[The efficacy and safety of telethrombolysis in a newly opened stroke unit].
AIM
To evaluate the efficacy, safety and limitations of telethrombolysis, stroke consultation by telemedicine, in a newly opened stroke unit.


MATERIAL AND METHODS
Thirty-three patients (remote group) received intravenous thrombolysis via telemedicine in a new stroke unit from November 2016 to October 2017. Twenty-two patients retrospectively enrolled in the study received bedside thrombolysis (bedside group). The primary endpoint was the shift of modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at hospital discharge using ordinal logistic regression.


RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
There was no significant difference in the scores on mRSscale between two groups. The average score on mRS at discharge was 4 in both groups, the percentage of patients with 0-2 score was 27.3% in the bedside group and 23.5% in the remote group. The rate of symptomatic hemorrhagic transformations was significantly higher in the remote group compared to the bedside group (29.4 and 4.5% respectively, p=0.022) with the similar mortality rate. The implementation of telethrombolysis in new stroke units appeared to be safe and effective. However, further clinical research is needed.