Alshalchy Ali, Kadhim Mustafa F, Algabri Mostafa H, Saleh Saleh, Ismail Mustafa
Department of Surgery, University of Baghdad, College of Medicine, Baghdad, IRQ.
Department of Neurology, Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, IRQ.
Cureus. 2024 Nov 21;16(11):e74174. doi: 10.7759/cureus.74174. eCollection 2024 Nov.
Stroke is a critical public health issue in Iraq, where the rising incidence is met with insufficient specialized care, often leading to severe disability or mortality. This editorial highlights the urgent need for establishing endovascular centers across the country to address these gaps. Endovascular interventions, such as mechanical thrombectomy, have proven effective in reducing stroke-related mortality and long-term disability when administered within a narrow treatment window. However, Iraq faces numerous challenges, including limited resources, infrastructure deficits, and a shortage of trained specialists, compounded by socio-political factors that affect healthcare delivery. Iraq at this moment lacks a dedicated stroke endovascular center. By investing in endovascular centers and addressing the systemic challenges, Iraq can align its stroke care with global standards, offering improved outcomes for stroke patients and reducing the nation's overall healthcare burden.
中风是伊拉克一个关键的公共卫生问题，该国中风发病率不断上升，但专业护理却不足，常常导致严重残疾或死亡。这篇社论强调了在全国建立血管内治疗中心以填补这些空白的迫切需求。血管内介入治疗，如机械取栓术，已被证明在狭窄的治疗窗口期内进行时，能有效降低与中风相关的死亡率和长期残疾率。然而，伊拉克面临诸多挑战，包括资源有限、基础设施不足以及训练有素的专家短缺，同时还受到影响医疗服务提供的社会政治因素的影响。目前伊拉克缺乏专门的中风血管内治疗中心。通过投资建立血管内治疗中心并应对系统性挑战，伊拉克能够使其中风护理符合全球标准，为中风患者提供更好的治疗效果，并减轻该国的整体医疗负担。
