Barreras y facilitadores en emergencias neurovasculares: reporte de caso de zona rural de Colombia

Abstract

Introduction

Stroke is a neurologic emergency, represents the second leading cause of death and the third cause of disability worldwide. In low- and middle-income countries, multiple barriers limit access to care, conditioning clinical outcomes.

Case presentation

A 39-year-old woman with acute altered mental status, left-sided hemiparesis, and aphasia was transferred from a rural area of the Colombian Pacific coast to a specialized center. Neuroimaging revealed significant penumbra, and mechanical thrombectomy was performed 25 hours after symptom onset. The patient recovered language function, with persistent motor deficit.

Conclusions

Telemedicine and referral network models reduce healthcare inequities and make mechanical thrombectomy feasible in an ultra-extended time window.