Safety of air medical transportation after tissue plasminogen activator administration in acute ischemic stroke.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the safety of air medical transport (AMT) of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) immediately after or during administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Patients with AIS treated with tPA in nonuniversity hospitals frequently need transfer to tertiary care centers that can provide specialized care. AMT is a widely available mode of transport that is crucial in providing expedient and quality health care to critically ill patients while assuring high level of care during transportation. The safety of AMT of patients with AIS after or during administration of tPA has not been examined.


METHODS
We performed retrospective chart review of 24 patients with AIS who were treated with intravenous tPA and transferred by helicopter to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania or the University of Cincinnati Hospital. The charts were reviewed for neurological complications, systemic complications, and adherence to the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) protocol for AIS management.


RESULTS
No major neurological or systemic complications occurred. Four patients had hypertension warranting treatment, 3 patients experienced motion sickness, 1 patient developed a transient confusional state, and 1 patient experienced minor systemic bleeding. Four NINDS protocol violations occurred, all related to blood pressure management.


CONCLUSIONS
In this small series, AMT of AIS patients after thrombolysis was not associated with any major neurological or systemic complications. Flight crew education on the NINDS AIS protocol is essential in limiting the number of protocol violations. AMT of patients with AIS provides fast and safe access to tertiary centers that can provide state of the art stroke therapy.
Chalela
J A
JA
Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA. jchalela@mail.med.upenn.edu
Kasner
S E
SE
Jauch
E C
EC
Pancioli
A M
AM
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017732:Air Ambulances; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003221:Confusion / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009041:Motion Sickness / Q000139:chemically induced; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014187:Transportation of Patients; D014481:United States
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator