Feasibility and safety of remote radiology interpretation with telephone consultation for acute stroke in Thailand

"Telestroke" is emerging as a potential timesaving, efficient means for evaluating patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke. It provides an opportunity for administration of thrombolytic drugs within the short therapeutic time window associated with AIS. We describe our experiences of the feasibility and safety of remote radiology interpretation with telephone consultation. Thammasat Stroke Center employs a computed tomography-digital imaging and communication in medicine (CT-DICOM) image transfer by PACS (SYNAPSE-Fujifilm), providing a real-time CT image transferred directly to the stroke consultants. The patient data are communicated by traditional telephone conversation. Here, we assessed patients who received intravenous rt-PA treatment for ASI between October 2007 and January 2009. A total of 458 patients with AIS and transient ischemic attack (TIA) were admitted to a stroke unit during the study period. One hundred patients received intravenous rt-PA (21%). Median NIHSS before thrombolysis was 15 (3-34). Mean door-to-needle time was 54 minutes (15-125). Mean onset-to-treatment time OTT was 160 minutes (60-270). There were 13 asymptomatic intracerebral hemorrhages and two (one fatal) symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhages. At 3 months, 42 patients had achieved excellent recovery (mRS, 0-1) and 14 had died. Administration of rt-PA for AIS with remote radiology interpretation with telephone consultation was feasible and safe, and the system was well received. Further studies are needed to determine the benefit of this method as compared to the conventional telephone consultation alone.     

Thrombolysis in acute ischaemic stroke within 3 hours of symptom onset: a report of the first 100 cases

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to present our initial experience with the use of intravenous thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute ischaemic stroke in the 2nd Department of Neurology of the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in the years 2003-2007. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patients were selected and treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA, alteplase) according to the SITS-MOST (Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke - Monitoring Study) protocol. RESULTS: We present the data on the first 100 patients treated with rt-PA in our department. The mean age of the treated patients was 67 years, the initial neurological deficit measured in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was 8 pts., the door-to-needle time was 82 minutes. At 3-month follow-up, 61% of patients had achieved modified Rankin scale score of 0-2. Fourteen percent had died within three months of stroke onset. We observed 2 symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhages and there were 17 cases of secondary asymptomatic haemorrhagic transformations (6 cases with haemorrhagic infarct type 2, 11 cases with primary intracerebral haemorrhage, and 6 cases with remote primary intracerebral haemorrhage type 1). CONCLUSIONS: Our results are consistent with the previous experience of other stroke centres and confirm that rt-PA is safe and effective in ischaemic stroke treatment also in the Polish population.     

Thrombolysis with alteplase for acute ischemic stroke: review of SITS-MOST and other Phase IV studies

Thrombolytic therapy is the only approved therapy for acute ischemic stroke patients. As part of the European approval process, the Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke - Monitoring Study (SITS-MOST) was demanded as a Phase IV study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of alteplase in a 3-h time-window. This article summarizes SITS-MOST and compares it with other Phase IV studies. Between 2002 and 2006, 6483 patients were included in 285 centers; median age was 68 years, median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 12 and the median time-window was 140 min. The rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhages, defined as parenchymal hemorrhage type 2 combined with a neurological deterioration of at least 4 points on NIHSS, was 1.7% within 24 h after treatment. Symptomatic hemorrhages as defined by the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke criteria occurred in 7.3% of patients. The 3-month mortality was 11.3% and the rate of good clinical outcome (modified Rankin Score 0-2) was 55%. There were no major differences between experienced and inexperienced centers regarding safety or efficacy. The results of SITS-MOST are comparable with the results of the randomized placebo-controlled trials and other Phase IV studies such as standard treatment with Alteplase to Reverse Stroke and Canadian Alteplase for Stroke Effectiveness Study. They confirm that intravenous alteplase is safe and effective in routine clinical practice when used for acute stroke within 3 h of stroke onset, even in centers with little previous experience of thrombolytic therapy but only if the licensing approval criteria are strictly followed. These findings should encourage wider use of thrombolytic therapies for suitable stroke patients treated in stroke centers.     

