Catheter Lysis of Thromboembolic Stroke (CLOTS)

CLOTS Program


The CLOTS Program is coming soon.

The CLOTS Training Course for Acute Stroke Treatment


This comprehensive five-day training course is composed of in-depth multidisciplinary lectures emphasizing the entire spectrum of stroke diagnosis and management. Topics include stroke pathophysiology, clinical neurological evaluation and the NIHSS, neurocritical care, multimodal neuroimaging, techniques of catheter-directed stroke care, patientspecific decision-making, multidisciplinary panel discussions, and numerous case scenarios. By forming a unique multidisciplinary faculty with experts from the fields of NeuroIntervention, Vascular Neurology, Neurocritical Care, Catheter Intervention, and NeuroImaging, CLOTS is the most comprehensive stroke training course available worldwide.

The intent of CLOTS is to improve stroke treatment in all aspects of care. Both the interventional and on interventional tracks have proved useful for even the most well-trained specialists including experienced
fellowship-trained neurointerventionists, interventional radiologists, and vascular neurologists. Fellows, including both vascular neurology and catheter interventionists, have received particular benefit from this course and are encouraged to attend.

Hands-on interaction with anatomically correct human-sized vascular flow models using actual stroke devices (Penumbra, Concentric, etc.) is available. The interventional track is intended for physicians with ACGME training and experience in the fundamentals of neuroimaging, catheter-directed cerebral angiography and sub-selective peripheral or neuroendovascular catheter-directed therapy who seek to incorporate acute ischemic stroke care into their practice and/or upgrade their knowledge and skill-base.

The non-interventional track provides a unique perspective on the complex and patient-specific decision making associated with all aspects of stroke care, including an emphasis on decision-making for endovascular stroke therapy. Experienced vascular neurologists, as well as vascular neurology fellows in training, have found CLOTS to be the most comprehensive stroke-training course available. CLOTS will also be useful for nurses, administrators and stroke coordinators who desire to increase their knowledge concerning the fundamentals of stroke and emergency stroke therapy, and the complex issues involved in creating a stroke center of excellence.

Sample Lectures Include:


  • Imaging Triage of Stroke: Techniques in CTA/CT Perfusion.
  • Imaging Triage of Stroke: Techniques in MRA/MR Perfusion
  • Cerebral Angiography in Ischemia: Collaterals and Their Implications.
  • Angiographic Patterns of Ischemia.
  • Overview of Evidence for Intra-arterial Pharmacomechanical Therapy: MERCI
  • Overview of Evidence for Intra-arterial Pharmacomechanical Therapy: Penumbra.
  • Upcoming Endovascular Stroke Trials and New Devices
  • Drugs Used in Interventional Procedures
  • Intra-arterial Thrombolytic Therapy - How I Do It (Case-based)
  • Intra-arterial Pharmacomechanical Therapy - How I Do It (Case-based)
  • How Does "Time of Onset" Enter Into Treatment Decisions? The Evidence
  • Should General Anesthesia Be Used for IA Stroke Therapy?
  • Potential Complications: Complications, Technical Pitfalls and Errors to Avoid
  • Selection of Revascularization Techniques
  • Patient Selection for IA therapy - Risk/Benefit Evaluation
  • Who not to Treat and Which Essential Variables to Consider
  • Medico-legal Implications of Acute Stroke Care
  • Tracking Outcomes

Educational Objectives


On completion of this course, an attendee should be able to

  • Describe recent developments in the area of acute stroke therapy and interventions
  • Describe pros and cons of intravenous (IV) tPA vs. IA intervention for treatment of particular stroke subtypes
  • Discuss the pathophysiology of stroke
  • Perform a basic clinical neurological examination, including the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
  • Summarize the findings of major clinical trials in acute ischemic stroke
  • Discuss essential elements of multidisciplinary stroke team development
  • Analyze imaging modalities used in the evaluation of acute ischemic stroke
  • Select patients appropriate for acute ischemic stroke revascularization, either IV or IA
  • Describe intra-arterial techniques for treatment of acute ischemic stroke
  • Demonstrate angiographic table set-up and management
  • Demonstrate knowledge of guiding catheters, microcatheters, infusion systems, technical ability and revascularization techniques
  • Discuss recent key considerations in neurointensive care of stroke patients.
  • Recognize the absolute necessity of tracking clinical and procedural outcomes of stroke treatment

Program Coordinators


John W. Cole, MD, MS
Vascular Neurology
University of Maryland School of
Medicine and Veterans Affairs
Medical Center
Baltimore, Md.

J.J. "Buddy" Connors, MD, FSIR
Interventional Neuroradiology
Vanderbilt University Hospital
Nashville, Tenn.

Vance Edmond McCollom, MD
Interventional Radiology
Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Okla.

David Sacks, MD, FSIR
Interventional Radiology
The Reading Hospital and
Medical Center
West Reading, Pa.

Steering Committee Members


Carl M. Black, MD
IR/Neuroradiology

Romergryko G. Geocadin, MD
Neurocritical Care Medicine,
Secretary, Neurocritical Care Society

Howard A. Rowley, MD
Neuroradiology/Neurology

M.J. "Bernie" Stallmeyer, MD, PhD
Interventional Neuroradiology

Joan C. Wojak, MD, FSIR
Interventional Neuroradiology

Registration


Registration and Hotel Information to come.

Exam Information


Exam information to come.

Online Cases


Online cases information to come.

Cancellation Policy


Cancellation details to come.

Resources


National Stroke Intervention Training Center
Society of Interventional Radiology Resources Cover Stroke, Carotid Artery Disease

SIR Policies


SIR Participation Policy

Society of Interventional Radiology staff, members, nonmembers and event participants must be treated with respect in all interactions (including but not limited to in-person, telephone or via written communications). All agree to conduct themselves in a manner appropriate for health care professionals. Staff offices and the press room at meeting sites are reserved for official business only; food and beverage service in these areas are reserved for staff and volunteer members. If a staff member believes that these rules have been violated or acceptable social decorum has otherwise been breached, the staff member shall contact one of the designated individuals in the volunteer leadership to help with the situation. If the member in question believes that he/she has been wrongly accused of inappropriate behavior, he/she shall also contact the designated physician leadership to help with the situation.
 

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