If you notice someone—especially an older adult—suddenly experiencing numbness or weakness on one side of the body, facial drooping, or slurred speech, don’t wait. Call an ambulance immediately. These could be signs of a stroke, and now, thanks to modern technology, treatment can begin inside the ambulance.
What Are Clot-Busting Drugs?
Clot-busting medication, known as rt-PA (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator), helps dissolve blood clots that are blocking blood flow in the brain. It works by breaking up the clot and restoring normal circulation to the brain, potentially saving brain tissue from permanent damage.
When Are Clot-Busting Drugs Used?
This treatment is used for ischemic stroke, which is caused by a blockage in a blood vessel. However, timing is critical—patients must reach the hospital within 3 hours of symptom onset.
Doctors will assess the situation and, if appropriate, administer rt-PA to open the blocked vessel, restore blood flow, and minimize brain damage. This significantly reduces the risk of disability or death.
The Sooner, the Better
Because every minute counts in stroke treatment, Phyathai 1 Hospital’s Stroke Center provides 24-hour emergency response via the MSU (Mobile Stroke Unit).
This specialized ambulance is equipped with:
- Medical equipment
- Onboard CT scanner
- Stroke specialists and nurses
The MSU team can:
- Take patient history
- Perform blood tests and CT scans
- Begin administering clot-busting medication right at your doorstep—within the critical 2–3 hour window.
Meanwhile, the hospital prepares the operating room and medical team to continue treatment immediately upon arrival.
When Clot-Busting Drugs Cannot Be Used
Not all stroke patients are eligible for rt-PA. The medical team will assess each case carefully. Clot-busting drugs cannot be used if:
- The exact time of symptom onset is unknown
- There is bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke)
- The patient has very high blood pressure
- There are blood clotting issues or low platelet count
- The patient had major surgery within the past 2 weeks
- The patient had a seizure at stroke onset
In such cases, alternative treatments will be considered based on the patient’s condition.
