Stroke Thrombolysis Training
Dr. Indira Natarajan
Clinical Lead Acute Stroke and TIA Services
WHO DEFINITION
“ rapidly developing clinical signs (at times global) of
disturbance of cerebral function, lasting more than
24 hours with no apparent cause other than that of
vascular origin”
This definition includes signs and symptoms of
suggestive of
- ischaemic stroke
- haemorrhages (intracerebral)
Diagnostic Dilemma
“ Stroke Mimics ” or “ Stroke Syndrome ”
10% - 15% of patients referred with
possible stroke have something else
Some uncertainty is inevitable
Stop and Think!
Drowsy and Delirious
Patient with headache
Drowsiness, confusion and headache
ROSIER Scale
Facial weakness +1
Arm weakness +1
Leg weakness +1
Speech disturbance +1
Visual disturbance +1
Loss of Consciousness - 1
Seizure episode - 1
Diagnostic Dilemma
68 year old
Sudden onset
Right facial arm and leg
weakness with speech
disturbance
Vascular Risk factors:
Hypertension
Diabetes
.......................
32 year old
Dubious onset
Right facial arm and leg
weakness
Stuttering course
No vascular risk factors
? Seizure
? Other causes
Treatments effective within first
hours to days
Aspirin
Thrombolysis
Acute Stroke Unit
Hemicraniectomy
Effective treatment for 1 patient to benefit
Numbers treated to
benefit one patient
Propotion of patients
eligible
Asprin
100
70 - 80%
Stroke Unit
20
100%
Thrombolysis 10 10%
Hemicraniectomy 2 2%
Hyper-acute treatment of
Stroke
Re-Canalisation
Modified Rankin Scale
Independent Dependent
1 2 3
4 5
No Mild
Moderate
Moderately
Severe
Severe
TIME IS BRAIN
2 million neurons are lost every minute that
treatment is delayed.
Saver JL. Time is brain—quantified. Stroke 2006;37: 263–266.
rt-PA trials meta-analysis. Benefit declines with
increasing time to treatment, but scope for
benefit up to 6h (Lancet 2004; 363: 768–74)
Benefit
Harm
3 hours 6 hours
Upper and lower 95% confidence limits
Line of no effect
Benefit of r-tpa at 90 days
Time between
event and
treatment
Odds ratio in favour of
favourable outcome (95% CI)
Estimated number needed to
treat for favourable outcome
0-90 minutes 2.55 (1.44 to 4.52) 3.0
91-180 minutes 1.64 (1.12 to 2.40) 7.0
181-270 minutes 1.34 (1.06 to 1.68) 14.1
271-360 minutes 1.22 (0.92 to 1.61) 21.4
Check List
Confirm diagnosis
Exclude Hypo-glycaemia
Confirm Onset Time
NIHSS scale
Eligibility
Contra-indications
Consent
NIHSS Scale
International Scale
Validated to be used across the world
Mainly used to maintain consistency in all
research studies
Also to assess progress
Eligibility
Age 80 or below
Previously fit and independent
Onset time known and less than 4.5
hours
CT excludes haemorrhage
Exclusions
Recent surgery, biopsies arterial cannaulation
Increased bleeding risk
Past history of intracranial haemorrhage
Any CNS pathology other than current stroke
Any past stroke plus diabetes
Stroke within 3 months
Systolic blood pressure >185
NIHSS < 4 or NIHSS > 25
Benefit of thrombolysis according to age
group.....
Mishra. et.al BMJ 2010; 341:c6046
Other ways of saving the
Penumbra if beyond 3 - 6 hours
Neuro-protection and
Re-perfusion
Saving the Penumbra……..
Anitplatelets Aspirin and Dipyridamole
Hydration use normal saline first 24 h
Temperature keep below 37.5
Oxygenation treat if saturation <92%
Blood glucose keep < 10 mmol/l
Nutrition maintain
Pain Control Analgesics
Blood pressure Target 160-180/90-100 in normotensives
Target 180/100-105 in
hypertensives
European Stroke Initiative 2003 (http://www.eusi-stroke.com/recommendations) unchanged in 200
Getting the right patient to the right
place......
Admitting patient to the Acute Stroke
Unit within 4 hours
Management of Management of
ComplicationsComplications
Intracranial Haemorrhage
Stop alteplase infusion
Immediate non contrast CT head
Immediate
PT, APTT, fibrinogen
FBC/Group and save
Prepare
6 units cryoprecipitate
Prepare
6 units platelets
Haemorrhage on CT?
Check lab results
Give cryoprecipitate and platelets
Notify Neurosurgeons
Resume alteplase infusion
YES
NO
Khaja, Lancet 2007; 396:319-330.
Intracranial haemorrhage within 36 hIntracranial haemorrhage within 36 h
7 % risk of Intracranial Haemorrhage7 % risk of Intracranial Haemorrhage
(2 %of which were fatal)(2 %of which were fatal)
Asymptomatic 5%Asymptomatic 5%
Risk of haemorrhage depends on Risk of haemorrhage depends on
stroke severitystroke severity
NIHSS> 20 => haemorrhage risk 17%NIHSS> 20 => haemorrhage risk 17%
NIHSS <10 => Haemorrhage risk 3%NIHSS <10 => Haemorrhage risk 3%
Stroke 1997;28(11):2109-2118.Stroke 1997;28(11):2109-2118.
Extracranial bleeding
Stop alteplase infusion
Immediate PT, APTT, fibrinogen, FBC, group and save
Use mechanical compression, if possible, to control bleeding form
puncture sites
Support circulation with fluids and blood transfusion, as appropriate
For severe life threatening bleeding tranexamic acid 1 g i.v. over 15 min,
repeated at 8 h if needed
Consider transfusion of FFP and/or cryoprecipitate depending on the
results of the coagulation screen
Reperfusion cerebral oedema
Elevate the head to 30 degrees
Correct hyperthermia, hypoxia, hyperglycaemia, hypotension
AHA/ASA Stroke 2007;38:1655-1711. *as used by C. Roffe in Stoke, not in AHA/ASA guidance
If symptoms improve with mannitol reduce dose/frequency gradually
Mannitol 0.25-0.5 mg/kg over 20 min i.v., repeat q 6-8 h, if necessary
Dexamethasone 4 mg iv qds*
Frusemide 20-40 mg iv*
Avoid antihypertensives, especially vasodilators
Consider decompressive hemicraniectomy (once clotting correct/corrected)
Orololingual Angiooedema
Stop alteplase infusion
Antihistamines (clorpheniramine 10 mg i.v.)
Hydrocortisone 200 mg i.v.
Khaja, Lancet 2007; 396:319-330.
Observe vital for signs of progression, dyspnoea, anaphylactic shock
If sx are mild and non-progressive, alteplase can be restarted under close
observation
Anaphylaxis
Stop alteplase infusion
Adrenaline 0.5 -1 ml 1:1000 im or sc (not iv)
Clorpheniramine 10 mg i.v.
Hydrocortisone 200 mg i.v.
Salbutamol nebulizer 5 mg
Urgent medical assessment: Airway, Breathing,
Circulation
If shocked i.v. saline and consider repeat doses of adrenaline