The Impact of Emergency Medical Services on the Treatment Outcomes of Stroke Patients Receiving the rt-PA Administration
Keywords:
Emergency Medical Services, Ischemic stroke, Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA)Abstract
Introduction
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) aim to provide timely and effective treatment to patients. Research has shown that acute ischemic stroke patients who EMS transfers often experience shorter reperfusion times and better clinical outcomes. This study aims to investigate these effects in our specific setting.
Objective
To evaluate the impact of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) on the clinical outcomes of ischemic stroke patients who receive rt-PA
Methods
This is a retrospective study that collects data from medical records between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2023. It compares clinical outcomes and survival rates between stroke patients who were transferred by Emergency Medical Services (EMS group) and those who were not (non-EMS group). Data analysis will be conducted using multiple logistic regression, with a significance level set at <0.05
Results
This study included 214 patients, with a majority being men (52.8%) and a mean age of 62.1 years (standard deviation 13.8 years). Of these, 52 were in the EMS group, while 162 were in the non-EMS group. Patients in the EMS group were more likely to achieve a door-to-needle time of less than 45 and 60 minutes, with odds ratios of 3.91 and 2.73, respectively. However, survival rates and improvements in other clinical outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups.
Conclusion
EMS improves door-to-needle time for stroke patients receiving rt-PA but does not significantly impact other clinical outcomes
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