Experimental ancrod (Arvin) for acute ischemic stroke: nursing implications.

Abstract

By increasing local cerebral blood flow to ischemic brain tissue in a timely fashion, impending cerebral infarction can be reversed. Aggressive, early intervention is the key to overall neurological improvement of stroke patients. Ancrod, a purified protein fraction of venom from the Malayan pit viper, has been shown to produce rapid and effective defibrinogenation in humans. A current clinical trial with ancrod in patients with acute or progressing nonhemorrhagic ischemic stroke requires an onset to treatment time of no more than 6 hours. Ancillary hospital personnel, physicians and nurses all play important roles in expediting study treatment. Nurses must assess ancrod study patients for potential bleeding problems. Community awareness and education about the warning signs of impending stroke are factors important to insuring early intervention and improving neurological outcome of stroke victims.

• Authors: H Jahnke
• Journal: The Journal of neuroscience nursing : journal of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (J Neurosci Nurs) Vol. 23 Issue 6 Pg. 386-9 (Dec 1991) ISSN: 0888-0395 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1839548 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Review)

Chemical References

• Ancrod

Topics

• Ancrod (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Cerebral Infarction (diagnosis, drug therapy, nursing)
• Double-Blind Method
• Humans
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Neurologic Examination
• Nursing Assessment