Medical Xpress November 21, 2024
In the not-so-distant past, doctors treated strokes in an after-the-fact way. A stroke did its damage, and then—if the patient survived—a rehabilitation team stepped in to address the stroke’s effects.
But in 1996, the Food and Drug Administration approved tissue plasminogen activator, or t-PA, which can dissolve blood clots that lead to ischemic strokes—strokes caused by an interruption in blood flow to the brain. The t-PA restores normal blood flow if administered promptly.
The timing of treatment is important, because lost time can lead to lost brain function.
Today, stroke specialists at Rush and elsewhere follow a timed, standardized set of procedures that require diagnostic tests and treatment to be given as quickly as possible.
This approach to stroke care...
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