不同剂量rt-PA静脉治疗急性缺血性卒中临床分析

目的 重组组织型纤溶酶原激活剂（reconstructive tissue plasminogen activator,rt-PA）在静脉溶栓治疗急性缺血性卒中时,美国食品药品管理局（food and drug administration,FDA）批准剂量为0.9mg/kg（总量≤90mg）,国内亦有应用剂量0.6～0.8mg/kg（总量50mg）。本试验拟探讨两种剂量rt-PA的疗效及安全性。方法 纳入急性缺血性卒中患者30例,美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表（N ati o n a l I n sti tu te s of Health Stroke Scale NIHSS）评分2～26分,发病时间0.5～6h,无溶栓禁忌证。随机分为两组：rt-PA0.6～0.8mg/kg（总量50mg）组（A组）和0.9mg/kg组（B组）。比较两组治疗前、治疗后24h及14d的NIHSS评分改善率（≥4分）及颅内出血率、死亡率。结果 两组治疗前的基本资料无统计学差异,NIHSS评分平均为10.17分。B组治疗后14d NIHSS评分改善率明显优于A组（86.67% vs 53.3%,P <0.05）。两组发生颅内出血的比例均为6%。两组死亡病例均为非出血性病变,A组死亡率略高于B组,但无统计学差异（26.67% vs 20%,P =0.67）。结论 rt-PA 0.9mg/kg剂量疗效优于0.6～0.8mg/kg剂量,并未增加颅内出血并发症及死亡率,该溶栓剂量同样适用于国人。     

Thrombolytic therapy in acute ischemic stroke in Asia: The first prospective evaluation

OBJECTIVE: Intravenous thrombolytic therapy has been widely recommended as a standard treatment for acute ischemic stroke in most clinical practice guidelines. However, the experience in Asia is still limited. We report the first prospective case series of thrombolytic therapy in a developing Asian country. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who presented within 3 h of onset were screened under stroke fast track program. Those who were eligible were treated with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). General and neurological examinations together with the National Institute of Health stroke scale (NHISS) and modified Rankin scale (MRS) were recorded prior to and after the treatment at 1 h, 24 h, on discharge and at 3 months. Hemorrhagic brain lesion and death within 3 months were also recorded. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients or 2.1% of patients with acute stroke received intravenous thrombolysis. The mean pretreatment NIHSS was 18.8 and the majority of patients had stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory. The mean door-to-needle time was 72.6 min (ranged 20-150 min). Major neurological improvement, defined as improving of the NIHSS >8 points or NIHSS of 0 points at 24 h, was observed in 17 patients (50%). Intracerebral hemorrhage was detected in four cases (11.8%), two of them were symptomatic (5.9%) and one was fatal. CONCLUSION: Intravenous thrombolysis can be given in patients with acute stroke in our population. Our cases were more severe than other studies. However, half of them experienced major neurological improvement. The risk of hemorrhagic brain lesion is not much higher than previously reported.     

Early stroke treatment associated with better outcome: the NINDS rt-PA stroke study

BACKGROUND: The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) rt-PA Stroke Study showed a similar percentage of intracranial hemorrhage and good outcome in patients 3 months after stroke treatment given 0 to 90 minutes and 91 to 180 minutes after stroke onset. At 24 hours after stroke onset more patients treated 0 to 90 compared to 91 to 180 minutes after stroke onset had improved by four or more points on the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS). The authors performed further analyses to characterize the relationship of onset-to-treatment time (OTT) to outcome at 3 months, early improvement at 24 hours, and intracranial hemorrhage within 36 hours. METHODS: Univariate analyses identified potentially confounding variables associated with OTT that could mask an OTT-treatment interaction. Tests for OTT-treatment interactions adjusting for potential masking confounders were performed. An OTT-treatment interaction was considered significant if p < or = 0.10, implying that treatment effectiveness was related to OTT. RESULTS: For 24-hour improvement, there were no masking confounders identified and there was an OTT-treatment interaction (p = 0.08). For 3-month favorable outcome, the NIHSS met criteria for a masking confounder. After adjusting for NIHSS as a covariate, an OTT-treatment interaction was detected (p = 0.09): the adjusted OR (95% CI) for a favorable 3-month outcome associated with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) was 2.11 (1.33 to 3.35) in the 0 to 90 minute stratum and 1.69 (1.09 to 2.62) in the 91 to 180 minute stratum. In the group treated with rt-PA, after adjusting for baseline NIHSS, an effect of OTT on the occurrence of intracranial hemorrhage was not detected. CONCLUSIONS: If the NINDS rt-PA Stroke Trial treatment protocol is followed, this analysis suggests that patients treated 0 to 90 minutes from stroke onset with rt-PA have an increased odds of improvement at 24 hours and favorable 3-month outcome compared to patients treated later than 90 minutes. No effect of OTT on intracranial hemorrhage was detected within the group treated with rt-PA, possibly due to low power.     

