Stroke / Cerebrovascular Disorders

Stroke, a sudden insult to a focal area of the brain due to blockage or rupture of a brain blood vessel, is one of the leading causes of death and disability among adults in the U.S. Strokes can be caused by blood clots traveling through the bloodstream or atherosclerosis blocking an artery supplying the brain, damage or rupture of a cerebral artery, aneurysms or arterial venous malformation, or other factors. Typical symptoms include paralysis on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, or sudden confusion or coma, but a wide variety of symptoms can herald a stroke. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can be life saving. If a new stroke is suspected, it is a medical emergency and 911 should be called.

The University of Chicago has a large multi-disciplinary group of specialists dedicated to the diagnosis and management of ischemic (low blood flow) and hemorrhagic (blood vessel rupture) stroke. In addition, our world class neurocritical care program allows care for the sickest of stroke patients. Our uniquely collegial cross-departmental medical team includes vascular neurologists, neurocritical care physicians, endovascular specialists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, and emergency physicians. In addition, there is a rich collaborative spirit with our colleagues in vascular surgery and cardiology. Our investment in stroke is not isolated to adults, as we have a strong interest in enhancing the management and outcome of children with stroke and/or high stroke risk. The University of Chicago is a Certified Stroke Center, and, when appropriate, we are able to offer all of the contemporary treatments to limit brain damage from stroke including new minimally invasive tools for opening up narrowed vessels. While ischemic stroke is the most  common stroke type, the management of brain hemorrhages including intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and intraventricular hemorrhage are handled with unique expertise.The University of Chicago physicians involved with stroke are highly committed to their clinical work and around-the-clock availability for this common, disabling, and life-threatening problem. However, they are also at the forefront of their field through active involvement in scholarly projects relevant to advancing the understanding and treatment of stroke (refer to Research sections on Cerebrovascular Diseases and Neurocritical Care).The key departmental clinical team dedicated to stroke includes:

• Jeffrey Frank MD, Director, Neuroscience Critical Care and Stroke
• James Brorson MD, Medical Director, Stroke Center
• Fernando Goldenberg MD, Co-Director, Stroke Center
• Christi Kordeck RN, Stroke Team Coordinator and Educator at (773) 834-4604
• Cedric McKoy MSN APN, Neuro ICU Nurse Practitioner and Stroke Center Coordinator at (773) 834-785
• Judith Maratea, Administrative Assistant and Project Coordinator, Stroke Center