Clot-Busting Drug Stops A Stroke In Its Tracks

Healthy and fit, Miami-Dade County homicide detective David Denmark doesn’t seem like a typical stroke victim. “For you to ask if I thought I would have a stroke, I would tell you definitely not. I ate healthy and worked out every day,” Mr. Denmark said. One evening last June he began slurring his speech and losing motor control. “I could not move, I could not open my eyes because of the vertigo. I said ‘this is my time, this is the way I’m going to go out.’”

He was transported to Baptist Hospital, a designated comprehensive stroke center. He was quickly evaluated by a specialized stroke team led by Sergio Jaramillo, M.D., a neurologist with Baptist Health Neuroscience Center.

“We obtain a CT scan of the brain, we assess the patient neurologically and come up with a score that tells us how severe the neurological deficit is and if we think the patient is a candidate for an acute treatment,” said Dr. Jaramillo. The scan revealed an ischemic stroke caused by a blood clot blocking the flow of blood to Mr. Denmark’s brain. He received the intravenous drug tPA, (tissue plasminogen activator), which breaks up blood clots.

“After the administration of the tPA, I started to move my left hand again and I felt tingling,” Mr. Denmark recalled. When he began to regain movement in his limbs, “Everybody was clapping, everybody was high-fiving each other. And that’s when I was like, ‘I might be O.K. here.’”

When it comes to strokes, time is of the essence. Mr. Denmark arrived at the ER well within the three-hour “window” between the onset of symptoms and treatment during which tPA can be effective.

“David responded remarkably well. Within 24 hours all of his neurological symptoms had resolved,” Dr. Jaramillo said. “If he hadn’t come to our comprehensive stroke center there likely would have been some kind of neurological permanent deficit and he would have had a negative effect on his quality of life.”

Mr. Denmark knows how lucky he is. “Every day I wake up and I can move freely, I constantly think what it could have been like. Everyone at Baptist saved my life and I’ll never forget that.”

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A fully accessible transcript can be found below:

[Transcript]

[tPA: Stopping a Stroke in Its Tracks]

[David Denmark, Stroke Survivor]
For you to ask, if I thought I was going to have a stroke? I would tell you definitely not. I ate healthy and I worked out every day was, generally, in good health.

[David exercises at the gym]

Narrator:
Homicide detective David Denmark, experienced sudden stroke symptoms while at a restaurant.

David:
I could not move. I could not open my eyes because of the vertigo. And then, it went downhill fast, real fast.

Narrator:
David was transported to Baptist Hospital where he was treated by the expert team at Baptist's Comprehensive Stroke Center.

[Sergio Jaramillo, M.D Neurologist, Baptist Health Neuroscience Center]
We obtained a CT of the brain, we assessed the patient neurologically, and come up with a score that tells us how severe the neurological deficit is.

David:
I keep hearing, "Okay, he's in the window for the medication."

[Dr. Sergio looks over a brain scan]

Dr. Sergio:
TPA is a clot buster. So, it's a medicine that we can give either through the vein, or through the artery that actually breaks up the clot wherever it may be. If that patient presents within three hours, we consider them a good candidate for this type of trial.

David:
After the administration of that TPA he says, "Move your left arm." And when I raised my left arm up, you see it in his face and he goes, "Move your left leg," and I lift my leg up. Everybody's started clapping. Everybody was high fiving each other. And that's when I was like, "I might be okay here." You know what I mean? "These guys are having that much of celebration, I might be good here."

Dr. Sergio:
David responded remarkably well. Within 24 hours, all of his neurological symptoms had resolved. The clot was in a place that usually causes more severe strokes. If he hadn't come to our Comprehensive Stroke Center, there likely would have been some type of neurological deficit permanent. And he would have had a negative effect on his quality of life.

David:
Every day I wake up and I can move and freely, I constantly think what it could have been like. My passion is my job. And, also, I play in a rock and roll band. I know how lucky I am. I owe everything to Baptist.

[David walks away from the hospital a healthier patient with a better quality of life. An image is displyed of David playing the drums in his band, looking better than ever.]

[End Transcript]