急性缺血性卒中患者行阿替普酶静脉溶栓治疗住院期间脑出血预测模型研究

目的 基于机器学习算法对急性缺血性卒中（acuteischemicstroke,AIS）或TIA患者行rt-PA静脉溶栓治疗住院期间脑出血的发生情况进行预测,并探索影响rt-PA溶栓治疗后脑出血发生的危险因素。方法 纳入中国卒中中心联盟（ChineseStrokeCenterAlliance,CSCA）2016年1月—2020年12月登记的被初步诊断为AIS或TIA且接受rt-PA静脉溶栓治疗的患者74 654例,平均年龄为（65.55±12.14）岁,其中,男性患者48 493例（64.96%）,住院期间发生脑出血患者2038例（2.73%）。将数据按年份划分为训练集和测试集,即2016—2019年登记患者划分为训练集,2020年登记患者划分为测试集,采用原型选择下采样技术对训练集数据正负样本进行77∶100平衡处理,构建了逻辑回归、极致梯度提升（extreme gradient boosting,XGBoost）、随机森林、梯度提升决策树（gradient boosting decision tree,GBDT）和分类梯度提升（categoricalboosting,CatBoos...     

rt-PA和尿激酶静脉溶栓治疗急性脑梗死安全性比较及对血栓弹力图的影响

目的 比较rt-PA和UK在我国常规临床实践中对发病6 h内缺血性卒中(AIS)的疗效和安全性.比较rt-PA与UK这两种溶栓剂对血栓弹力图(TEG)各参数的影响,TEG各参数与rt-PA、UK静脉溶栓安全性的关系.方法 收集安徽医科大学附属巢湖医院2018年7月至2021年2月期间、接受rt-PA(4.5 h内)或U...     

rt-PA溶栓时机对急性缺血性脑卒中伴心房颤动患者的溶栓效果及安全性的影响

目的 探讨rt-PA溶栓时机对急性缺血性脑卒中伴心房颤动患者的溶栓效果及安全性的影响。方法 选取本院2015年4月-2017年8月收治急性缺血性脑卒中伴心房颤动患者共124例,其中发病后3～4.5 h行rt-PA溶栓共64例设为对照组,发病后3 h内行rt-PA溶栓共60例设为观察组; 比较2组患者溶栓有效率、治疗前后NIHSS评分、随访mRS评分及严重出血事件发生率。结果 观察组患者溶栓有效率显著高于对照组(P<0.05); 2组患者治疗后1和7d NIHSS评分均显著低于治疗前(P<0.05); 观察组患者治疗后1 d NIHSS评分显著低于对照组(P<0.05); 2组患者治疗后7d NIHSS评分比较差异无显著性(P>0.05); 2组患者随访mRS评分分级情况比较差异无显著性(P>0.05); 2组患者出血性脑梗死和脑部症状性出血发生率比较差异无显著性(P>0.05); 观察组患者治疗后脑实质出血发生率显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论 急性缺血性脑卒中伴心房颤动患者在发病后3 h内行rt-PA溶栓在可提高溶栓效果和促进受损神经功能恢复方面较发病后3～4.5 h溶栓具有明显优势,但在远期疗效和严重出血事件发生风险方面两者接近。     

