Abstract

Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Chile, is remote, located in the Polynesian Triangle in Oceania. The closest continental point is Chile, 3,512 km east. It has a population of 7,750 inhabitants, who are Chilean citizens, and receives more than 60,000 tourists a year. For this entire population, there is a medium complexity hospital without a neurology specialist. In 2019, local professionals were trained in a Telestroke program with remote clinical support conducted by neurologists located on mainland Chile. We present a 50-year-old native male, with unknown medical history, who suddenly presented right-half-body weakness and aphasia. He was evaluated via Telestroke consultation, and thrombolysis with tenecteplase was indicated. The patient improved rapidly and 45 min later the NIHSS score was 0 points. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Telestroke treatment in such a remote area, highlighting the importance of telemedicine to overcome geographical and technological stroke care barriers and to improve patients’ outcome, no matter where they live.