Stroke Care

Comprehensive Stroke Center in North Louisiana

Get With the Guidelines Gold Plus Stroke

Every second counts when you or a loved one has experienced a stroke. Getting advanced help right away from a team that offers the latest stroke treatment options can make the difference between a successful recovery, disability or even death.

Ochsner LSU Health provides the area’s most advanced stroke care services. We have been nationally recognized for the quality of our stroke care. Our Academic Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana is recognized as a Comprehensive Stroke Center and our Monroe Medical Center in Monroe, Louisiana has earned a Primary Stroke Center certification. This means that our stroke patients have access to the life-saving care they need without having to be transferred somewhere else. Our team of experts is fully equipped to treat even the most complex cases of stroke.

We care for more patients who have experienced a stroke than any other provider in our area. In fact, we see patients from east Texas to the Mississippi state line, as well as throughout north and central Louisiana.

National Award-Winning Stroke Care

Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – Academic Medical Center earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification -- the most demanding stroke certification available. The certification is designed for hospitals that can treat the most complex stroke cases, recognizing advanced treatment techniques and highly standardized, reliable care.

Comprehensive Stroke Centers must meet rigorous criteria and commitment of resources. So when you choose Ochsner LSU Health for your stroke care, you benefit from:

  • An acute stroke team available 24/7
  • Mechanical thrombectomy available 24/7
  • Advanced neuroimaging available on site 24/7
  • 24/7 availability for neurosurgical services
  • Neurologist and Neurosurgeon accessibility to meet emergent needs of multiple complex stroke patients at the same time
  • Highly advanced treatment capabilities and investigational opportunities

In Northeast Louisiana, our Monroe Medical Center was awarded The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, Get With The Guidelines® designation for Stroke Gold Plus. Hospitals receiving Get With The Guidelines® Gold Plus Achievement Award have reached an aggressive goal of treating patients to core standard levels of care as outlined by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association® for one calendar year. Hospitals awareded this honor have demonstrated compliance to an addition level of quality during the 12-month periods. In addition, Monroe Medical Center received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Advanced Therapy award by meeting specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment to remove the clot causing the stroke.

Our Monroe Medical Center also earned a Primary Stroke Center Certification, which means:
• Acute stroke care team available 24/7 and at bedside within 15 minutes.
• Stroke unit or designated beds for the acute care of stroke patients.
• CT, MRI, labs available 24/7
• Neurologist availability 24/7 through in-person or telemedicine methods.
• Stroke patients receive excellent care from a cohesive clinical team.
• Demonstrate commitment to a higher standard of clinical practice.

It can be hard or impossible for a person who is having a stroke to say what’s happening. Use the acronym “BE FAST” to know what warning signs to watch for in your loved ones or people around you:

  • Balance: Is the person suddenly having trouble with their balance or coordination?
  • Eyes: Is the person having sudden trouble seeing out of one or both eyes or experiencing sudden blurred or double vision?
  • Face: Is one side of the person’s face drooping or numb? To check, ask the person to smile.
  • Arm: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise their arms. Does one arm drift downward?
  • Speech: Can the person speak? Is their speech slurred or hard to understand? Tell the person to repeat a simple phrase. Can they do so correctly?
  • Time to call 911: If the person has any of these symptoms — even if they go away — call 911 right away. Make sure you note when the person’s symptoms began.

Don’t wait to get help, even if the person says they’re OK and don’t need medical attention. Delays in emergency stroke care can lead to serious and life-threatening complications.

We're committed to expert, compassionate care every step of the way. Our team treats a variety of cancer conditions including:

  • Ischemic Stroke (acute and subacute management)
  • Transient Ischemic Attacks
  • Non-Traumatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
  • Ruptured and Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysms
  • Cerebrovascular Malformations
  • Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas
  • Carotid Artery Disease
  • Vertebrobasilar Disease
  • Chronic Cerebral Ischemia
  • Stroke Risk Assessment and Management
  • Stroke Prevention
  • Cervical Arterial Dissection and Carotid Webs
  • Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome
  • Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome
  • Moyamoya Disease
  • Cerebral Venous Thrombosis
  • Cryptogenic Strokes
  • Endovascular Treatment of Cerebrovascular Diseases
  • Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
  • Vascular Cognitive Impairment/Dementia

No matter what type of condition you have, our team is able to help. Please contact us to learn more about our services.

