From an article by Tamm White about
Dr. Timothy Hagen, McLeod Neurologist
Dr. Basil Shah, McLeod Interventional Neuroradiologist

“This stroke was a wake-up call for me,” said 40-year-old Ron Kimpson. “I have made positive changes in my life to lose weight and do whatever is necessary to stay on track and get healthy.”

Already suffering from the chronic diseases of diabetes and high blood pressure, Kimpson – incoherent and mumbling — woke his wife at 2 a.m. At McLeod, Emergency physicians diagnosed Kimpson with pneumonia, a heart attack and, worst of all, a stroke caused by blockage of blood to the brain.

McLeod Neurologist Dr. Timothy Hagen and McLeod Interventional Neuroradiologist Dr. Basil Shah met with Kimpson’s wife, Delisha. They explained that by the time Kimpson made it to the ED, he was outside the time window, where the blood-clot-busting drug (tPA) is effective. They recommended a Thrombectomy, a procedure to remove the blot clot.

Thrombectomy involves using advanced imaging technology to remove a blood clot from an artery in the brain and restore blood flow. Time is of the essence with the Thrombectomy procedure and uses a special Neurointerventional Bi-plane X-ray suite that produces highly detailed 3D views of blood vessels heading to the brain and deep within the brain. To remove the clot, a catheter, or long flexible tube, is inserted through an artery in the groin up to the blocked artery. This technology allows doctors to follow the blood flow to the exact location of the issue. A stent retriever, a tiny net-like device, is inserted into the catheter and guided to the blockage to capture the clot and return blood flow to the brain.

Following cardiac rehabilitation and speech therapy, Kimpson also underwent a heart catheterization.  McLeod Cardiologist Dr. Anil Om prescribed medication to help with the unmanaged diabetes and high blood pressure as well as strengthen his heart.

“In my youth I never ate healthy and now, I am paying for it as an adult at only age 40,” observed Kimpson, who now walks and bikes daily.

Learn more about Stroke Care from McLeod Regional Medical Center.