Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU): The Future of Acute Stroke Treatment?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17140/NOJ-3-e005Keywords:
Ischemic stroke, Mobile unit, MSU, Thrombolysis, Pre-hospitalAbstract
Time is the key factor in brain survivability in acute stroke treatment.1The therapeutic
effects of intravenous recombinant tissue Plasminogen Activator (IV rtPA) are highly dependent on time.1-3 Stroke patients presenting within the first 60 minutes, or the golden hour, are the
most likely to benefit from recanalization therapy.1-3 Thus, making rapid clinical and imaging
evaluation of stroke patients of upmost importance and very difficult to complete within the
golden hour time window. Based on Get with the Guidelines-Stroke Program (April 2003 to
October 2009), less than one-third of patients treated with IV rtPA have door-to-needle times
of less than 60 minutes.4
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