Peer Reviewed
Feature Article Cardiovascular medicine

The GP’s role in acute stroke management

Parker Magin, Andre Loiselle
Abstract
The role of most GPs in acute stroke management lies in prior patient education and formulating triage systems that minimise time from the acute stroke event to patient arrival at a hospital with the capacity to deliver thrombolysis.
Key Points
  • Care in a specialised stroke unit and thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) both reduce mortality and disability in patients with acute stroke.
  • Thrombolysis requires administration of rt-PA within three hours of stroke onset for maximal efficacy.
  • GPs should expedite prompt ambulance transport of patients with acute stroke to a hospital with the capacity to deliver thrombolysis.
  • Patient and staff education regarding the symptomatology of stroke may play a role in facilitating this prompt access to thrombolysis.
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