Can STROKE patient be shifted in flight for better treatment?

Resolved question:
Sir,My husband suffered a brain stroke on 20th oct.He was rushed to nearest general hospital within 30-45 minutes .But since the hospital did not have any neurologists at that time so we took him to diagnostic centre to get mri done.Then we shifted him to hospital which was known for neuro related cases. Unfortunately the medicine which is administered within 4 hr to reduce the complications was not given.However the treatment started immediately .Now his condition is improving and have been shifted to semi ICU since last two days. The stroke has affected his left body parts and physiotherapy is going on.. The problem is that we want to shift him to other city for better medical aid and investigation and subsequent treatment.Sir i just wish to on average basis after how much time i can plan to fly to other city for better treatment .Right now i am staying in guwahati thank u

Submitted: 4 Days
Category: Neurologist, Medical

Expert:  Dr. Sudhir Kumar replied 4 Days.

Hello,
Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com. I’m sorry that you are going through such a difficult time.
I have noted the symptoms of your husband Mr Mangal Singh. The MRI report shows that he has suffered a brain stroke (A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or severely reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and food. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die). The stroke affected the right side of his brain, which controls his left side leading to left-sided weakness. Unfortunately, he did not receive thrombolytic therapy to improve his weakness within a few hours.
For now, he needs to continue physiotherapy and oral tablets for improvement.
He is young (only 42 years) and we need to find out why he suffered stroke and prevent recurrence of stroke in future.
To answer your question regarding when it is safe to move him for better treatment, he can safely fly after two weeks of stroke.
I hope it helps.
Feel free to discuss further,
Regards.

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Patient replied :

Thank u sooooo much. It was a huge relief to hear that he can be shifted after 15 days. But my fear is still intact as the incident has shaken me to the hilt, therefore i dont want to take any decision in haste. I dont want to take any risk. The doctor here who is treating him is not in favour of shifting him anywhere atleast for 45 days. He says his stroke was serious. Although he did say that we can go by train. My husband, though would be discharged in 4-5 days time. I am sorry to sound so confused but i want to know is it really possible to shift him after 15 days as you mentioned without assessing his present medical condition which seems not possible as doctor here is not ready to entertain any querries from doctors of the other city where we wish to take him. As a layman i am sharing his present state 1. his BP is normal. 2 His memory is perfect.3 he has started taking semi-solid food orally .4 he speaks well but left part of lips is affected by stroke 5 docs have sent blood sample for protein s,protein c ,antithrombin3,antiphospholipid antibody IgG.


Expert:  Dr. Sudhir Kumar replied 3 Days.

Thank you for getting back.
Regarding shifting, please follow the instructions of his treating doctor, as he is in best position to assess his fitness to travel. 15 days is the general guideline. If he is critically ill, then, obviously he can not be shifted so soon.
In any case, now, the treatment is with oral medications and physiotherapy, which hopefully can be given there as well (the most important thrombolytic therapy has been missed).
Tests sent by his doctor are important to find out the reason for his stroke.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Dr. Sudhir Kumar MD (Medicine), DM (Neurology)
Senior Consultant Neurologist

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