Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Why is tPA for stroke still so controversial 12 years after NINDS?

Because of all the screaming. Plenty of it on both sides.

On the affirmative side are false claims (“it saves lives”), egregious media spin and hyped up expert testimony.

On the negative side are knee jerk cries of “conflict of interest”.

What’s a doctor to do?

We need an objective analysis that cuts through all the noise and gives us a balanced perspective.

I think I’ve found such an analysis: Joseph Lex’s presentation at the FERNE 2007 Brain Illness and Injury Course.

Bottom line: Patient selection is difficult, therapeutic window is narrow and informed consent is crucial. Know how to inform patients and families. This presentation shows how.

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