Earlier thrombolytic treatment is associated with better outcomes following acute ischaemic stroke

Commentary on Saver JL, Fonarow GC, Smith EE, et al.. Time to treatment with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator and outcome from acute ischaemic stroke, JAMA 2013;309:2480–8. Implications for practice and research Optimisation is necessary in public education and hospital triage of the identification of factors such as arrival by ambulance and the importance of requesting emergency medical services (EMS) at scene of the stroke occurrence.1 The results of previous studies suggest that a disparity, observed between hospital-based outcomes for admissions that presented during regular hours and off hours, is not seen in all settings and so is a modifiable factor.2 Context The benefit of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in acute ischaemic stroke is time-dependent. Saver and colleagues analysed data from patients in hospitals participating in the Get With The Guidelines—Stroke (GWTG-S) programme. The rationale of the study...
Source: Evidence-Based Nursing - Category: Nursing Authors: Tags: Adult nursing, Drugs: cardiovascular system, Stroke Source Type: research