Annual thrombolytic treatment experience in an education and research hospital

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we aimed to discuss the data of patients with acute ischemic stroke with intravenous thrombolytic therapy (IV-tPA) in our clinic in the light of the literature. METHODS: Seventy patients with acute ischemic stroke diagnosed between April 2016 and 2017 who received IV-tPA were included in the study. Demographic, radiological and clinical data of the patients were recorded. The intracranial hemorrhages and neurological status at the end of the third month were evaluated with the modified MRS score and the National Stroke Health Scale (NIHSS) scores within 3 months after discharge. The values of the symptom-needle time, the Alberta stroke program, the early computerized tomography score (ASPECT) and the NIHSS scores at the first application and follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS: 28 of the patients were female and 42 were male and the mean age was 66.44 ± 13.47. Thirty-nine (55.7%) of the patients were referred to emergency services and 31 (44.3%) were directed to thrombolytic therapy from the emergency department of other hospitals. The initial NIHSS scores at the time of admission were 14.27 ± 4.26, while the NIHSS scores at the 24th hour were 11.47 ± 5.85. The ASPECT score at the time of admission was 9.61 ± 0.81. The median symptom-to-needle time was 89.5 minutes (0-245). The median door-to-needle time was 77 minutes (20-187). During thrombolytic application, edema occurred in 4 patients and intrahepatic hemorrhage occurred in 1 patient. At the end of the third month, 20 patients (28.5%) had complete recovery of neurological disability and 9 (12.9%) were exiting. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that IV-tPA treatment is a safe and effective treatment for acute ischemic stroke, similar to past studies, and that this treatment reduces the disability at the end of the third month.