Clot-buster jab breakthrough for stroke man; Quick-thinking and teamwork by paramedics and doctor help save life.

Byline: Kathryn Williams

A PIONEERING treatment for stroke victims, has been used successfully for the first time in Wales on a Rhondda man.

Paramedics Katie McPheat and Derek Olsen quickly diagnosed 68-year-old Brian March at his Trebanog home and rushed him to the Stroke Unit at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital.

There he was given a brain scan and specialist Dr Richard Dewar gave him a lifesaving thrombolysis injection to break up the clot which had caused the stroke.

Katie said: "He was complaining of slurred speech and also had a slight facial droop.

"He had never had a stroke before so it must have been quite frightening for him but we did further checks and got him into the ambulance and told control to tell the stroke unit at the Royal Glamorgan we were on our way in."

Dr Dewar said: "Thrombolysis is used by paramedics to bust the clots which cause heart attacks but you can't do that with a stroke until the patient has had a brain scan.

"That's because strokes can also be caused by bleeding in the brain which could be aggravated by the use of a thrombolysis drug.

"It's crucial that the crew give advance warning to the hospital and that's what happened here.

We were ready for them and able to give the right treatment."

A relieved Mr March said: "I felt pins and needles in the back of my head and then collapsed in the bathroom.

"But I knew I had to get to the phone somehow.

"I managed to drag myself to the phone and contacted my sister who rang 999 and I managed to wedge the door open.

"The ambulance was there in five minutes and I owe so much to the crew and to Dr Dewar for saving my life.

"I've still got a weakness in my arm but I couldn't move it at all when it happened, so I'm over the moon to have got where I am."

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LIFESAVERS: Brian March with paramedic Katie McPheat and Dr Richard Dewar