Utilization of emergency medical service increases chance of thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

ABSTRACT:

Background/purpose

To determine whether utilization of emergency medical service (EMS) can increase use and expedite delivery of the thrombolytic therapy in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Methods

We analyzed consecutive patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with an ischemic stroke within 72 hours of symptom onset from a prospective stroke registry. Variables associated with early ED arrival (within 3 hours of stroke onset) and administration of intravenous thrombolytic therapy were analyzed.

Results

From January 1, 2010 to July 31, 2011, there were 1081 patients (62.3% men, age 69.6 ± 13 years) included in this study. Among them, 289 (26.7%) arrived in the ED within 3 hours, and 88 (8.1%) received thrombolytic therapy. Patients who arrived at the ED by

SUBMITTER: Hsieh MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4069247 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature