Tag: Reperfusion therapy

While fibrinolytic therapy can be a life-saving treatment for blood clots, clinicians must assess significant risks before administration, with the main concern being severe bleeding, especially intracranial hemorrhage. This is why a history of a prior brain bleed or recent major trauma is a definitive and absolute factor for which of these is likely a contraindication for receiving fibrinolytic therapy.

According to the American Heart Association, every 30-minute delay in initiating thrombolytic therapy for ischemic stroke significantly worsens patient outcomes. Understanding how soon should thrombolytic therapy be given is vital, as these clot-busting drugs must be administered within narrow, indication-specific timeframes to maximize effectiveness while minimizing the risk of life-threatening side effects.

Every year, ischemic heart disease affects millions globally, with acute myocardial infarction (MI) being a common and life-threatening manifestation [1.2.2]. In this critical scenario, a key question for clinicians is: does tPA work for MI and when should it be used? [1.2.6].