More Information
A brain stroke is a medical emergency where every single second dictates the difference between full recovery and permanent disability. In Pakistan, stroke remains a leading cause of paralysis, yet public awareness regarding rapid medical intervention remains critically low. For residents of Lahore and surrounding areas, access to a specialized vascular and interventional neurologist is the most crucial factor in surviving a stroke.
As the Director of the Stroke Program at Mayo Hospital / KEMU and a Consultant Interventional Neurologist at Farooq Hospital (Westwood Branch), Dr. Abubakar Siddique provides cutting-edge, round-the-clock acute stroke management services. With over 18 years of specialized experience and an elite fellowship in Stroke, Vascular Neurology, and Neurointervention, Dr. Abubakar is pioneering life-saving treatments that reverse stroke symptoms before permanent damage occurs.
Recognising the Signs: The B.E. F.A.S.T. Protocol
When a stroke occurs, blood supply to a portion of the brain is cut off, starving brain cells of oxygen. Use the globally recognized B.E. F.A.S.T. protocol to identify a stroke immediately:
- B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination.
- E – Eyes: Sudden trouble seeing out of one or both eyes.
- F – Face: One side of the face droops or is numb when smiling.
- A – Arm: One arm drifts downward when both arms are raised.
- S – Speech: Slurred or garbled speech, or difficulty repeating a simple sentence.
- T – Time: Call for immediate emergency transit if any of these signs are present.
Comprehensive Stroke Services Offered by Dr. Abubakar Siddique
Dr. Abubakar Siddique’s practice covers the entire spectrum of stroke care. This ranges from emergency bedside triage to complex structural brain surgeries.
[Hyperacute Phase: Emergency Triage & TPA]
│
▼
[Acute Phase: Interventional Neuro-Thrombectomy]
│
▼
[Post-Acute Phase: Stroke Unit Monitoring & Diagnostics]
│
▼
[Chronic Phase: Secondary Prevention & Rehabilitation]
1. Hyperacute Emergency Stroke Care (The Golden Hour)
The first 4.5 hours after symptom onset are known as the “Golden Hour.”
- Intravenous Thrombolysis (tPA): Administered to rapidly dissolve blood clots blocking brain arteries.
- 24/7 Emergency Triage: Immediate protocol activation to guarantee that scans happen within minutes of a patient’s arrival.
2. Advanced Neuro-Interventional Procedures
When a major blood vessel is completely blocked, medicine alone may not suffice. Dr. Abubakar specializes in minimally invasive neurovascular surgeries:
- Mechanical Thrombectomy: A highly advanced procedure where a catheter is threaded into the brain to physically capture and remove large blood clots. This can be performed up to 24 hours after symptom onset in select patients.
- Carotid Artery Stenting: Placing a mesh stent into narrowed neck arteries to prevent future strokes.
- Aneurysm Coiling: Sealing off weak, bulging spots in blood vessels to stop or prevent catastrophic brain bleeding.
3. Precision Diagnostics
Accurate diagnosis prevents diagnostic errors and guides targeted treatments. Available advanced neuro-imaging includes:
- 1.5 Tesla MRI / MRA / MRV: High-field structural and vascular imaging used to pinpoint minor tissue blockages.
- Multislice CT Scans & CT Angiography: Rapidly distinguishes between an ischemic (clot) and hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke.
- Digital EEG & Nerve Conduction Studies: Monitors continuous brain activity and excludes mimicking conditions.
4. Secondary Stroke Prevention & Management
Surviving a stroke is only the first step. Dr. Abubakar designs comprehensive medical regimens to address root risk factors:
- Management of severe hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.
- Long-term monitoring for cardiac sources of clots (e.g., Atrial Fibrillation).
- Personalized blood-thinning strategies (antiplatelets/anticoagulants).