Stroke Ambulance
australia's first stroke ambulance
Stroke is a major health issue – there is only one therapy. Stroke kills 1 in 10 people around the world and is the main cause of adult disability in Australia. 80% of strokes are due to a blocked artery in the brain, and 20% are caused by a rupture leading to intracerebral haemorrhage.
These two stroke subtypes can only be distinguished with brain imaging. There is one effective therapy for a blocked artery - thrombolysis - but this would be fatal if given to a patient with a haemorrhage. Therefore, a brain scan is needed before treatment and usually done in an emergency department of a hospital.
Time is of the essence. Thrombolysis is a highly time-critical therapy because brain cells quickly die if deprived of oxygen-rich blood. Thrombolysis can only save the brain from permanent damage if given early and loses its efficacy if given late after onset. Every 15 minutes lost results in loss of a month of healthy life for the average patient.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital plans to build Australia’s first stroke ambulance. The MSU (Mobile Stroke Unit) will be manned by a paramedic, radiographer and stroke nurse. If a stroke is suspected, the ambulance dispatch centre will send both an ambulance and MSU to the patient. The patient will have a brain scan in the MSU. A neurologist will examine the patient and the scans via telemed, and decide on the therapy. If the patient is eligible, thrombolysis will be administered in the MSU. When a stroke is not confirmed, the the patient will be transported in the standard ambulance.