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Use of Telemedicine and Other Strategies to Increase the Number of Patients That May Be Treated with Intravenous Thrombolysis

  • Stroke (HP Adams Jr, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Stroke is the fourth leading killer in the United States and a leading cause of adult long-term disability. The American Heart Association estimates that only 3% to 5% of patients with acute ischemic stroke are treated with intravenous thrombolysis. A way to improve the rates of treatment with thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke is the creation of telemedicine stroke networks. Data from many studies support the safety of expanding intravenous tissue plasminogen activator use with the help of telemedicine. In this article we discuss the current evidence for the use of telemedicine within stroke systems of care, the importance of coordinating care within the transferring facilities in the telestroke networks, telestroke economics and applicability, and how to potentially use the telestroke systems to increase recruitment of patients into acute stroke thrombolysis trials.

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Disclosure

Conflicts of interest: G.S. Silva: none; L.H. Schwamm: his hospital provides telehealth services for a fee, including telestroke services.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Gisele Sampaio Silva

  2. Albert Einstein Neurology Program, Albert Einstein Hospital, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Gisele Sampaio Silva

  3. Department of Neurology, TeleStroke and Acute Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15 Parkman Street WAC 835, Boston, MA, 02114-2696, USA

    Lee H. Schwamm

  4. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Lee H. Schwamm

  5. Dr Altino Arantes Avenue 741, 81, 04042-033, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Gisele Sampaio Silva

Authors
  1. Gisele Sampaio Silva
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  2. Lee H. Schwamm
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Correspondence to Gisele Sampaio Silva.

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Silva, G.S., Schwamm, L.H. Use of Telemedicine and Other Strategies to Increase the Number of Patients That May Be Treated with Intravenous Thrombolysis. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 12, 10–16 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-011-0235-6

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