[Thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in a Chilean public hospital].
BACKGROUND
The only accepted treatment for acute ischemic stroke is thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). It was implemented in Chile in 1996, although its use was mainly restricted in Chile to private clinics. Recently, at year 2009, we have implemented this treatment in a public hospital.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the results of treatment of acute ischemic stroke with t-PA in a public hospital in Chile.


METHODS
Prospective analysis of all eligible patients with acute ischemic stroke that were admitted within 4 hours of its onset and had no contraindications for thrombolysis.


RESULTS
In an eight months period, a total of 19 intravenous thrombolyses were performed in 12 males and seven females aged 28 to 79 years old. The mean lapse between onset of symptoms and onset of thrombolysis was 190 ± 57 min. Results were favorable, according to Rankin and National Institute of Health Stroke scales. Ninety days after treatment, 63% of patients had minimal or absent disability, 26% had moderate disability and only one (5%) had severe disability. One patient had a clinically not significant intracranial hemorrhage and one patient died six days after thrombolysis.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that thrombolysis can be successfully implemented in Chilean public hospitals. The limitations for its use in this setting are mostly administrative.
Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Barros Luco Trudeau, Santiago, Chile. tfigueroa@med.uchile.cl
Tatiana
T
Figueroa-Reyes
David
D
Sáez M
Eloy
E
Mansilla L
Rodrigo
R
Sánchez V
Jorge
J
Nogales-Gaete
Iris
I
Delgado B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002677:Chile; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator