A stroke can be an incredibly scary event, sometimes requiring emergency surgery. While surgery after stroke is not uncommon, the many unknowns can be overwhelming for both survivors and their loved ones. The specific surgery you may receive depends heavily on the type of stroke you experienced and the location of the stroke within the brain. Following surgery, you will then begin a personalized stroke rehabilitation program to help you regain your function and independence.

Not all cases of stroke will require surgery. However, we hope to help you better understand the different stroke surgery interventions you may encounter. To begin, we will review the two main types of stroke. Then we will discuss some of the surgical options that help contain or stop tissue damage in the brain. Finally, we will explain your next steps in the recovery process after surgery.

Feel free to use the following jump links to help you navigate this article:

• Hemorrhagic Stroke vs. Ischemic Stroke
• Surgery for Hemorrhagic Stroke
• Surgery for Ischemic Stroke
• Post-Surgery Recovery
• Assessing Your Options

Hemorrhagic Stroke vs. Ischemic Stroke

Broadly, a stroke refers to the interruption of the brain’s normal blood flow. This interruption leads to cell death and tissue damage in the brain. There are two main types of stroke, known as hemorrhagic stroke and ischemic stroke. Both types of stroke are very different, and they are treated differently, too.

A hemorrhagic stroke takes place when an artery in the brain bursts or ruptures. Most commonly, hemorrhagic strokes are caused by hypertension, or high blood pressure. This type of stroke often affects the brain’s basal ganglia, although many other areas of the brain can be affected by hemorrhagic stroke. Hemorrhagic stroke causes bleeding within the brain and, consequently, increased pressure and swelling. This bleeding is referred to as an intracerebral hemorrhage or hematoma.

An ischemic stroke is caused by the blockage of an artery in the brain. This causes the area of the brain fed by that artery to lose its blood supply. As a result, brain cells do not receive the oxygen-rich blood needed to function and tissue damage takes place. Around 87% of strokes are ischemic and are caused by a blood clot from another place in the body. Commonly, these clots (or embolisms) originate in the heart and travel to the brain. While different arteries can be affected, the most common are the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and the anterior cerebral artery (ACA).

Timely Treatment = Better Outcomes

Early stroke detection is hugely important and can help reduce tissue damage in the brain. Familiarizing yourself with the different stroke warning signs can help you or a loved one access timely stroke treatment. These stroke signs can include drooping of the face, weakness of an arm or side of the body, slurred speech, or a sudden severe headache. If you or a loved one demonstrate these signs, get emergency help immediately.

If you are experiencing a stroke, swift treatment is required to limit tissue damage within the brain. Upon arrival at the hospital, your medical team will work to determine what type of stroke you are experiencing. This diagnosis process will likely involve a variety of tests and different types of imaging. Once the type and location of the stroke are determined, surgery may be necessary.

Surgery for Hemorrhagic Stroke

Treatment for hemorrhagic stroke focuses on 3 goals. These goals are stopping the bleeding, resolving the hematoma (collection of blood outside the blood vessels), and relieving intracranial pressure (pressure within the skull). In some cases, these goals can be achieved with conservative interventions. Using medication or other therapies, hematomas can sometimes be resolved without surgical intervention. However, increased pressure on the brain and impaired blood flow may dictate the need for surgery after hemorrhagic stroke.

Depending upon the stroke severity and the patient’s condition, surgery is often performed within the first 48 to 72 hours. However, sometimes doctors must wait longer if the patient’s condition needs to stabilize before operating. To help you understand what you may encounter, let’s review some common types of surgery used to treat hemorrhagic stroke.

