North Oaks Health Only Facility in Louisiana’s Region 9 Offering Neurointerventional Radiology Care

North Oaks Health’s Neurointerventional Radiology program brings advanced stroke and neurovascular care to Louisiana's Region 9. The service offers residents of Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes local access to specialized procedures that can treat life-threatening blockages and other conditions affecting the brain’s blood vessels.

Utilizing North Oaks Medical Center’s Interventional Radiology Suite, physicians use advanced biplane imaging to obtain detailed, real-time views of the brain’s blood vessels. This technology allows them to guide small instruments through catheters to diagnose and treat complex neurovascular conditions without open surgery.

One of the program’s key capabilities is mechanical thrombectomy, which is a minimally invasive procedure that removes blood clots blocking blood flow to the brain during an acute ischemic stroke. This type of stroke is the most common and accounts for nearly 90% of all strokes.

For eligible patients, mechanical thrombectomy can rapidly restore blood flow, limiting permanent brain damage and improving the chances of recovery and long-term independence. Because stroke treatment is highly time-sensitive, having this capability available locally can reduce the need to transfer patients to facilities farther from their homes.

Neurointerventional Radiology also provides treatment options for other complex conditions, including ruptured cerebral aneurysms and vascular malformations.

The Neurointerventional Radiology program further strengthens North Oaks Medical Center's role as a regional destination for emergency and specialty healthcare. The hospital is an accredited Level II Trauma Center, Primary Stroke Center-E and Chest Pain Center with 24/7 access to interventional, neurosurgical, cardiovascular and critical care services. Inpatient rehabilitation is also available to support patients through recovery.

“We have built a comprehensive stroke program focused on delivering timely, evidence-based care,” notes North Oaks Health’s President and CEO Michele K. Sutton, FACHE. “It represents another important investment in the health of our region as we lead with our mission to improve lives.”

Stroke remains a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Louisiana's age-adjusted stroke mortality rate is 50.7 deaths per 100,000 residents, which is significantly higher than the national average of approximately 36 to 40 deaths per 100,000 residents. For communities with a high instance of stroke, timely access to advanced treatment options can make a critical difference in survival, recovery and quality of life.

North Oaks Health encourages the public to recognize the warning signs of stroke and seek emergency care immediately. Symptoms may include:

• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
• Sudden confusion
• Sudden vision problems
• Dizziness or loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

If you recognize signs of stroke in yourself or someone else, call 911 immediately.

To learn more about North Oaks Health's stroke care services and Neurointerventional Radiology capabilities, call North Oaks Public Relations at (985) 230-6647.