What is a "r-tPA" for Acute Ischemic Stroke?

Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator or r-tPA," is a thrombolytic drug to break up and dissolve blood clots, opening blocked blood vessels and restoring blood flow. This reduces the amount of damage to the brain that can occur during a stroke.

What is the criteria for administering thrombolytic drugs?

· A diagnosis of ischemic stroke

· Treatment when administered should be within 3 hours after stoke onset

Contraindications for thrombolytic drugs

Not all stroke patients can be treated with thrombolytic or blood clot-dissolving drugs. These include:

· patients who cannot determine the time of onset of symptoms

· cases where there is hemorrhage or bleeding in the brain or abnormal blood clotting,

· current high blood pressure or uncontrolled hypertension

· patients who have had seizures on onset of stroke

The sooner, the better.

We know that time is of the essence when treating stroke. Phyathai 1 Comprehensive Stroke Center encompasses the full spectrum to provide comprehensive care for stroke patients, which include a team of highly qualified and experienced medical professionals with international standard equipment and services.

Our Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) is the first mobile stroke CT ambulance in Thailand, ready 24 hours to diagnose and treat stroke patient’s as soon as it reaches their homes.

This specialized stroke mobile unit houses a laboratory with a CT scanner and equipped with the expertise of a medical team to perform stroke treatment at an immediate response time.

The goal of this medical stroke technology focuses on saving time which is the most important factor for the best outcome in treating the patient which includes giving thrombolytic drugs such as intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) within 3 hours from the first onset of stroke symptoms that can increase 32% chance of recovery from a disability to near relapse before entering the next step of the treatment process quickly like endovascular treatment or clot retrieval.