Stroke of fortune in heart drug

A World-first trial conducted in a Melbourne ambulance found a drug traditionally used to treat heart attacks provided better outcomes for stroke patients than current treatment.

The Royal Melbourne Hospital trial was the first to compare clot-busting drug tenecteplase with the gold standard alteplase in pre-hospital stroke treatment.

The Mobile Stroke Unit is a unique ambulance with a portable CT scanner that allows specialist staff, including a neurologist, to diagnose the type of stroke – and therefore start treatment – on the road.

From mid-2019 to December last year acute Ischemic stroke MSU patients were randomly assigned one of the drugs.

The results found patients given tenecteplase improved sooner and began treatment seven minutes quicker, time that can potentially save millions of brain cells.

Researcher associate Professor Andrew Bivard said the fact tenecteplase could be given quicker was significant.

“If you’re going to a stroke patient, it’s better to run down the hallways than walk,” he said.

“Every minute counts.”