Barnes-Jewish St. Peters is the only hospital in St. Charles County to offer thrombectomy stroke care

On October 11, 2021, Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital opened its doors to a future certified thrombectomy stroke center (TSC). While fulfilling certification requirements set by the Joint Commission, the new Center expands and elevates BJC’s collective stroke care services to patients in St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren counties. Prior to the opening of the TSC at BJSPH, there were no thrombectomy stroke centers in these counties and surrounding communities. The TSC at BJSPH has been capable of performing thrombectomies since its opening.

Strokes can be life-threatening if proper intervention isn’t received quickly enough. Time is of the essence, so it’s important to know the signs of stroke and be able to act fast.

There are two primary treatments for ischemic strokes, the most common type of stroke: tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), an emergency clot-busting medication that can be used within four and a half hours of a stroke, and thrombectomy, a minimally invasive procedure that retrieves large clots using a catheter. Both interventions will take place at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital.

“The opening of the TSC at BJSPH brings a faster, higher level of stroke care to the community,” says Meagan Goddard, BJSPH stroke coordinator. “We know that time is brain, and the longer we go without the proper intervention, the greater the amount of brain tissue that will die.”

Heading up the TSC at BJSPH is Brendan Eby, MD, an interventional neurologist recruited and hired by Washington University Physicians and specifically trained on cerebral thrombectomy procedures. Supporting him are two endovascular neurosurgeons and three interventional neuroradiologists from the Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University Comprehensive Stroke Center team, to ensure around-the-clock coverage at all times. 

The signs of stroke can be remembered using the BE-FAST acronym. The following symptoms could indicate you are having a stroke:

B – Balance Problems

E – Eyes Blurred or Difficulty Seeing

F – Face Drooping

A – Arm Weakness

S – Speech Slurring

T – Time to Call 911

Time is of the essence; if you or someone you know is having a stroke, call 911 so that the proper intervention can be taken as soon as possible.

To learn more about our stroke intervention capabilities, visit BJSPH.org/Stroke.