The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences
Abstract
Recently, research has been conducted to determine if thrombolytic therapy works to dissolve clots and if it is a safe treatment option. The specific purpose of this study is to determine if thrombolytic therapy is safe for use in the elderly. This study was conducted by reviewing the relevant literature that has been published from the time that research began to test the usefulness of thrombolytic therapy. Numerous journals were examined to ensure impartiality and emerge with an unbiased conclusion. The journals were discovered using PubMed article finder, using Google as a search engine, and by scrutinizing relevant references found within articles citing previous studies. It was discovered during the course of the study that thrombolytic therapy has been proven to be a useful treatment. The main danger of the therapy comes not from the drug itself but from the possibility of causing an intracranial hemorrhage due to reperfusion to the ischemic tissue. Thrombolytic therapy should not be withheld from the elderly based solely upon age; rather, each patient’s full history should be considered, and the decision should be based on the patient’s blood pressure, glucose level, age, and history of recent surgery or trauma. The issue of microbleeds has been examined, and there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that they cause or do not cause intracranial hemorrhage in patients treated with thrombolytic agents.
Recommended Citation
Yaeger, D. (2011). Is Thrombolytic Therapy Safe When Used to Treat Elderly Patients?. The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences, 5(1). Retrieved from https://touroscholar.touro.edu/sjlcas/vol5/iss1/10
