A stroke is a medical emergency that requires urgent attention. If you suspect you or a loved one may be having stroke symptoms, call 911 immediately to get fast, lifesaving treatment.
There are two main types of stroke:
Ischemic strokes are caused by a blockage or clot in a blood vessel in your brain. This is the most common type of stroke.
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.
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.
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.
This surgery -- traditional open surgery or a less-invasive catheter-based procedure -- repairs blood vessels that were damaged by a stroke.
Duke experts provide coordinated stroke recovery and rehabilitation care.
Emergency stroke care is provided at our hospitals' emergency room locations.
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.
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.
All four Duke hospitals received 2025 "Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) - Stroke Awards," which recognize our stroke centers' ongoing commitment to improving patient care and outcomes. In addition, these honors recognize how quickly clot-busting treatment is started in patients at our hospitals.
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.
Where you receive your care matters. Duke University Hospital is proud of our team and the exceptional care they provide. They are why our neurology and neurosurgery program is nationally ranked, and the highest-ranked program in North Carolina by U.S. News & World Report for 2025–2026.
