To determine the proportion of patients eligible for thrombolysis and/or thrombectomy in the 0-6-hour time window at a large academic center in New Delhi, India.

Patients presenting within the first few hours have the highest chance of benefit with definitive treatment in the form of thrombolysis or thrombectomy. Determining the proportion of patients who are eligible for these treatments in the ‘real world’ and the consequent benefits is of importance for resource allocation and planning.  

Acute Ischemic Strokes (AIS) arriving within 0-6 hours of onset were enrolled in the study. All clinically relevant investigation details were noted. Eligibility for thrombolysis was analysed as per the American Stroke Association Class 1A guidelines.  

Between July 2017 and September 2019, 221 patients with AIS presented within 24 hours and 61.5% (136/221) arrived within six hours. Of these, 55.9% (76/136) patients were thrombolysed- 78.9% (60/76) were in the 0-3 hours window and 21.1% (16/76) in 3-4.5 hours. Large vessel occlusion (LVO) was present in 44.9% (61/136) patients and 32.8% (20/61)) of them underwent thrombectomy. The overall in-hospital mortality was 7.4% (10/136).

At a large academic stroke center in New Delhi, thrombolysis and thrombectomy eligibility at 0-6 hours’ time window was 56% and 33% (amongst LVO stroke), respectively.