thrombolytic

Thân thiện

A doctor administers a thrombolytic to a patient in the emergency room.

Definition

Noun: A type of pharmaceutical drug designed to dissolve or break up blood clots (thrombi) that are obstructing blood vessels, particularly those blocking blood flow to the heart muscle. These agents work by activating the body's natural clot-dissolving system.

Usage

Thrombolytics are a critical class of emergency medicine. They are administered to treat acute, life-threatening conditions caused by clots. - Primary Use: The primary use is in hospitals for the emergency treatment of conditions like myocardial infarction (heart attack) and ischemic stroke. - Administration: They are typically given intravenously (IV) and must be administered within a specific time window after symptoms begin to be effective and minimize risks.

Examples

• The patient received a thrombolytic within the critical three-hour window after the stroke began.
• Thrombolytics are most effective when given soon after a heart attack.
• The doctor decided to administer a thrombolytic to dissolve the clot in the coronary artery.

Advanced Usage

• "Thrombolytic therapy": This is the standard term for the medical treatment involving the administration of these drugs.
  • Early initiation of thrombolytic therapy is crucial for patient survival.
• The effectiveness of a thrombolytic is often measured by its ability to achieve "reperfusion," which is the restoration of blood flow.

Variants and Related Words

• Thrombolysis (n): The process of breaking down a blood clot.
  • The goal of the treatment was thrombolysis of the arterial blockage.
• Thrombolytic agent (n): A synonym for "thrombolytic," emphasizing it is an active drug.
  • Streptokinase is a common thrombolytic agent.
• Fibrinolytic (adj/n): A closely related term; thrombolytics are a type of fibrinolytic drug, as they work by breaking down fibrin, a key component of clots.

Synonyms

• Clot-buster (n, informal): A common informal term used by medical staff and the public.
• Fibrinolytic drug (n): A more technical synonym.

Important Notes

• Risk: A major risk of thrombolytic treatment is serious bleeding, including intracranial hemorrhage.
• Contraindication: Their use is contraindicated (not advised) in certain conditions, such as recent major surgery or active internal bleeding.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a kind of pharmaceutical that can break up clots blocking the flow of blood to the heart muscle

Từ đồng nghĩa

• thrombolytic agent
• clot buster