Patients arriving via emergency medical services showed increased thrombectomy referral rates, yet did not receive rt-PA at higher rates than non-EMS patients.
Despite differences in referral rates, the overall outcomes for stroke patients remained comparable between EMS and non-EMS groups.
The analysis highlights that EMS involvement does not inherently enhance rt-PA administration effectiveness or patient outcomes.
Findings suggest that improvements in emergency medical systems may not directly translate to better treatment administration or patient recovery.
Abstract
EMS use was associated with greater thrombectomy referral but not with higher rt-PA administration rates or improved outcomes.