How to improve ischemic stroke treatment in the fibrinolysis era

In the last 15 years new therapeutic approaches have influenced the treatment of ischemic stroke victims. Aim of this review is to point out the elements of a modern approach to the acute stroke patient. The likelihood of saving ischemic cerebral tissue is time-dependent and the treatment goal is to minimise brain damage. The NINDS trial has documented a higher likelihood of better outcome if the fibrinolytic therapy is administered within 3 h of onset of symptoms. To reach this target several interventions are necessary. First of all, education is needed to diffuse public awareness of stroke warning signs. Moreover, out-of-hospital treatment should be optimised with rapid triage and transport to an hospital with a comprehensive stroke approach. The early hospital phase should comprehend a rapid evaluation and an urgent CT scan. After the verification of the inclusion/exclusion criteria, in a authorised SITS-MOST centre, the patient should receive fibrinolytic therapy. The diagnostic and the therapeutic phase should include rapid identification and treatment of secondary insults, as hyperthermia and hyperglycaemia, that have a negative influence on outcome. Despite advances in diagnosis and monitoring, fibrinolytic therapy is the only treatment with a proven efficacy in achieving a higher functional outcome. The narrow time-window is the reason for the need of rapid and well-organised out-of-hospital and in-hospital systems.