BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Thrombolysis for treatment of acute @entity385 should be administered as fast as possible after symptom onset. The aim of this study was to examine, in our tertiary care center, the time intervals preceding intra-arterial thrombolysis in order to accelerate and optimize the management of @entity64 . METHODS: Between January 1, 2000, and April 30, 2002, 597 @entity1 with @entity64 were admitted to our @entity64 center. One hundred forty-eight @entity1 underwent diagnostic arteriography, and 100 (16.8%) received intra-arterial thrombolysis. For all @entity1 , we prospectively recorded and analyzed the time of symptom onset, admission, CT and/or MRI scan, diagnostic arteriography, and, if performed, intra-arterial thrombolysis. RESULTS: The mean time to arrival in the emergency department was 99 minutes for @entity1 who were admitted directly (Bern @entity1 ), 127 minutes for those who were referred from community hospitals without a CT scanner (non-Bern/-CT @entity1 ), and 210 minutes for @entity1 from hospitals with imaging facilities (non-Bern/+CT @entity1 ). The mean delay from symptom onset to treatment was 234 minutes for Bern @entity1 , 269 minutes for non-Bern/-CT @entity1 , and 302 minutes for non-Bern/+CT @entity1 . The @entity1 from the last group needed longer to receive intra-arterial thrombolysis than did @entity1 who were admitted directly (P=0.002) or who were transferred from a hospital without a CT scanner (P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study indicates that direct referral without prior imaging at community hospitals shortens the time until intra-arterial thrombolysis. In addition, our in-hospital delay preceding intra-arterial thrombolysis is longer than the delays reported for intravenous thrombolysis and indicates potential for improvement.

Pre- and in-hospital delays from XXXX onset to intra-arterial thrombolysis.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity64 :: ('MESH:D020521', 'Disease') :: ['stroke', 'acute strokes', 'acute stroke'] @entity385 :: ('MESH:D002544', 'Disease') :: ['ischemic stroke']
@entity64 :: (MESH:D020521,Disease) :: ['stroke']
