What is tpa stroke

If you choose not to have TPA treatment your care will not be affected. You will receive the usual treatment for stroke. This will be explained to you by your physician.

If you have any questions about TPA or other treatment for stroke, please talk to your physician or any member of your health care team. Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network. What is a Stroke? What is TPA? What tests are required? What are the benefits of TPA? What are the risks of TPA? Back To Top. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, is the only FDA-approved treatment for ischemic or thrombotic stroke , which is stroke caused by a blood clot interrupting blood flow to a region of the brain.

It has also been used in treatment for pulmonary embolism and myocardial infarction. TPA is a blood thinner, and therefore it is not used for hemorrhagic strokes or head trauma. TPA is a naturally occurring protein found on endothelial cells, the cells that line blood vessels. It activates the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, an enzyme responsible for the breakdown of clots, helping restore blood flow to the brain.

Prior to receiving treatment with tPA, you should expect to have a brain computerized tomography CT scan. If you have any of these conditions, not only would tPA not help you, it could cause significant harm to your health. Treatment with tPA has been effective for people with an ischemic stroke as long as it is received intravenously within up to 4. Endovascular treatment to remove the clot or deliver tPA at the site of the clot is considered for up to 24 hours after a stroke.

Guidelines for the treatment of acute stroke published by the American Heart Association in strongly recommend IV alteplase tPA within 4.

This treatment approach has been shown to produce the best overall outcomes. Protocols have been established to rapidly identify whether you could be having a stroke, so that your testing and treatment can be prompt and efficient, allowing you to receive life-saving treatments in a timely manner.

In fact, some centers are making strides in diagnosing stroke sooner than ever before via mobile stroke units. While tPA has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of stroke, there is a risk associated with tPA treatment, even for people who have been medically cleared for tPA.

It is a powerful blood thinner, and serious side effects may occur, including the following:. If you experience any of these side effects, you should immediately inform your medical team.

The best way to maximize your chances of receiving the most effective treatment for a stroke is to get to the emergency room as soon as possible.

A person who is having a stroke may not notice when they are experiencing symptoms. You can learn how to recognize a stroke so that you can get immediate help. The sooner a stroke is treated, the fewer the long-term effects. Symptoms of a stroke include:.

Stroke prevention is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. The procedure is used to restore blood flow to the brain when stroke patients arrive at the hospital too late for effective use of IV tPA or if IV tPA is not appropriate for them. If patients arrive at the hospital too late for effective use of IV tPA or if IV tPA is not appropriate for them, physicians may use endovascular surgery procedures or neuro-interventional techniques to remove the clot.

Endovascular procedures are those performed from inside the blood vessel. They involve navigating a small catheter a hollow plastic tube through the blood vessels to the location of the blockage. After the catheter is positioned within the blocked artery, tPA can be injected to dissolve the clot. Alternatively, a device can be used to suction the clot aspiration or trap the clot and remove it retrieval.

Safe and convenient virtual visits by video let you get the care you need via a mobile device, tablet or computer wherever you are. We'll assess your condition and develop a treatment plan right away. To schedule a virtual visit, call Learn More. Skip to main content. Stopping More Strokes with tPA Treatment Restoring Blood Flow This image shows how applying clot-dissolving drugs like tPA directly to a blockage intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy or removing the clot with a special device can restore blood flow to the brain.