A 68-year-old man has had several TIAs with temporary hemiparesis and dysarthria that have lasted up to an hour.The nurse encourages the patient to seek immediate medical assistance for any symptoms that last longer than an hour,explaining that permanent disability from a stroke may be reduced if therapy is initiated within 3 hours with the use of which of the following treatments?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) is a clot-dissolving medication that can be administered within the first 3 hours of stroke onset to improve outcomes and reduce permanent disability. IV heparin may be used as prophylaxis or treatment for an existing thrombus, but it is not the first-line treatment for a stroke. Transluminal angioplasty and surgical endarterectomy may be used for more severe cases of ischemic stroke, but they are not indicated for the immediate treatment of stroke within the first 3 hours.

A 68-Year-Old Man Has Had Several TIAs with Temporary Hemiparesis