2007 Volume 29 Issue 6 Pages 688-693
In stroke cases the time from onset to treatment is important. Based on the 2006 emergency logs from Matsumoto emergency medical technicians (EMTs), we checked onset-to-call and transport time in ischemic stroke patients. The first hemiparetic attack accounted for 46% of patients, the average age was 75 yrs, with 40% under 75. Definite, estimated and unknown onsets accounted for 33%, 52% and 15%, respectively. Median times were as follows: final confirmation of normal state to detection of stroke, 60 min; detection to phoning EMTs, 14 min; and 31 min from the phone call to hospital arrival. Fifty-five percent arrived at hospital within three hours post-onset. High consciousness disturbance and hemiparesis accounted for 18% and 52%, respectively. Taking level of consciousness, hemiparesis and age into consideration, 10% of the patients were targets for recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) administration. Education of the general public and EMTs is required to shorten the prehospital rescue time, increase awareness of stroke symptoms and treatment, detailed recording of patients' history in the ambulance, and also education of medical staff regarding the adoption of appropriate hospital by medical controls.
