Stroke Clinic

Cook Children's Stroke Clinic takes place once a month in the neurology clinic. Because strokes can occur even before a baby is born, we care for children from age 0 and up.

Comprised of hematologists, oncologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, neurophysiologists, rheumatologists, interventional radiologists and movement disorder specialists, the stroke clinic team sees approximately 120 outpatient cases of pediatric stroke annually in addition to our inpatient cases.

Two weeks before each clinic takes place, a team of specialists review the patient files for the upcoming stroke clinic. This helps them to better prepare for each child's visit.

Our stroke clinic diagnoses and helps manage a variety of conditions, including:

Factor V leiden mutation
Hyperlipidemia
Intracranial hemorrhages
Ischemic stroke
Moyamoya
Sinus thrombosis
Vasculitis

The clinic allows patients to be seen by multiple specialists at once, instead of scheduling numerous visits. Patients can see specialists from:

Hematology
Neurology
Neuropsychology
Neurosurgery
The Heart Center for cardiology care
Social worker
Spasticity management (physical therapist, occupational therapist, orthotics, rehab) through referral
Thrombosis/stroke nurse will be actively involved with the care of the patient
Program coordinator/administrator

Children who are seen in our stroke clinic undergo initial testing to help the team determine the type and cause of your child's stroke. Depending on your child's diagnosis and where they are in their treatment plan some tests may be repeated at each clinic visit. Tests include, but are not limited to:

Neurological examination
Blood tests which may include bleeding time, cholesterol, sugar, clotting, and a complete blood count.
CT scans
MRI scans
Doppler ultrasound
Arteriography

We've tailored our imaging studies to thoroughly investigate pediatric stroke cases and identify underlying risk factors so that we can develop a management plan designed to reduce the reoccurrence of stroke later in life.

Your child's treatment plan will be based on his or diagnosis and may include some of the following:

Supportive care to maintain normal body temperature, proper hydration and normal blood sugar levels
Controlling high blood pressure
Detecting and treating seizures with EEG monitoring and anticonvulsant medication
Managing intracranial pressure
Clot-busting drugs
Clinical trials
Antithrombotic therapy – medications used to prevent blood clots from forming or growing
Surgery

Carla Morton, Ph.D.
Neuropsychologist

View biography

Meet our clinic team

Fernando Acosta Jr., MD

Neurology

4.9 out of 5

129 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-2500

Marcela Torres, MD

Hematology and Oncology

Accepting new patients

682-885-4007

Richard Roberts, MD

Neurosurgery

4.9 out of 5

83 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-2500

Madhan Bosemani, MD

Radiology

682-885-4076

Ronald Gerstle, MD

Radiology

682-885-4076

We're here to help.

If your child has been diagnosed, you probably have lots of questions. We can help. If you would like to schedule an appointment, refer a patient or speak to our staff, please call our offices at 682-303-2650.

Stroke Clinic

Conditions we see

Testing

Treatment

Meet our clinic team

Fernando Acosta Jr., MD

Marcela Torres, MD

Richard Roberts, MD

Madhan Bosemani, MD

Ronald Gerstle, MD

We're here to help.