小剂量rt-PA静脉溶栓治疗急性脑梗死临床分析

目的美国及欧洲缺血性脑卒中治疗指南建议0.9mg.kg-1为重组组织型纤维酶原激活剂(rt-PA)静脉溶栓标准治疗剂量。鉴于国人尤其是我国南方人在种族、体质及脑梗死危险因素等方面的不同,也按0.9mg.kg-1国际标准剂量治疗是否完全适合,有很大争议。本试验比较小剂量rt-PA 0.7mg.kg-1与0.9mg.kg-1标准剂量治疗急性脑梗死的疗效、安全性及预后。方法 28例急性脑梗死患者,发病时间窗为4.5h内,具有溶栓指征,无溶栓禁忌症。随机分为小剂量组rt-PA(0.7mg.kg-1,最高剂量50mg)和对照组(0.9mg.kg-1,最高剂量90mg)。比较两组治疗前、治疗后24h及14d的NIHSS评分,颅内出血率、死亡率以及90d mRS评分。结果两组治疗前的基本临床资料比较差异无统计学意义。各组均能有效改善神经功能,各组治疗后NIHSS评分与治疗前相比有显著差异。但治疗后24h及14d时两组比较差异无统计学意义。两组90d mRS评分比较差异无统计学意义。小剂量0.7mg.kg-1组颅内出血发生率为7.1%,0.9mg.kg-1组为14.3%,两组比较差异无统计学意义。0.9mg.kg-1组死亡1例,小剂量组无死亡病例,两组死亡率比较差异无统计学意义。结论 rt-PA静脉溶栓0.7mg.kg-1剂量安全有效,该剂量可能更适合国人,尤其是南方人。     

rt-PA联合尿激酶静脉溶栓治疗急性脑梗死的疗效及安全性研究

目的观察重组组织型纤溶酶原激活剂联合尿激酶静脉溶栓治疗急性脑梗死的疗效与安全性。方法选择前循环急性脑梗死患者171例,联合溶栓组46例,单用rt-PA组39例,单用尿激酶组34例,对照组52例。观察治疗前及治疗后14d NIHSS评分,同时观察再梗死率、脑出血率及死亡率。结果 4组治疗后14d分别和治疗前比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);3个溶栓组与对照组14d有效率差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);4组再发脑梗死率、死亡率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),联合溶栓组脑出血率与单用rt-PA组及单用尿激酶组差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 rt-PA联合尿激酶治疗急性脑梗死是安全有效的。     

前-后循环急性脑梗死静脉溶栓疗效比较及安全评价

目的探讨前-后循环急性脑梗死静脉溶栓疗效差异及安全性评价。方法对前-后循环急性脑梗死120例,其中前循环64例及后循环56例急性脑梗死进行rt-PA静脉溶栓治疗,比较两组间神经功能恢复情况;并通过Logistic回归分析影响急性脑梗死rt-PA静脉溶栓后出血风险的独立危险因素。结果两组患者经溶栓治疗后24h、2w神经功能较溶栓治疗前均有明显恢复(P<0.01),两组之间溶栓治疗后24h神经功能恢复差异无统计学意义,但两组之间溶栓治疗后2w神经功能恢复差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);Logistic回归分析表明高血压病、心房纤颤、糖尿病及吸烟增加rt-PA静脉溶栓出血风险。结论在急性脑梗死的rt-PA静脉溶栓治疗中,前循环疗效优于后循环,且高血压病、心房纤颤、糖尿病及吸烟影响rt-PA静脉溶栓疗效,有增加出血风险可能,从而影响患者日后生活质量。     

Systemic thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in acute ischemic stroke: first Croatian experiences

In September 2003, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for acute treatment of ischemic stroke was finally approved by the Croatian Ministry of Health. For the next 5 years, only three stroke units in the country implemented this therapy in their routine practice until summer 2008, when neurological wards in most Croatian hospitals started to treat acute stroke patients with systemic thrombolysis. We present a 2-year experience of thrombolytic therapy (2006–2008) in the stroke unit of the University Hospital in Zagreb, Croatian largest hospital, serving nearly one-fifth of the citizens of Croatia. Obtained data (vitals at admission and before administration of rt-PA; NIHSS and MRS scores at admission, 2 h and 7th day after rt-PA treatment, “time to door” and “door to needle” intervals, duration of hospital treatment as well as outcomes and complications of our 66 thrombolysed patients) are presented and discussed. We also present our results regarding benefits of this therapy as well as possible reasons for complications noticed.     

