroke Program was developed in 2008 and was the first Joint Commission Certified Stroke Center in Orleans Parish. Tulane Medical Center is the only Gold Plus Stroke Center in the Greater New Orleans Area. This is the highest award issued by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
A stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is disrupted, causing brain cells to die. There are two types of stroke. Ischemic stroke is caused by blockage of a blood vessel and is the most common type accounting for over 80% of strokes. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when there is bleeding into or around the brain and includes the diagnoses of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), usually caused by high blood pressure, and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), typically caused by a ruptured aneurysm.
Stroke is preventable and treatable if evaluation is sought right away. It is important to be able to identify signs and symptoms of stroke and to activate emergency service immediately if any of these symptoms occur - transient or persistent. The symptoms of stroke can include any sudden loss of neurological function:
- Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Sudden difficulty speaking or communicating
- Sudden loss of motor function or sensation to one side of the body
- Sudden loss of coordination resulting in dizziness, clumsiness or gait imbalance
- Sudden onset of an atypical or severe headache
- Sudden decrease in level of consciousness
The Tulane Stroke Program provides comprehensive acute stroke care and management throughout the patient’s inpatient stay. Further care is provided at Tulane Inpatient Rehabilitation Center and through Tulane’s outpatient therapy services. Stroke recovery and prevention clinic is provided at 1415 Tulane Avenue, 5th floor clinic, New Orleans, LA 70112.
The Tulane Stroke Team includes board certified vascular neurologists, a neurovascular nurse practitioner and vascular neurosurgery team providing state-of-the-art endovascular neurological interventions. Participation in clinical trials may be offered, providing the most up-to-date advances in stroke treatments.
Our team of neurovascular specialists:
Justin Salerian, MD– Director of the Stroke Program at Tulane
John Freiberg, MD – Vascular Neurology Fellowship Program Director, certified in Vascular Neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Aaron Dumont, MD – Chairman of Neurosurgery, Vascular Neurosurgeon, fellowship trained in Endovascular Neurosurgery
Aimee Aysenne, MD - Director of the Telestroke Program at Tulane, fellowship trained in Neuro-Critical Care
Kareem Elzamly, MD - Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery
Shannon Hextrum, MD - Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery
John Nerva, MD - Co-Director of Cerebrovascular, Endovascular, and Skull Base Surgery at Tulane
Peter Amenta, MD - Co-Director of Cerebrovascular, Endovascular, and Skull Base Surgery at Tulane
