Abstract:~Introduction~Historical precedence exists demonstrating that early intensive care unit (ICU) mobilization of patients reduces risks of complication and lengths of hospital stay, and may improve long-term health status of patients.~Objective~To determine the safety of early mobilization by physical and/or occupational therapy in acute ischemic stroke patients within 24-hours of IV-tPA infusion and to examine if early mobilization leads to shortened ICU and hospital length of stay.~Methods~Prospective study of incidence of adverse response and functional mobility status of study patients mobilized by occupational and/or physical therapy between 12- 24 hours after IV-tPA infusion with comparison of ICU and hospital Length of Stay data between study group and pre-study patients who were mobilized by occupational and/or physical therapy services at no pre-determined time after IV-tPA infusion. Additionally, patients will be contacted by study personnel approximately 3 to 5-days and 30-days post-infusion for completion of Modified Rankin Scale stroke disability survey as follow up of stroke recovery.~Setting~Medical and surgical intensive care units at Mayo Clinic Florida.~Patients~All patients with acute ischemic stroke who receive intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV-tPA) infusion, survive to discharge from the hospital, are hemodynamically stable, and are mobilized by physical and/or occupational therapy within 24 hours post-tPA infusion.
The purpose of this study is to study the safety and feasibility of mobilization of acute ischemic stroke patients treated with IV-tPA between 12-24 hours of treatment.