The use of telemedicine in combination with a new stroke-code-box significantly increases t-PA use in rural communities.
Neurocrit Care
; 3(1): 27-32, 2005.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-16159092
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The benefit of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) is strongly associated with the time to treatment. In Bavaria, Germany, only half of the population has the opportunity to be transferred to 1 of the 19 stroke units within the critical time window of less than 3 hours. The aim of this study was to investigate the benefit of a new stroke-code-box for t-PA thrombolysis combined with a telemedicine network system to increase the use of acute stroke thrombolysis.METHODS:
Two specialized stroke centers in Germany established a 24-hour telemedicine network (Telemedicine Pilot Project of an Integrated Stroke Care [TEMPiS]) to advise 12 community hospitals in eastern Bavaria. These clinics are linked via telemedicine in a 24-hour/7-day service network that allows patients to be examined by experts via a videoconference system Additionally, a special stroke-code-box for acute t-PA thrombolysis was designed to reduce time in the application and documentation process.RESULTS:
In the 12-month period before implementation of the TEMPiS network system, 10 patients had received systemic thrombolysis. In our 6-month study period (from July to December 2003) and after implementation of a stroke-code-box for t-PA thrombolysis within the telestroke network, 164 patients with acute stroke were presented with t-PA treatment indications. Of this patient population, 27.4% (45 of 164) received t-PA.CONCLUSIONS:
Stroke care, including t-PA thrombolysis in non-urban areas, is feasible using a modern stroke unit concept within a telestroke network. With the expertise of specialized stroke centers accessed via telemedicine and the design of a stroke-code-box for t-PA thrombolysis, nearly one-third of patients presented with a possible indication for systemic thrombolysis can be treated with t-PA, thereby increasing the options for a successful stroke treatment.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Ativador de Plasminogênio Tecidual
/
Telemedicina
/
Acidente Vascular Cerebral
/
Fibrinolíticos
Limite:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2005
Tipo de documento:
Article