Reperfusion Therapy – What to tell patients

Communicating this information about the risks/benefits of thrombolysis to patients or their relatives can be difficult.

Your department should have a detailed protocol document to guide you on the proper management of acute ischaemic stroke, particularly if ED physicians lead thrombolysis in your local area.

There should also be a clear patient information leaflet discussing stroke, alteplase and thrombolysis.

Numbers need to treat/harm can help communicate risk.

Reflecting the concerns over the evidence, there is ongoing debate over the accuracy of NNT/NNH figures.