Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Prehospital Thrombolysis: A Manual from Berlin
Published on: November 26, 2013
Safety and efficacy of thrombolysis in telestroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Jessica Kepplinger1, Kristian Barlinn2, Stefanie Deckert2
1From the Department of Neurology (J.K., K.B., U.B.) and Center for Evidence-based Healthcare (J.K., S.D., M.S., J.S.), Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany. jessica.kepplinger@uniklinikum-dresden.de.
Objective:
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of IV thrombolysis (IVT) with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) delivered through telestroke networks in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Methods:
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis according to PRISMA guidelines. Literature searches on MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases covered prospective randomized controlled and nonrandomized studies comparing telemedicine-guided IVT to IVT administered at stroke centers and were published from the earliest date available until April 1, 2015. Outcomes of interest were symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, mortality, and functional independence (modified Rankin Scale scores 0-1) at 3 months. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to compute pooled effect estimates and the I(2) statistic to assess heterogeneity.
Results:
Of 529 records identified, 7 studies totaling 1,863 patients fulfilled our eligibility criteria. Among these, thrombolysis was largely restricted to the 3-hour time window. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage rates were similar between patients subjected to telemedicine-guided IVT and those receiving tPA at stroke centers (risk ratio [RR] = 1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.37-2.80; p = 0.978) with low evidence of heterogeneity (I(2) = 37%; p = 0.189). There was no difference in mortality (RR = 1.04, 95% CI 0.74-1.48; p = 0.806) or in functional independence (RR = 1.11, 95% CI 0.78-1.57; p = 0.565) at 3 months between telemedicine-guided and stroke center thrombolysis. No heterogeneity was identified (I(2) = 0%, p = 0.964 and I(2) = 52%, p = 0.123, respectively).
Conclusions:
Our findings indicate that IV tPA delivery through telestroke networks is safe and effective in the 3-hour time window. Lack of prospective trials, however, emphasizes the need to further substantiate these findings in the 3- to 4.5-hour time window.
Prospero Registration Information:
URL: http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO. Unique identifier: CRD42015017232.
More Related Videos
09:52Setting Up a Stroke Team Algorithm and Conducting Simulation-based Training in the Emergency Department - A Practical Guide
Published on: January 15, 2017
05:46The Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network Multi-laboratory Model of Thromboembolic Stroke with Thrombolysis: TE-MCAo
Published on: December 19, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:29Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
01:29Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care