Stroke Thrombolysis | Dr. R N. Komal Kumar
A stroke occurs when there is interruption or reduction in the blood supply to part of the brain. This prevents the brain tissue from getting oxygen & nutrients resulting in the death of brain cells. Thrombolysis is the treatment given through medication to remove the blood clots formed during Stroke.
1. What is Stroke?
Stroke is a disease in which there is abrupt distraction or recession to the blood circulation of the brain.
2. How many types of Stroke are there?
There are mainly 2 types of stroke. One is Ischemic stroke which attacks 60-70% of the stroke and 30-40 % of strokes are caused by Hemorrhagic strokes. In Ischemic stroke, there is an abrupt recession of blood supply to one of the vessels in the brain.
3. What is Thrombolytic Therapy for Stroke?
Thrombolytic Therapy is often called clot blood bust therapy in which the drug is administered which leads to redemption of clots and distributes blood supply to the brain.
4. How are Thrombolytic agents administered?
These Thrombolytic agents are administered intravenously under close monitoring.
5. What are the side effects of Thrombolysis?
The most common complications and sometimes dreaded complication for Thrombolytic Therapy is bleeding. Other less common complications are hypertension, nausea, vomiting, allergic reaction and angioedema.
6. What are the contraindications of Thrombolysis for stroke?
The single most important contraindication for Thrombolytic Therapy is the presence of bleeding i.e. blood inside the brain. Other relative contraindications are high blood pressure. But if the blood pressure is controlled with medications, we can still provide Thrombolytic threats. And other contraindications are very low platelet counts, very high International Normalized Ratio (INR) which is more than 1.7 and active internal bleeding.
7. Who can have Thrombolysis?
This Thrombolytic therapy can be administered to the patients of Ischemic stroke who come to the hospital within less than 4.5 hours of the stroke onset or occurrence.