scholarly journals LO76: Can emergency physicians perform carotid artery ultrasound to detect severe stenosis in patients with TIA and stroke?

CJEM ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (S1) ◽  
pp. S34-S34
Author(s):  
R. Suttie ◽  
M.Y. Woo ◽  
J.J. Perry ◽  
L. