title: Telestroke-guided intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator treatment achieves a similar clinical outcome as thrombolysis at a comprehensive stroke center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Telestroke networks offer an opportunity to increase tissue-type plasminogen activator use in community hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared 83 patients treated with intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator by telestroke to 59 patients treated after in-person evaluation by the same neurologists at a tertiary care stroke center. Onset and door-to-treatment times and functional outcome at 90 days were obtained prospectively. Favorable outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale score ≤2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Favorable outcome rates were comparable between the groups (42.1% versus 37.5%, P=0.7). There was no significant difference in the rate of symptomatic hemorrhage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Telestroke is a viable alternative to in-person evaluation when stroke expertise is not readily available.
authors: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Stroke Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors: Syed F
authors: SF
authors: Zaidi
authors: Mouhammad A
authors: MA
authors: Jumma
authors: Xabier N
authors: XN
authors: Urra
authors: Maxim
authors: M
authors: Hammer
authors: Lori
authors: L
authors: Massaro
authors: Vivek
authors: V
authors: Reddy
authors: Tudor
authors: T
authors: Jovin
authors: Ridwan
authors: R
authors: Lin
authors: Lawrence R
authors: LR
authors: Wechsler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator