Emergency department-focused thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke. Issue 2 (19th August 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kaye, Phil; Shaw, Louise; Madigan, Barbara; Jakeman, Nicola
• Is Part Of: Emergency medicine journal. Volume 28:Issue 2(2011)
• Page Start: 102
• Page End: 106
• Publication Date: 2010-08-19
• Subjects: Cardiac care -- thrombolysis -- emergency care systems -- emergency departments -- neurology -- stroke; Emergency medicine -- Periodicals; 616.02505
• DOI: 10.1136/emj.2009.088096
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1472-0205

Abstract

Abstract : Acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) is a leading cause of death and disability. Until the 1990s early intervention in AIS was limited to prevention of secondary brain injury. Early thrombolysis has now become standard practice in many areas of the world. Despite the evidence of benefit, the lack of good alternative acute treatments and the recent shift in political focus to stroke management, a thrombolytic strategy for AIS has been very slow to develop in the UK. In this paper, the successful introduction of thrombolysis for AIS through the development of an emergency department-focused process is reported. Obstacles to service development and ways to overcome these are discussed and this therapeutic process is demonstrated to be both possible and self-sustaining in most UK hospitals.