Evaluation of the implementation of a 24-hr stroke thrombolysis emergency treatment for patients with acute ischaemic stroke.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the trends of intravenous (IV) thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) among patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) admitted to our hospital between 2012-2014 and investigate the effects of a 24-hr stroke thrombolysis emergency treatment on the intrahospital clinical data and outcomes of these patients treated with IV rt-PA thrombolysis.

BACKGROUND: Although prenotification of stroke by emergency medical services has been endorsed by the national recommendations and implemented in some developed countries, the development in China is limited.

DESIGN: A retrospective, single-centre, observational study.

METHODS: Patients with AIS admitted to our hospital between January 2012-December 2014 were included; those who received IV rt-PA thrombolysis within 4.5 hr of onset were investigated. Demographic characteristics, including age and sex, and clinical data and outcomes, including onset-to-treatment time (OTT), door-to-needle time (DNT), premorbid modified Rankin Scale score and proportion of patients treated per year, were all recorded.

RESULTS: The proportion of patients with AIS who received thrombolytic therapy within 4.5 hr increased from 2012-2014. The baseline characteristics of all patients were similar. Since the implementation of 24-hr stroke thrombolysis emergency treatment in 2013, the median DNT significantly decreased in 2014 after implementation (42 min) compared with that in 2012 before implementation (81 min) (p < .05). Moreover, the admission-to-imaging time (37 vs. 33 vs. 36 min) and OTT (176 vs. 147 vs. 124 min) significantly decreased during the 3 years (p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS: The 24-hr stroke thrombolysis emergency treatment reduced in-hospital delay before thrombolytic therapy but had no effect on the functional outcomes of the patients with AIS.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study provides opportunities to improve the experiences in using 24-h stroke thrombolysis emergency treatment in patients with AIS in clinical practice.