New and Noteworthy Information—March 2014

Patients with acute ischemic stroke who receive prompt treatment with t-PA may avoid a lengthy stay in an ICU, according to a study published February 12 in PLOS One. In a retrospective chart review of 153 patients who received IV t-PA for stroke, those with an NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 10 or higher had a 7.7-times higher risk of requiring ICU resources, compared with patients who presented with an NIHSS score lower than 10. Eighty-one percent of patients with ICU needs developed them before the end of t-PA infusion, while 7% of those without ICU needs at the end of the t-PA infusion required ICU care later on. “We propose that patients without ICU needs by the end of the t-PA infusion might be safely monitored in a non-ICU setting if NIHSS at presentation is low,” the researchers advised.

—Erik Greb and Colby Stong