BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Controlled multicenter studies have demonstrated the efficacy of systemic recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rtPA) treatment in selected cases of acute @entity385 . The feasibility of this therapeutic option in clinical practice was assessed in a community-based approach. METHODS: We offered rtPA treatment to @entity64 @entity1 in a prospective open-label monocenter study applying inclusion criteria similar to those of the National Institute of @entity16 , and @entity64 study. In order to treat @entity1 within 3 hours of symptom onset, a referral system was used by which eligible @entity1 from all over the city of Cologne, Federal Republic of Germany, were rushed to the Department of Neurology of the University Hospital. We present data on the effectiveness of the referral system and the outcome results of the first 100 consecutive @entity1 treated within an 18-month period. RESULTS: Of 453 consecutive @entity1 with a presumed diagnosis of @entity64 referred to our department between March 1996 and August 1997, 100 @entity1 (22%) were treated with intravenous thrombolysis, 26% of them within 90 minutes of symptom onset. The average time from @entity64 onset to arrival at our department was 78 minutes, and from arrival to treatment 48 minutes. After 3 months, 53 @entity1 recovered to fully independent function. The rates of total, symptomatic, and fatal @entity1779 were 11%, 5%, and 1%, respectively. Overall mortality was 12%. CONCLUSIONS: Thrombolysis with rtPA was effectively applied in routine management of @entity64 @entity1 in a community-based approach with acceptable efforts and without additional costs. Under these circumstances, outcome and complication rates were comparable to those of multicenter trials.

Early intravenous thrombolysis for acute XXXX in a community-based approach.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity64 :: ('MESH:D020521', 'Disease') :: ['stroke', 'Stroke', 'acute stroke'] @entity16 :: ('MESH:D009422', 'Disease') :: ['Neurological Disorders'] @entity1779 :: ('MESH:D002543', 'Disease') :: ['intracerebral hemorrhage'] @entity385 :: ('MESH:D002544', 'Disease') :: ['ischemic stroke']
@entity385 :: (MESH:D002544,Disease) :: ['ischemic stroke']