Prediction of hospital disposition after thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale

BACKGROUND: Early determination of discharge destination after acute stroke may promote earlier rehabilitation and reduce costs by shortening the duration of hospitalization. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score predicts disposition in stroke patients treated with thrombolysis. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Academic and community hospitals from 3 countries. PATIENTS: Five hundred forty-six patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). INTERVENTIONS: Medical records were reviewed for demographic information, vascular risk factors, location of stroke, initial NIHSS score, acute hospital disposition, and complications of symptomatic or asymptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Discharge destination to home, acute rehabilitation, or nursing facility. RESULTS: In multinomial regression analysis, increasing NIHSS score was a robust and independent predictor of discharge to rehabilitation or nursing facilities, roughly doubling for each 5-point increment. Patients who developed symptomatic ICH were never discharged to home, but asymptomatic ICH had no significant independent effect on disposition. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke severity as determined by the admission NIHSS score is the major independent predictor of disposition after hospitalization and treatment with rt-PA for acute stroke in a broad-based population. However, symptomatic ICH after rt-PA is a catastrophic event that may preclude discharge to home.     

急性脑梗死患者多模式CT指导下的静脉溶栓治疗

目的 对发病3～9 h内的急性脑梗死患者,应用多模式CT指导下静脉rt-PA溶栓治疗,研究其疗效.方法 2007年8月至2009年5月于我院就诊,经多模式CT筛选出符合溶栓的患者27例.分为＞3～6 h组及7～9 h组,记录溶栓前、后的NIHSS、mRS及BI评分,症状性出血率和病死率.结果 27例样本中20例(74.1%)患者溶栓治疗有效,11例(40.7%)临床结局良好,5例(18.5%)血管完全再通,症状性出血1例(3.7%).其中＞3～6 h组有效率为92.3%(12/13,χ~2=4.34,P=0.037),血管冉通率38.5%(5/13,χ~2=6.608,P=0.010).结论 多模式CT指导下＞3～9 h溶栓是超过常规溶栓时间窗患者的一种可选择的治疗方法.     

Thrombolysis safety and effectiveness in acute ischemic stroke patients with pre-morbid disability

IntroductionRecombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is the first-line therapy demonstrated to be safe and effective in acute ischemic stroke. People with pre-existing severe dementia or physical disability are usually excluded from rt-PA. The aim of our study was to investigate rt-PA safety and effectiveness in acute stroke with pre-existing disability (mRS ≥ 2).MethodsThe study encompassed 35 acute ischemic stroke patients with mRS ≥ 2 treated with rt-PA. In order to assess the differences in clinical outcome in three disability groups (mRS = 2; 3; 4/5), the following parameters were evaluated: intracerebral hemorrhage, mortality, NIHSS, ΔNIHSS and mRS.ResultsBaseline-NIHSS and age were not significantly different among groups. Mortality was higher in the pre-morbid mRS 4/5 group (44%) than in the pre-morbid mRS 2 (16.7%) and mRS 3 groups (21.4%). In survived patients, median ΔNIHSS% was higher in the mRS 2 and 3 groups (-63.3% and −92.3%, respectively) than in the mRS 4/5 group (−9.1%). The 247 rt-PA treated subjects with mRS < 2 in the same period showed lower mortality rate (4.7%), lower sICH (5%), lower mRS at discharge (median 1; range 0–6) and similar ΔNIHSS% (−75%).ConclusionPatients with mRS 2 and 3 may benefit from rt-PA with a moderate risk of sICH and mortality.     

Argatroban plus aspirin versus aspirin in acute ischemic stroke

Objectives: Anticoagulant therapy in the acute phase of AIS remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate whether argatroban benefited early stroke outcomes compared with antiplatelet treatment.

Methods: We reviewed data from 1,485 patients with AIS hospitalized at Tianjin Union Medical Center (TUMC) between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2015 from the TUMC registry database. Patients were divided into two groups: an antiplatelet group (aspirin 300 mg daily) and an argatroban group (argatroban 60 mg for 2 days followed by 20 mg daily; or 20 mg daily – both regimens combination with aspirin 100 mg daily). Two primary outcomes, change in NIHSS score (baseline–discharge) and intracerebral hemorrhage, were investigated.

