Question

Why would a client admitted with the diagnosis of a brain attack (stroke), whose symptoms began 24 hours before being admitted, not be a candidate for thrombolytic therapy?

a. Thrombolytic therapy is only effective for ischemic strokes.
b. Thrombolytic therapy is most effective within the first 3 hours of symptom onset.
c. Thrombolytic therapy is contraindicated for brain attacks.
d. Thrombolytic therapy is reserved for hemorrhagic strokes.

Answer 1

Thrombolytic therapy is not recommended for a stroke patient whose symptoms began 24 hours before being admitted because the therapy needs to be administered within the first 3 hours of symptom onset for optimal effectiveness.

Step-by-step explanation:

Thrombolytic therapy is not recommended for a client admitted with the diagnosis of a brain attack (stroke) whose symptoms began 24 hours before being admitted because thrombolytic therapy is most effective within the first 3 hours of symptom onset. After 3 hours, the risks associated with the therapy, such as bleeding, outweigh the potential benefits. Therefore, thrombolytic therapy is time-sensitive and should be administered as soon as possible after stroke onset to maximize its effectiveness.