Emergency department-focused thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke

Source: Emergency Medicine Journal 2011 Feb; 28 (2): 102-106

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Date of publication: February 2011

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This paper reports the successful introduction of thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke through the development of an emergency department-focused process. Obstacles to service development and ways to overcome these issues are also discussed.

Length of publication: 5 page article

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library for the full text of this article. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Emergency Department Crowding and Time to Care in Patients With Acute Stroke

Source: Stroke 2011; 42: 1074-1080

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Date of publication: February 2011

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This study investigates if emergency department crowding is associated with a delay in the provision of acute stroke care and particularly in the administration of thrombolytic therapy. 

Length of publication: 7 page article

New treatment for stroke patients

Source: BBC 14th September 2009

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Date of publication: September 2009

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: West Suffolk Hospital has introduced a new treatment that will be given to people within three hours of having a specific type of stroke. The treatment is rapid access to thrombolysis and is specifically designed for people suffering a stroke caused by a blood clot. The hospital will be providing this new treatment in conjunction with their ambulance service.

Length of publication: 1 page news item

Population-based intervention to reduce prehospital delays in patients with cerebrovascular events

Source: Archives of Internal Medicine 2009 Sep; 169 (16): 1484-1490

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Date of publication: September 2009

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This study looked at the efficacy of various interventions for reducing pre-hospital delays for patients with stroke. The interventions considered were an educational letter indicating stroke symptoms and emphasizing the importance of calling the emergency medical services and a bookmark and sticker with the emergency medical services’ telephone number. The study concluded that the interventions were effective in reducing prehospital delays in women but not in men.

Length of publication: 7 page article

Stroke patients face unnecessary delays ‘because of ambulance computer error’

Source: The Telegraph 20th May 2009

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Year of publication: 2009

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: Stroke patients face unnecessary delays because an ambulance service computer system fails to classify their case as urgent, researchers have warned. More than half of strokes were not even diagnosed by the current system for assessing 999 calls, a new study has found. Called the Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch Software (AMPDS), the system is designed to help staff who are not medically trained to assess the level of care patients need. But stroke patients are only categorised as a life-threatening emergency, and an ambulance despatched to reach them within eight minutes, if they are unconscious. Other stroke victims are attended by an ambulance within 19 minutes.

Length of publication: 1 page news item

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Link here for more information: Details of the original article on which these comments are based can be viewed at http://emj.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/26/6/442