Results: No major symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhages were observed in either group. Both groups had significantly decreased NIHSS scores at discharge (Z = ?14.617, P < 0.001 and Z = ?6.385, P < 0.001, respectively), and there were no significant group differences in NIHSS score change (Z = ?1.888, P = 0.059). In the mild stroke subgroup, the argatroban group had a worse NIHSS score at discharge (Z = ?6.148, P = 0.002), while the aspirin group had an improved NIHSS score (Z = ?4,423, P < 0.001). In the moderate stroke subgroup, both groups had significantly decreased NIHSS scores at discharge (Z = ?13.260, P < 0.001 and Z = ?7.108, P < 0.001, respectively) and there were no significant group differences in NIHSS score changes (Z = ?1.888, P = 0.059).

Conclusion: Argatroban is effective and safe for the treatment of moderate AIS with similar efficacy to high-dose aspirin in the acute phase of AIS, although no additional benefit on short-term outcome was observed. For patients with mild AIS, argatroban may be inferior to high-dose aspirin.     

经颅多普勒超声辅助动脉溶栓治疗急性缺血性卒中的临床研究

目的 观察应用经颅多普勒超声(TCD)辅助动脉接触性溶栓治疗急性缺血性卒中的临床疗效.方法 对北京军区总医院附属八一脑科医院自2010年8月至2011年4月收治的22例急性缺血性卒中患者(大脑中动脉闭塞13例,基底动脉闭塞9例)行动脉内超选择插管至闭塞动脉,注入重组人组织型纤溶酶原激活剂(rt-PA)20 mg进行接触性溶栓治疗,同时应用TCD对闭塞动脉进行低频(2 MHz)、低强度(0.25 W/cm2)超声辅助溶栓治疗.术后即刻及24h时复查头颅CT,观察动脉再通率、颅内出血率,并对术前术后美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表(NIHSS)评分及Barthel指数评分进行比较.结果 22例患者溶栓治疗后动脉再通率为77.27％(17/22),其中完全开通率为22.73％(5/22),部分开通率为54.55％(12/22);出现无症状性颅内出血3例(13.63％),均未发生症状性颅内出血;术后NIHSS评分及Barthel指数评分较术前明显提高,显示神经功能恢复良好.结论 对急性缺血性卒中患者在有效时间窗内应用低频TCD辅助小剂量rt-PA动脉接触性溶栓治疗,可显著提高闭塞动脉的再通率,明显减少颅内出血的发生,改善患者的预后,具有良好的临床疗效及安全性.     

急性脑梗死静脉溶栓患者出血转化及预后的危险因素研究

目的 探讨急性缺血性脑卒中(acute ischemic stroke,AIS)静脉溶栓后出血转化及预后的危险因素.方法 选择2017年6月-2019年6月211例进行静脉溶栓治疗的AIS患者为研究对象,其中出血转化(hemorrhagic tromsformation,HT)的34例患者记为HT组,未出血转化的177...     

Analysis of the reasons for exclusion from tPA therapy after early arrival in acute stroke patients

OBJECTIVE: Only a small percentage of patients with acute stroke receive thrombolytic therapy, mainly due to late hospital arrival. Factors excluding those who arrive within 3h after stroke onset are less well known. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During the first year after implementing a protocol for stroke thrombolysis, we prospectively evaluated all patients with stroke admitted to our center within 3h from onset. Within-hospital time intervals were calculated and the reasons for exclusion from thrombolysis were analyzed. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients (representing 16% of all stroke patients admitted) arrived in less than 3h, and 25 of them (representing 7.5% of all patients with ischemic stroke) received thrombolytic therapy, with a door-to-needle interval of 51 min (range, 33-121). The reasons that accounted for 75% of therapy exclusions were non-modifiable (a too mild or improving deficit, and intracranial hemorrhage), except for a time window exceeded, which would probably require increasing public awareness about stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Most reasons for not applying thrombolysis to patients who arrive early enough are non-modifiable. Minimizing the door-to-needle time could compensate for late hospital arrival, which continues to be the main reason for not applying this therapy to stroke patients throughout the world.