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1. Inclusion/exclusion criteria and decision making on thrombolysis treatment in stroke. Dr Anthony Pereira
Department of Neurology
St Georges Hospital 
2. How good is thrombolysis? Therefore, for every 20 patients treated,
1 extra will be cured (Rankin 0)
1 extra will do very well (Rankin 1) 
3. Decision 1: is the diagnosis stroke? Validation of GP diagnosis was confirmed in 44 cases (85%)
 
Validation of A&E diagnosis was confirmed in 169 patients (91%) 
4. Decision 2: time is of the essence 
5. Decision 3: is the scan normal? 
6. Next Day 
7. Or haemorrhage 
8. Decision 4: are we going to harm them? Age under 18 or 80 years 			Yes	No
Symptoms more than 3 hours ago? 		Yes	No
Time of symptom onset is unknown? 		Yes	No
Neurological deficit minor/rapidly resolving?	Yes	No
Very severe stroke (e.g. NIHS>25)? 		Yes	No
Was there any seizure activity at stroke onset?	Yes	No
Is subarachnoid haemorrhage suspected?		Yes	No
Is there any evidence of active internal bleeding?	Yes	No
Stroke or head trauma in the past 3 months?	Yes	No
Prior stroke and concomitant diabetes? 		Yes	No
Intracranial haemorrhage ever?		Yes	No
History of CNS damage (neoplasm, aneurysm)? 	Yes	No
Any intracranial or spinal surgery ever? 		Yes	No
Any major surgery or trauma (3 months)?		Yes	No
Arteriovenous malformation or aneurysm?		Yes	No
Known haemorrhagic diathesis? 		Yes	No
GI or urinary tract bleeding (3 months)?		Yes	No
GI ulcer disease (3 months)? 		Yes	No
Oesophageal varices? 			Yes	No
Severe liver disease? (failure, cirrhosis, hepatitis)	Yes	No
Endocarditis or pericarditis? (current)		Yes	No
Pancreatitis?			Yes	No
Pregnant or recent delivery (10days)?		Yes	No
Non-compressible vessel puncture (10 days)?	Yes	No
Lumbar puncture in the last 7 days?		Yes	No
Recent CPR (10 days)?			Yes	No
History of haemorrhagic diabetic retinopathy? 	Yes	No
Receiving oral anticoagulants, e.g. warfarin? 	Yes	No
Heparin within 48 hours and APPT high? 		Yes	No
Blood pressure limits >185/110 (either)? 		Yes	No
or IV medication needed to reduce BP to these limits? 	Yes	No
Platelet count below 100,000/mm3		Yes	No
Blood glucose <50 or >400 mg/dl? 		Yes	No
rtPA must not be given if  the answer to any of these questions is YES 
9. Contraindications: bleeding  Is subarachnoid haemorrhage suspected?		Yes	No
Is there any evidence of active internal bleeding?	Yes	No
Intracranial haemorrhage ever?			Yes	No
Arteriovenous malformation or aneurysm?		Yes	No
Known haemorrhagic diathesis? 			Yes	No
GI or urinary tract bleeding (3 months)?		Yes	No
GI ulcer disease (3 months)? 			Yes	No
Oesophageal varices? 				Yes	No
Non-compressible vessel puncture (10 days)?	Yes	No
History of haemorrhagic diabetic retinopathy? 	Yes	No
Receiving oral anticoagulants, e.g. warfarin? 		Yes	No
Heparin within 48 hours and APPT high? 		Yes	No
Platelet count below 100,000/mm3			Yes	No 
10. Contraindications: surgery/trauma  
Stroke or head trauma in the past 3 months?		Yes	No
Was there any seizure activity at stroke onset?	Yes	No
History of CNS damage (neoplasm, aneurysm)? 	Yes	No
Any intracranial or spinal surgery ever? 		Yes	No
Any major surgery or trauma (3 months)?		Yes	No
Severe liver disease? (failure, cirrhosis, hepatitis)	Yes	No
Non-compressible vessel puncture (10 days)?	Yes	No
Lumbar puncture in the last 7 days?			Yes	No
Recent CPR (10 days)?				Yes	No 
11. Contraindications: serious disease  Was there any seizure activity at stroke onset?	Yes	No
Severe liver disease? (failure, cirrhosis, hepatitis)	Yes	No
Endocarditis or pericarditis? (current)			Yes	No
Pancreatitis?						Yes	No
Pregnant or recent delivery (10days)?		Yes	No
Blood glucose <50 or >400 mg/dl? 			Yes	No 
12. Silly Contraindications Age under 18 or 80 years 			Yes	No
Very severe stroke (e.g. NIHSS>25)? 		Yes	No
Prior stroke and concomitant diabetes? 	Yes	No
Haemorrhagic diabetic retinopathy? 		Yes	No
Receiving oral anticoagulants, e.g. warfarin? Yes	No
IV BP medication needed? 			Yes	No
Blood glucose <50 or >400 mg/dl? 		Yes	No 
13. Contraindications Age under 18 or 80 years 			Yes	No
Symptoms more than 4  hours ago? 	Yes	No
Time of symptom onset is unknown? 		Yes	No
Deficit minor/rapidly resolving?			Yes	No
Active bleeding?					Yes	No
Trauma in the past 3 months?			Yes	No
CNS damage? 					Yes	No
Anticoagulated?				 	Yes	No
Blood pressure limits >185/110 (either)? 	Yes	No 
14. Protocol violators in ECASS 3 
15. Protocol violators in ECASS 3 
16. Protocol violators in ECASS 3 
17. ADVICE Diagnose the stroke.
Time must be under 4  hours
Check the scan is normal.
Check there are no contraindications.
If you come to a contraindication, STOP.
Think it through.
Is it strong enough to stop the process dead?
Is there a compelling argument to set it aside and continue?
Take a moment to stand back and think.
Administer tPA. 
18. THE END