US Sen Ben Ray Luján Hospitalized After Suffering a Stroke

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/02/senator-ben-ray-lujan-hospitalized-suffering-stroke/

Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) was hospitalized with a stroke last Thursday and operated on to ease brain swelling. Luján is expected to make a full recovery, however it has not been estimated when he might return to the 50-50 Senate. Luján’s office waited until Tuesday to inform the public with this statement:

Luján Statement on Hospitalization

February 1, 2022

Albuquerque, N.M. – Carlos Sanchez, Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), issued the following statement:

“Early Thursday morning, Senator Luján began experiencing dizziness and fatigue. He checked himself into Christus St. Vincent Regional Hospital in Santa Fe. He was then transferred to UNM Hospital in Albuquerque for further evaluation. Senator Luján was found to have suffered a stroke in the cerebellum, affecting his balance. As part of his treatment plan, he subsequently underwent decompressive surgery to ease swelling.

“He is currently being cared for at UNM Hospital, resting comfortably, and expected to make a full recovery. The Senator’s offices remain open and will continue providing constituent services to all New Mexicans without any interruption. The Senator and his family would like to thank the wonderful doctors and staff at both UNM Hospital and Christus St. Vincent Regional Hospital for their excellent care during this time. Senator Luján looks forward to getting back to work for the people of New Mexico. At this time, he and his family would appreciate their privacy, and ask for your continued prayers and well wishes.”

Luján, 49, is in his first term in the Senate having been elected in 2020 after serving in the House from 2009-2021. Luján’s absence while he recovers could place the Democrat agenda and controversial Joe Biden nominees in limbo depending on how long his recovery takes. Joe Biden is set to nominate a Supreme Court nominee to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. Kamala Harris’ tie breaking vote may not be able to be used if the 50 Republican senators stand united.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) issued a statement on Lujan, “My thoughts are with Senator Ben Ray Luján and his family. I’m so glad to hear that he will make a full recovery. We look forward to his quick return to the Senate.”

Sen. Martin Heinrich (D) is the senior senator for New Mexico, having served since 2013.

This video of Luján speaking about his background is pinned at the top of his Twitter page.

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>>15525876

BRAIN SWELLING W/ STROKE

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5136437/

Results:

In 9 (7.9%) patients developed brain edema. Pneumonia was the most common complication (12.3%). Brain edema had a higher incidence in women, patients with hypertension and elevated serum creatinine values, and patients who are suffering from diabetes. There was no significant correlation between brain edema and survival in patients after acute ischaemic stroke. Patients with brain edema had a significantly higher degree of neurological deficit as at admission, and at discharge (p = 0.04, p = 0.004).

Conclusion:

The cerebral edema is common after acute ischaemic stroke and no effect on survival in the acute phase. The existence of brain edema in acute ischaemic stroke significantly influence the degree of neurological deficit.

….Large hemispheric infarction or infarction in the area of the cerebellum can give an altered state of consciousness that is progressively mostly due to massive cerebral edema. A significant number of patients with acute ischaemic stroke, but the admission to have electrolyte system disorder primarily in terms of dehydration and increased plasma osmolality which directly threatens the brain, but also the kidney functioning (1). Brain edema and increased intracranial pressure are often associated with occlusion of large intracranial arteries.

Patients with a large cerebral infarction generally have a poor prognosis. Approximately 40% of patients with total anterior cerebral infarction (TACI) syndrome deteriorate during the first week, and half of them die during the first month (2). Poor outcome is mostly explained by the volume of cerebral tissue that is damaged. Early deterioration and death is often the result of edema in the infarcted tissue (3). Edema causes mass-effect with distortion, tissue shift and increased intracranial pressure (4, 5). Such changes lead to cerebral herniation, further brain damage and death.

Conventional medical treatment aims at reducing edema and intracranial pressure in stroke patients using hyperventilation, mannitol, diuretics, corticosteroids or barbiturates (6, 7). However, once brain swelling produces clinical signs and imaging features of mass effect with tissue shift, case-fatality becomes higher, despite intensive medical treatment (3). Surgical decompression seeks to create space to accommodate the increased volume created by the swollen brain (8). This can be accomplished by opening the cranial vault and dura (7), or by removing non-viable or non-essential brain tissue (9).