Potential candidacy for thrombolysis among ischemic stroke patients presenting to Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar.

Objectives: To determine the number of ischemic stroke patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital that are potential candidates for thrombolysis.

Methods: This need analysis study was conducted on one hundred consecutive ischemic stroke patients during the last quarter of 2022 at the Department of Medicine, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. The Arrival National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIH Stroke Scale) was calculated for all suspected stroke patients after a detailed history and clinical examination. An urgent non-contrast-enhanced CT scan brain was carried out. Patients were included in the study group after intra-cranial bleed was excluded on imaging.

Results: The majority (43%) of the patients (male and female) fell in the age group 51-60 years. Fifty-nine (59%) patients had hypertension as a co-morbid condition; 49% had diabetes mellitus while the remaining percentages were constituted by other risk factors. Fifty-seven (57%) patients presented with NIH Stroke Scale between 5-15; 25% had NIH Stroke Scale greater than or equal to 21. Forty-one (41%) patients having daytime (8 am to 8 pm) strokes presented within 4.5 hours of stroke onset to the hospital while 31% of patients having nighttime strokes (8 pm to 8 am) presented within 4.5 hours of stroke onset to the hospital.

Conclusion: The majority (72%) of ischemic stroke patients reached the hospital facility within 4.5 hours of stroke onset. These patients can be benefited from thrombolysis leading to improved outcomes if available in that particular health facility.