Types of Surgery for Hemorrhagic Stroke

• Craniotomy. If the hematoma is large and causing significant pressure, the neurosurgeon will remove part of the skull to drain the hematoma. This operation allows the brain to bulge past the limits of the skull, reducing intracranial pressure and preventing further damage. Then, doctors can directly operate on the brain to remove the hematoma and repair the blood vessel before replacing the bone flap.
• Craniectomy. Similar to a craniotomy, a craniectomy involves the removal of a piece of the skull to reduce pressure and allow access to the brain. However, the bone flap may not be immediately replaced. Instead, the surgeon may replace the bone flap later once the swelling has resolved. This is often weeks after the initial surgery.
• External ventricular drainage. Placement of an external ventricular drain (EVD) is a common procedure following hemorrhagic stroke. This involves inserting a small catheter into the brain to drain excess fluid. This is less invasive than other surgery options and can help relieve intracranial pressure caused by the stroke.
• Endoscopic evacuation. This is another minimally invasive surgery used to treat hemorrhagic stroke. During this operation, a small hole is drilled into the skull and a tiny camera (endoscope) is used to help the neurosurgeon reach and drain the hematoma.
• Stereotactic aspiration. A CT scan is used to locate the hematoma before a small hole is drilled into the skull. Then, a special suction tool is used to manually drain the hematoma.
• Surgical clipping. During a craniotomy, the surgeon may place a surgical clip or coil to help repair the damaged artery. This can stop an active bleed and help prevent a future hemorrhage.

Surgery for Ischemic Stroke

As we discussed earlier, the blockage responsible for an ischemic stroke restricts blood flow to the brain. The longer this is left untreated, the more damage may take place to brain tissue. This can increase the severity of the stroke and lead to more extensive secondary effects.

Ischemic strokes can often be treated with clot-busting drugs like tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) or aspirin. TPA can be administered within 3 hours of symptom onset. Once administered, these drugs help dissolve the clot and restore blood flow to the brain. In some cases of ischemic stroke, however, surgery may be necessary to remove the clot.

The surgery most frequently used to treat an ischemic stroke is a mechanical embolectomy or thrombectomy. During this procedure, the blood clot in the brain is removed using a specialized clot-removal device or stent. This device is inserted into an artery via a catheter in order to reach the clot. This special catheter is generally inserted in the groin, making this procedure much less invasive than brain surgery. Once the clot is secured, the device is then withdrawn and the clot is removed along with it.

To help you visualize this procedure, here is a video that shows how a mechanical embolectomy or thrombectomy works:

Post-Surgery Recovery

Recovery after an intensive stroke surgery like a craniotomy generally takes 6-8 weeks. During this time, it is important to follow the guidelines provided to you by your neurosurgeon. This will include information on the care of your incision, precautions for your daily activities, and warning signs of infection or hemorrhage. Additionally, you will be followed closely by medical staff to ensure you do not experience additional complications.

Following other surgeries, the initial post-operative recovery period may be shorter. For example, someone who had a mechanical embolectomy surgery after an ischemic stroke may be up and walking the next day. Regardless of what surgery you have, it is vital to follow instructions from your healthcare team to maximize your outcome.

Once you are medically stable, it will be crucial to start rehabilitation to help you regain any functions lost due to the stroke. Stroke recovery treatments include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Whether you participate in intensive inpatient stroke rehab after surgery or are discharged to home, it is important to stay consistent with your exercise program. This will allow you to make the greatest recovery and increase your independence.

Surgery for Stroke: Assessing Your Options

Surgery may be needed after stroke to restore normal blood flow in the brain. While less-invasive treatments can be used in some cases, surgery is sometimes necessary to help stop tissue damage in the brain and save the life of the individual. The type of surgery required is determined by the type, severity, and location of the stroke. For example, the two main types of stroke (hemorrhagic and ischemic) require different types of surgery to restore normal blood flow in the brain.

If the stroke is caused by a burst artery (hemorrhagic stroke), neurosurgeons may perform a craniotomy to open up the skull and relieve intracranial pressure. Additionally, less invasive procedures like external ventricular drainage or stereotactic aspiration can be used to drain a hematoma.

When the stroke is caused by a blood clot (ischemic stroke) and cannot be treated with drugs, surgery may be necessary. A mechanical embolectomy or thrombectomy may be performed to remove the clot via a catheter and clot-removal device. By removing the clot, normal blood flow to the brain can be restored.

Each type of surgery comes with risks and rewards, and it’s best to discuss your unique circumstances with your medical team. However, because stroke is a medical emergency, some decisions are made in high-pressure situations where there’s no time to discuss the pros and cons. When a stroke happens, you often must trust that your medical team will make the best possible decision for you or your loved one.

While navigating life after stroke can feel overwhelming, there are many tools available to help you on your journey. Once you are medically stable, your rehabilitation process will begin. Stay consistent with your rehab program and keep working to reach your unique post-stroke goals after surgery.  

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