Final answer:
The '3 B's' of thrombolytic therapy complications include bleeding, bruising, and blood pressure changes. These risks are taken into account when using thrombolytic agents like tPA in the treatment of thrombotic strokes to dissolve blood clots and restore blood flow, potentially preventing permanent brain damage if administered promptly.
Step-by-step explanation:
The complications of thrombolytic therapy, commonly known as the '3 B's', refer to bleeding, bruising, and blood pressure changes. These are significant considerations when administering thrombolytic agents, like tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which catalyze the breakdown of blood clots by converting plasminogen to plasmin. While effective in treating thrombotic strokes by degrading abnormal clots, particularly when administered within 3 hours of the stroke event, there is a risk of hemorrhage or bleeding due to the therapy's potent clot-dissolving effects. This could result in high fever, headache, body aches, and potentially fatal conditions like hypotension and ischemia. Additionally, thrombolytic therapy may cause bruising due to minor hemorrhages under the skin, and significant fluctuations in blood pressure, necessitating close monitoring of the patient.
Thrombolytic therapy is a primary intervention for thrombotic stroke due to its capacity to prevent permanent brain damage by quickly dissolving the occlusive clot and reinstating blood flow to the affected area of the brain. The restoration of blood flow halts the expansion of the infarct core into the ischemic penumbra and helps in preserving brain function.