Image: Dr Jaskiran Brar, Neurologist, Sohina Pelia, Registered Nurse, and Jocelyn Eakins, Registered Nurse (right ot left) provide the first delivery of Tenecteplase for an ischemic stroke in the Fraser Health Authority. / Fraser Health Authority

By Fraser Valley Today Staff

Medical treatment

New stroke medication to revolutionize stroke treatment within Fraser Health

Jun 29, 2024 | 10:31 AM

SURREY — As Stroke Awareness Month in Canada comes to an end, Fraser Health (FH) has unveiled a groundbreaking development in the treatment of ischemic strokes, the most common type of stroke. FH has started using Tenecteplase (TNK), a clot-busting medication, to significantly minimize the effects of ischemic strokes.

According to Fraser Health, it treats over 4,000 stroke patients annually. The number is expected to rise 5,700 within the next decade. The introduction of TNK is seen as a major advancement in stroke care, aiming to improve recovery outcomes by reducing the time required to administer treatment.

“Tenecteplase is a game-changer for ischemic stroke care and stroke unit optimization,” said Trudy Robertson, clinical nurse specialist and stroke lead at FH. The new medication is administered intravenously in a single five-second dose. This is a stark contrast to the previous standard treatment, which required a one-hour infusion and specialized monitoring, complicating patient transfers between hospitals.

When a patient suffers an ischemic stroke and arrives at a CT-equipped FH hospital, Tenecteplase is administered quickly and efficiently according to Robertson. “With Tenecteplase, the medication is getting into patients faster because less set-up is required by the care team. 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.”

The first use of TNK in FH occurred on April 19, 2024, at Royal Columbian Hospital. The medication was administered within 22 minutes of the patient’s arrival, well below the national standard of 30 minutes. This swift response highlights the potential of TNK to improve stroke outcomes significantly.

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“It’s the efforts of a great team that lead to improving patient care. I am very proud of them,” said Dr. Jaskiran Brar, a stroke neurologist at Fraser Health.

The Fraser Health Authority is the largest regional health authority in B.C., providing service to much of the Lower Mainland including the Fraser Valley and hospitals in Chilliwack and Abbotsford.