Stroke Care

There are two main types of stroke:

1. Ischemic strokes are caused by a blockage or clot in a blood vessel in your brain. This is the most common type of stroke.
2. Hemorrhagic strokes are the result of bleeding in the brain (intracerebral hemorrhage) or around the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage).

Eye Stroke
A related condition, an eye stroke is caused by a blockage in an artery in the eye.

Imaging
Duke stroke experts use imaging techniques to see inside the brain and quickly find the source of a stroke within American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) clinical treatment guidelines.

Medications

• Ischemic strokes: Medicines called thrombolytics dissolve blood clots that block blood flow to your brain. 
• Hemorrhagic strokes: Drugs that lower blood pressure or counteract blood thinners can help stop or slow the bleeding.

Thrombectomy
This catheter-based, minimally invasive surgery removes a blood clot. In some cases, a stent may be placed to help prevent the artery or vein from becoming blocked again.

Vascular Surgery
This surgery -- traditional open surgery or a less-invasive catheter-based procedure -- repairs blood vessels that were damaged by a stroke. 

Duke's Telestroke Network
For people who live far outside of Durham or Raleigh, Duke’s Telestroke Network gives patients and doctors at almost a dozen North Carolina and Virginia community hospitals access to Duke stroke specialists 24/7. Patients arriving at these hospitals get the immediate care they need via video conferencing. When necessary, patients are transferred faster to higher-level stroke centers, including Duke hospitals, to receive advanced procedures that can make a life-or-death difference.

Designated Stroke Centers
A designated stroke center meets national stroke-care standards set by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) and is accredited by The Joint Commission -- an independent, accrediting organization recognized for its quality standards in health care. Designated stroke centers follow the groups’ recommendations and guidelines and have established ways to measure improvements in stroke care and patient outcomes. 

• Duke University Hospital is a certified Comprehensive Stroke Center.
• Duke Raleigh Hospital is a certified Primary Stroke Center.
• Duke Regional Hospital is a certified Primary Stroke Center.

Award-Winning Care
Duke University Hospital and Duke Raleigh Hospital received 2022 AHA/ASA "Get with the Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus with Honor Roll Elite" awards. Duke Regional Hospital received the "Silver Plus with Honor Roll Elite "award. These awards recognize our stroke centers' ongoing commitment to improving patient care and patient outcomes. In addition, these honors recognize how quickly clot-busting treatment is started in patients at our hospitals.

• Duke University Hospital (PDF, 178 KB)
• Duke Raleigh Hospital (PDF, 161 KB)
• Duke Regional Hospital (PDF, 181 KB)

Clinical Research at Duke
As national leaders in stroke research, our stroke specialists help to write the national guidelines for stroke prevention and treatment. We participate in clinical trials that give you access to the latest treatments available.