The multidisciplinary team at the Comprehensive Stroke Center at Tufts Medical Center in downtown Boston treats people with a wide range of cerebrovascular disorders: ischemic strokes, transient ischemic attack, intracerebral hemorrhages, subarachnoid hemorrhages, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, carotid artery stenosis, and many more. Our clinicians work together to find the best treatment plan for you.
Our board-certified vascular neurologists lead a team of medical and surgical specialists and therapists with these goals:
We are proud to report that for June–November 2022, 95% of our patients with strokes that underwent endovascular treatment had an excellent return of blood flow through the affected vessel. In addition, from January–June 2020, for our patients with strokes that received treatment with intravenous alteplase or tPA, there was a 0% rate of hemorrhagic complications.
Meet our Stroke Center Director, Dr. Lester Y. Leung
A board-certified vascular neurologist and clinical investigator, Dr. Leung is focused on reducing the impact of stroke on individuals and society, particularly through improvement in pre-hospital, in-hospital, and post-acute stroke care, and through the prevention of initial and recurrent strokes. He leads a core team of vascular neurologists, vascular neurosurgeons, neurointensivists, emergency medicine physicians, vascular surgery, physiatry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, nurse practitioners, and a dedicated stroke coordinator to deliver top notch care to stroke patients at Tufts Medical Center and its allied hospitals in the Tufts Medicine network. He also directs the Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases Comprehensive Stroke Clinic at the Biewend Building (260 Tremont Street, Boston).
Dr. Leung is a thought leader in the diagnosis, management, and long-term consequences of stroke in young adults. He founded and serves as the Director of the
Stroke and Young Adults (SAYA) Program at Tufts MC, a pioneering longitudinal care program which helps identify the causes of stroke in young patients, optimize prevention of future strokes, and assess and treat late complications. The program also provides counseling on stroke survivorship and a young adult stroke survivor social support group.
From prevention through rehabilitation
Ideally, your first interaction with our program happens before a stroke occurs. In these scenarios, we focus on stroke prevention through medications and lifestyle changes. Our clinical nurse practitioner is instrumental in educating our patients and families in this regard.
If you come to the Tufts MC Emergency Department with stroke symptoms, you can take comfort that you are in the right hands. Upon your arrival, our Acute Stroke Team immediately evaluates you to determine which treatments are available to open the blocked blood vessel as quickly and safely as possible, or how to best stabilize your condition to prevent further injury to the brain.
For all people with stroke, we need to determine why the stroke occurred in order to prevent future strokes. Our program uses a wide variety of advanced diagnostic tests and can work alongside other Tufts MC specialists to reach a clear and definitive diagnosis.
Our patients with very severe strokes may receive care in the Michael Neely Neuroscience Center at Tufts MC, which opened in 2011 and features the latest in critical care advances. This 15-bed critical care and intermediate care facility is directed by board-certified neurointensivists with expertise in treating critically ill neurological and neurosurgical patients.
Post-stroke treatment focuses on preventing recurrent strokes and also on recovery, rehabilitation, and adaptation to persistent neurologic deficits. While many of our patients undergo rehabilitation close to their homes, Tufts MC has a Neurorehabilitation Clinic that helps patients regain function and independence. This is just one more example of our commitment to providing comprehensive care for stroke and other cerebrovascular disorders.
