Mercy Medical Center-Des Moines has introduced an advanced treatment for stroke patients that studies have shown significantly reduces stroke-related disability and deaths. The treatment, mechanical thrombectomy, is an interventional procedure capable of opening blood vessels and removing clots within the brain following a large stroke. The new procedure, which is supported by additional investments by Mercy in MRI technology and staff, is led by Dr. Einar Bogason, a fellowship-trained vascular neurosurgeon. Bogason, who relocated to Iowa from Iceland, is the cerebrovascular and endovascular medical director of the Mercy Stroke Program. The procedure can be used in conjunction with the more commonly known stroke medication t-PA, or tissue plasminogen activator, or alone if the patient is unable to receive t-PA. Mercy began offering 24/7 availability for the procedure in January. Mercy said in a news release that its team has handled 20 mechanical thrombectomy cases in the past year, with most resulting in positive, successful outcomes. The only other facility in the state offering the procedure is University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. To read a 2016 University of Iowa article about the procedure, click here.