Stroke Clinic
Nationally ranked care for children's strokes
Strokes in children can cause lifelong effects on movement due to muscle weakness and spasticity, difficulties with speech, memory, problem solving and behavior. Fortunately, early diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care can minimize these long-term effects.
Our Pediatric Stroke Program consists of both:
Emergency (acute) care for children with suspected stroke. We provide this care through the Vanderbilt Pediatric Emergency Department where a neurologist is readily available to see children with stroke-like symptoms.
Long-term care in the Pediatric Stroke Clinic. Our comprehensive clinic based in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology provides follow-up care and outpatient consultation for children that have had a stroke. Pediatrics specialists that may be involved in your child’s care include
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Hematology (Thrombosis)
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R)
- Developmental Medicine – Motor Impairment Clinic
- Neuropsychology
- Neuro-ophthalmology
- Neuroradiology
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
If this is your first visit or if you have had brain imaging completed at a different hospital, please arrange to bring your child's records with you, especially MRI/CT scans on a CD so that we can view the actual images, not just paper reports.
Conditions We Treat
We treat all variations of pediatric stroke, including but not limited to
- Ischemic stroke
- Hemorrhagic stroke
- Cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT)
Meet Your Care Team
Why Choose the Pediatric Stroke Clinic at Children‘s Hospital
- Recognized care
Our Pediatric Stroke Program is nationally recognized for advanced pediatric stroke care and for coordinating care with teams of experts located right here at Children's Hospital. Our multidisciplinary team includes one of only a few pediatric neurologists in the United States with specific training and certification in stroke care, a neurosurgeon with expertise in pediatric neurovascular surgery and an endovascular specialist for children.
- Innovative research
Vanderbilt gives patients and families access to the latest research and therapies. Research includes studies to improve acute care and long-term outcome after both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Our team participates in the International Pediatric Stroke Study and other studies, including those sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.
- Expert care
Children's Hospital has the expertise and resources to minimize damage from a first stroke, prevent repeat strokes and maximize recovery.
- Advanced onsite imaging
Children's Hospital's Pediatric Stroke Clinic features advanced onsite neuroimaging. This means we can provide testing and diagnosis quickly with expert care.
