Stroke
A stroke is a medical emergency where blood flow to the brain is either reduced or stopped, depriving brain tissue of essential oxygen and nutrients. A stroke may cause loss in brain function and affect movement and speech.
Emergency stroke care in Miami-Dade county
A stroke is a very serious medical condition that requires emergency treatment as soon as possible.
At HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, our physicians are readily prepared to provide lifesaving stroke treatment around the clock for people in the Miami-Dade County area. Our stroke program is dedicated to providing the highest quality care, significantly improving the outcomes for stroke patients in our community.
Stroke is a medical emergency.
If you believe someone is having a stroke, call 911 immediately.
If you believe someone is having a stroke, call 911 immediately.
Related specialties
Learn more about our related specialties
Comprehensive stroke care
Our hospital's stroke care program provides comprehensive stroke treatment and recovery support, including emergency stroke treatment at three locations in Miami-Dade county.
Nationally recognized stroke center
Our hospital is a Certified Comprehensive Stroke Receiving Facility accredited by Det Norske Veritas (DNV). We've also received the American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Gold Plus with Honor Roll Elite and Target: Stroke Honor Roll Gold Plus Quality Achievement awards. These designations reflect our commitment to providing high quality stroke care to our community.
Stroke treatment
Stroke treatment depends on the type of stroke being experienced. As a Target: Stroke Honor Roll-Elite Plus facility, we have been recognized for treating ischemic stroke and achieving 75 percent or higher door-to-needle tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration within 60 minutes as well as 50 percent or higher door-to-needle tPA administration within 45 minutes. The tPA is used as a blood thinner to break apart blood clots.
Stroke treatment with endovascular thrombectomy
Endovascular thrombectomy is a minimally invasive procedure to remove the clot that is preventing blood flow to the brain. During this procedure, a small incision is made to access the artery so the physician can effectively remove the obstruction that is blocking blood flow, dramatically reducing the damage certain types of stroke can cause.
Patients who undergo the endovascular thrombectomy early enough often recover with little to no long-term damage. That is why choosing a hospital that offers advanced stroke care — like ours — is so important.
Four stroke treatment facilities in Miami-Dade county
In addition to the emergency room (ER) on our hospital's campus, our freestanding emergency care facilities, HCA Florida Cutler Bay Emergency, HCA Florida Doral Emergency, and HCA Florida Town & Country Emergency, administer tPA to break down blood clots in the brain. After tPA is given and the patient is in stable condition, we will transport them to our main emergency care facility for further follow-up care.
Stroke recovery and rehabilitation
In addition to specialists in emergency care and neurological care, we have rehabilitation therapists on our stroke care team. Physical therapy and rehabilitation can help you regain function and relearn skills that may have been adjusted by the stroke. Our therapists will work with you to create a personalized rehabilitative care plan to help you recover as fully as possible.
Understanding stroke
A stroke is a serious medical condition that requires immediate emergency care, which is why being knowledgeable about stroke can help save a life.
Types of stroke
A stroke is caused by interrupted blood flow to part of the brain. When blood flow is stopped, that part of the brain can't receive oxygen and other nutrients. This causes brain cells to die and can result in permanent damage, even death.
There are different types of strokes, including:
- Hemorrhagic stroke: when a blood vessel ruptures and blood leaks into the brain
- Ischemic stroke: when a blood clot blocks blood flow to part of the brain
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or "mini stroke": when there is temporary interruption of blood flow to part of the brain
Stroke symptoms
It’s important to be able to recognize signs of a stroke so you can act quickly when they occur. Common stroke symptoms include sudden:
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Loss of balance or coordination
- Numbness, weakness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body)
- Severe headache with no known cause (may be accompanied by pain in the face or stiffness in the neck)
- Trouble seeing in one or both eyes (such as blurred, blackened or double vision)
- Trouble speaking
- Trouble walking
The symptoms of a TIA are the same as those of a stroke, but they usually last only a few minutes. If you think you are experiencing a stroke, don't drive. Call 911.
Stroke risk factors
There are certain factors and conditions that may put you at risk for stroke. However, some of those conditions can often be treated. Some of the major risk factors for stroke include:
- Being 55 years old and older
- Having a family history of stroke
- Having atrial fibrillation (AFib)
- Having diabetes
- Having heart disease
- Having high blood pressure
- Having high cholesterol
- Having poor circulation
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Our Stroke Locations
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