Thrombolytic therapy: 11 contraindications
February 1, 2000
Thrombolytic therapy: 11 contraindications
Although some studies have shown an increased risk of cerebral hemorrhage in elderly patients receiving thrombolytic therapy, you need to screen closely for contraindications, urges Odette Comeau-Luis, RN, a clinical specialist in cardiac care at Loma Linda (CA) University Medical Center.1,2
While there are no age contraindications for receiving thrombolytic therapy, the decision to treat should be based on a risk-to-benefit ratio for all patients, Comeau-Luis stresses. Contraindications for thrombolytic therapy include the following:
• major surgery or trauma within 10 days;
• history of central nervous system hemorrhage, tumor, aneurysm, or atrioventricular valve malformation;
• hemorrhagic stroke within six months;
• spinal or intracranial surgery within three months;
• coma;
• bleeding diathesis, i.e., thrombocytopenia, hemophilia, platelet dysfunction, etc.
• for streptokinase, prior administration within one year;
• prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation (>10 minutes);
• pregnancy;
• gastrointestinal or internal bleeding within three months;
• severe uncontrolled hypertension (>200/110).
References
1. Jahnigen D, Schrier R. Geriatric Medicine. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Science; 1996.
2. Rich M. Therapy for acute myocardial infarction in older persons. J Am Geriatr Soc 1998; 46:1,302-1,307.
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