Thrombolytic therapy to treat strokes

Emergency treatment for an ischemic stroke depends on the location and cause of the clot. Intravenous (into the veins) fluids and medications such as clot dissolving drugs and anti-platelet drugs are administered.

The majority of strokes are caused by blood clots which shift to a blood vessel in the brain and block blood flow to that area. This type of stroke is known as an ischemic stroke and thrombolytics are most commonly the drugs used within three hours of the first stroke symptoms.

What is thrombolytic therapy?

Thrombolytic therapy refers to the use of drugs to break up blood clots, which are the chief cause of heart attacks and stroke. The most commonly used drug for thrombolytic therapy is tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and research suggests your survival and recovering chances are greatly improved if you are given a thrombolytic drug within 12 hours.

They work by dissolving a major clot which restarts blood flow to the heart and helps prevent damage to the heart muscle. 

Read: How thrombolytic treatment works

The most common way this treatment is performed is to inject clot-dissolving medications into a blood vessel where they then flow through the bloodstream to the clot, and dissolve it.

Another way is via a catheter which is inserted through the blood vessel to the area of the clot where it delivers the medications.

Not everyone is a candidate for thrombolytics, and deciding factors include:

- Age

- Gender

- Medical history 

You may be refused one of you have any of the following because of the increased risk of bleeding associated with these conditions.

- Active bleeding or severe blood loss

- Severe high blood pressure

- A recent head injury

- A stroke from bleeding on the brain (a haemorrhagic stroke)

- Bleeding ulcers

- Liver disease

- Pregnancy

- Recent surgery