Thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke in a Public Hospital:
the experience of Porto Alegre Clinical Hospital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34024/rnc.2007.v15.8691Keywords:
Stroke, Thrombolytic therapy, Public healthAbstract
Introduction. Few public hospitals in Brazil have the structure necessary for the use of rtPA in acute ischemic stroke patients. We present the 1-year experience in thrombolytic therapy in ischemic stroke in the Vascular Unit of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, a university public hospital. Method. The Vascular Unit was established, stroke team was structured, the emergency room staff and the neurology residents were trained and the rtPA was standardized at the Hospital. Results. 36 patients were thrombolysed with endovenous rtPA. The eligibility rate was 15%. The median baseline NIHSS score was 12. In 3 months, 61% of the patients had NIH 0–1 and 67% had functional independence. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 4 patients (1 fatal). The total mortality rate was 8%. The door to Computed tomography time was 28 minutes and the door to needle time was 74 minutes. Conclusion. The thrombolysis was effective in a public school-hospital, which assist a great number of patients, usually with more comorbidities and more delayed arrival to the hospital. The hospital organization and the rtPA approval to the public system of health may decrease the impact of stroke in Brazil.
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