We treat both ischemic stroke (a blockage of blood in one of the arteries that brings blood to the brain) and hemorrhagic stroke (a leak or rupture in one of the arteries in the brain). Our stroke team members provide treatment that is based on guidelines from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association to ensure the highest-quality care. If you or a loved one comes into our Emergency Department with potential symptoms of a stroke, our expertly trained doctors and staff members will perform a quick, thorough evaluation and provide the needed care as quickly as possible.

We provide three highly advanced treatments 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to treat strokes:

  • IV (intravenous) treatment: We can inject a medication known as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), also known as alteplase or a “clot-buster,” to break up blockages that cause strokes.
  • IA (intra-arterial) treatment: Using a minimally invasive procedure and tiny, flexible tubes called catheters, we can enter the blocked blood vessel and break up the blockage. This is a type of endovascular treatment for stroke.
  • Mechanical thrombectomy: Using precise image guidance, we insert a catheter and guide it into the blocked blood vessel. Next, we use a special tool called a stent retriever to safely remove the blockage from the blood vessel and restore normal blood flow. This is another type of endovascular stroke therapy. We have been certified by The Joint Commission as a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center — the only center in north Louisiana to earn this recognition.

No other providers in our area offer endovascular stroke treatments. Other providers in our area only offer IV treatment for stroke. We are one of only five centers in Louisiana that offer these advanced therapies, and the other four are in the south Louisiana/New Orleans region. We often see patients who have been transferred from other centers in our area because of our ability to provide these lifesaving procedures.

You or a loved one could suffer a stroke at any time with little or no warning. But there are ways to decrease your risk of having a stroke in the first place. Lower your risk of stroke by addressing these risk factors:

  • Control diabetes if you have it: Successfully treating and managing diabetes can delay complications that increase your stroke risk.
  • Live a healthy lifestyle: Eat a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise regularly to reduce high blood pressure.
  • Manage heart disease: If your doctor has told you that you have heart disease or high blood pressure, ask about your treatment plan and whether you need medication to help prevent the formation of clots in your blood vessels.
  • Stop smoking: Smoking greatly increases your risk of having a stroke.

Our Stroke Support Group is a program formed to assist stroke and family as they adjust to new daily life. The group is open and free to all in the area. We will provide activities for socialization and education that are designed for each individual’s needs. Each meeting features discussions on various topics, socialization activities, and refreshments. Feedback is welcomed after each meeting.

When: Every third Wednesday of the month | Where: Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport - St. Mary Medical Center | For more information, please call 318-626-1855.

Stroke Volumes

As a Joint Commission Disease Specific Comprehensive Stroke Certified Hospital, the Ochsner LSU Shreveport Stroke Program collects demographic and outcome data to continuously improve the program and outcomes of our patients.

2023 Stroke Population Breakdown

More than 30% of Ochsner LSU Shreveport stroke patients are discharged home to their families allowing them to enjoy life in their most comfortable environment.

Stroke Disositon at Discharge Ochsner LSU Shreveport 2023

Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic stroke occurs as a result of an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain. It accounts for 71 percent of all stroke cases.

Acute Ischemic Stroke Adjusted Mortality Index

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Hemorrhagic stroke accounts for about 23 percent of stroke cases. It results from a weakened vessel that ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain. The blood accumulates and compresses the surrounding brain tissue. The two types of hemorrhagic stroke are intracerebral (within the brain) hemorrhage or subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Acute Hemorrhagic Stroke

Mechanical Thrombectomy

Mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke is a minimally invasive procedure in which the clot responsible for the stroke is removed from the artery of the brain. This procedure is performed by highly specialized physicians and can be safely performed only on patients who meet certain criteria. A thrombectomy allows for reestablishment of blood flow to brain tissue in order to minimize the damage of the stroke.

CSTK

There are several other procedures that a stroke patient may have to undergo during their hospitalization. These procedures are performed by highly specialized physicians including vascular surgeons, neuroradiologists, and neurosurgeons.

OLHS Procedure Complications


Find a Stroke Provider

Browse our list of providers who specialize in stroke and neuro-interventional care.

Learn More About Stroke

Learn the associated risk factors, ways to lower your risk of having a stroke and how to BE FAST to save a life in the case of a stroke. If you suspect a stroke contact 911 immediately.

Related Locations

Ochsner LSU Health - Academic Medical Center

Ochsner LSU Health - Academic Medical Center
1541 Kings Highway
Shreveport, LA 71103

Ochsner LSU Health - Monroe Medical Center

Ochsner LSU Health - Monroe Medical Center
4864 Jackson Street
Monroe, LA 71202