Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) utilisation by rural clinicians in acute ischaemic stroke: An audit of current practice and clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSION: Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator can be delivered in rural Australian hospitals in a timely manner within recommended implementation guidelines. Acute stroke thrombolytic services in rural Australian facilities had comparable outcomes to metropolitan facilities. Small numbers of thrombolysed patients prevented a validation study of the well-defined outcome benefits from rt-PA. The need for ongoing data collection in regional settings is supported. PMID: 24033520 [PubMed - in process]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24033520?dopt=Abstract

Source: The Australian Journal of Rural Health - August 1, 2013 Category: Rural Health Authors: Williams JM, Navin TJ, Jude MR, Levi CR Tags: Aust J Rural Health Source Type: research