FRASER Health treats more than 4,000 stroke patients every year and that number is expected to rise to 5,700 patients per year within the next decade.

Getting patients to a hospital as quickly as possible and starting treatment to prevent brain cell starvation gives patients a better chance of recovery.

Now, Fraser Health is adding Tenecteplase (TNK) as a front-line treatment for ischemic stroke—a stroke that occurs when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain.

“Tenecteplase is a game-changer for ischemic stroke care and stroke unit optimization,” says Trudy Robertson, clinical nurse specialist, neurosciences and stroke lead, Fraser Health.

When a patient suffers an ischemic stroke and arrives at a CT-equipped Fraser Health hospital, Tenecteplase is administered intravenously in one five-second dose. Previously, the commonly used medication required a one-hour intravenous infusion and a special crew to monitor the infusion in the event the patient required transfer to another hospital.

“With Tenecteplase, the medication is getting into the patients faster because less set-up is required by the care team,” says Robertson. “We know that when it comes to stroke, time is brain and every minute of oxygen starvation of the brain kills two million brain cells.”

On April 19, the first patient in Fraser Health received Tenecteplase for an ischemic stroke at Royal Columbian Hospital. The Tenecteplase was provided to the patient within 22 minutes of their arrival, well below the national standard of 30 minutes.

“It’s the efforts of a great team which lead to improving patient care. I am very proud of them,” says Dr Jaskiran Brar, Stroke Neurologist, Fraser Health.