The unit of Neurovascular Service (stroke and post-stroke) is the latest service provided in the Hospital Centre Mother Teresa, as part of the Neuroscience Integrated Pole which, thanks to the investments has been transformed within a short time in a modern ward provided with the technology of the highest medical European standards.

The procedure of intravenous thrombolysis application has been carried out for the first time in this unit for ischemic brain disease. This service is provided only in the UHC by specialized staff consisting of 8 neurologists and neuro-resuscitator, and 31 specialized nurses. 29 beds are available in this ward which treated 1180 patients with acute neurological problems in 2016.

20 million ALL were invested in this ward in the year 2015-2016 for indispensable biomedical devices such as cardiac monitoring devices, infusion pumps, ventilators, medical gas panels, transcranial ECHO Doppler, equipment for measuring the values of vital gases in the blood, and intensive care beds.

The Neurovascular service organizes its work along with the emergency service where patients are received and identified, and then the vascular cerebral issue is determined and transmitted in real time to doctors. This is the first time this procedure has been performed in Albania. In addition, this is the first time that investments have been made to buy new and necessary medicaments to save the life of patients affected by acute ischemic brain disease.

Accompanied by Health Minister Ilir Beqaj, Prime Minister Edi Rama visited today this ward to see closely these new investments.

Neurologist Mira Rakacolli explains that thanks to this procedure patients can be rehabilitated within a short time, and they may be immediately subject to further procedures. This is a new service launched for the first time in the hospital university centre. If a patients comes here with an early-hour paralysis due to blood obstruction, this paralysis can be eliminated within an hour thanks to a medicament that was recently bought, as it is very expensive. The same applies to a patient who is in a coma and whose life could be saved but he would remain paralysed provided that he receives this medicament.”

THUC Director Ogerta Manastirliu said: “This service paves the way also for other minimally invasive interventions in the brain vases. In addition, as the doctor said, this procedure has been performed in the public system for the first time in Albania.” Neurologist Rakacolli said also that the vision for this service conceived by Professor Petrela in 2010 could be fulfilled only in the last 2 years. “This is the vision and merit of Professor Petrela who in 2010-2011 launched the idea and has worked to create this centre, but it was only after 2013 that we could have the necessary infrastructure that meets European and beyond-the-Atlantic standards. Finally, just 10 days ago we had the first results that make us really proud.”

Saimir Rama is a patient who was in a coma the day before, while now he can speak after the last intervention.

“My name is Saimir Rama. I’ve worked as driver in Greece and Germany for some time. Now I’m unemployed due to the kidney disease and blood pressure. I was totally unconscious when I was brought here last night. I feel well today. These pills are good, and the staff is terrific. I was the first to blame them, but they’re really fantastic. I thank them very much. I was in a coma, in very bad conditions. I had no idea where I was last evening. The doctor did a miracle, as I never thought I would be back to my senses. I feel well, and I hope I will feel very well.”

Prime Minister Rama noted that now conditions in public hospitals are completely different and the services provided to patients are satisfactory. “We are now in a new phase, and patients who are provided services in the THUC, but also in other hospitals – although there are still many problems in other hospitals – are satisfied. Those who have not been in the hospital and have no idea what has happened, keep blaming but I don’t blame them because they found themselves in tough situations in the past.”