Boy, 6, suffers a potentially deadly stroke that causes paralysis: ‘rare complication’
NEWNow you can listen to News articles!
The Christmas Eve is usually a night of fun and holiday, but for a family of Illinois in 2023, it came with a potentially deadly medical emergency.
After enjoying some Christmas traditions, the Patton family had just accommodated at the table when Preston Patton, who was 6 years old at that time, suddenly slipped to the ground.
“He simply fell from the chair and was flaccid,” said Shawn Patton, Preston’s father, according to a press release from OSF Healthcare. “I didn’t think it was a stroke, but I only knew something was wrong.”
Mini stroke can cause a surprising long -term health problem, experts warn
Patton immediately called 911 and the first to respond ran to OSF Healthcare.
In the hospital, a team of emergency and pediatric doctors evaluated the situation. A brain exploration revealed that Preston had a blood clot in the brain, and its cardiac function had fallen to only 10%. (See the video at the top of this article).
Shawn Patton is photographed with his little son, Preston, who experienced a potentially deadly stroke at 6 years. (OSF Healthcare)
Also known as cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), this condition is rare in children, which generally affects only about one or two out of every 100,000 children and adolescents, according to statistics.
“He had a complete paralysis on the left side of his body,” said Soubh Lahoti, MD, a vascular and interventionist neurologist with the OSF Healthcare Illinois neurological institute, in the statement.
Stroke, dementia and depression share these 17 preventable risk factors
“It was not possible movement, and the vision in his left visual field was lost. He could not move his eyes to the left,” added Lahoti, who directed the child’s care.
“He had the revealing signs of a stroke that affect the right side of his brain.”
The exploration showed that the clot was blocking the blood flow on the right side of Preston’s brain.
“It was not possible movement, and the vision in its left visual field was lost.”
“We had to get that clot. If we hadn’t, it is likely to have developed a very large stroke,” said Lahoti.
“This would not only have potentially paralyze it for the rest of his life, but it could have been potentially deadly.”
A brain exploration revealed that Preston Patton, in the photo to the right, had a blood clot in the brain, and its heart function had fallen to 10%. He shows himself with his sister, Carter, and his father, Shawn Patton. (OSF Healthcare)
The doctors performed a procedure called thrombectomy, in which a small and thin catheter is inserted into a blood vessel to eliminate the clot of the blocked artery.
Preston is one of the few children in the world who underwent this intervention that saves lives, according to the press release.
Man’s best friend: neighborhood dog alert when the owner has stroke
When doctors began the procedure, the clot had traveled to a smaller blood vessel, which made it more difficult to eliminate.
“The farther the clot, the greater the risk of taking it out, because we are getting into very small blood vessels in the brain,” said Lahoti. “We decided to run that risk and prevent a disability for life.”
Preston Patton, in the photo here with his sister, is one of the few children in the world who underwent a thrombectomy that save lives, according to OSF Healthcare. (OSF Healthcare)
Shortly after the clot retired, doctors saw a “complete investment” of Patton’s symptoms.
It was “truly magical,” recalled Dr. Lahoti in the statement, particularly after the child arrived at the hospital in a state of complete paralysis.
“After the anesthesia was removed, he woke up and could move his left arm and leg again.”
Friends, family can protect against heart attack, stroke and type 2 diabetes, suggests the study
Before thrombectomy therapy was available, patients had no other options, the doctor said.
“The usual course was that they stayed with paralysis for life, and they could never live again,” said Lahoti.
Click here to get the News application
Doctors now believe that Preston’s stroke was caused by a “rare complication” of a recent flu infection.
“Due to the flu, there was a cross reaction of immunity that his body built,” Lahoti said. “His immune system attacked the flu virus, but also his kidneys and his heart.”
Shortly after the clot retired, doctors saw a “complete investment” of Patton’s symptoms. (OSF Healthcare)
“Because of that, his heart pumping really weakened, and we believe that he led to the formation of a clot in his heart. The clot traveled from the heart to his brain.”
Preston’s father pointed out that his late wife (mother of Preston and his sister, Carter), had died of a pulmonary embolism, which made the young man’s medical emergency even more “emotionally challenging.”
Click here to register in our health newsletter
After a couple of weeks at the hospital, Preston is now fine and is enjoying your favorite activities again.
“It goes to OT (occupational therapy) once a week and PT (physiotherapy) once a month,” said Shawn Patton in an interview with OSF Healthcare. “It is getting quite well.”
“We had to get that clot. If we had not, it is likely that it would have developed a very large blow.”
“My leg is better,” Preston added.
“Yes, your leg is improving. Your hand will also improve,” his father assured him.
The child has not yet been able to play baseball again, but has begun to ride a bicycle again.
For more health articles, visit www.Newsnews.com/health
“It’s hard to hold on to handlebar and things like that. We just have to keep working hard,” said Shawn Patton.
Inspired by his challenge and recovery, Preston has said he wants to become a nurse, according to the hospital, “because the nurses took great care of him.”
Melissa Rudy is a senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle in News Digital. The advice of history can be sent to melissa.rudy@News.com.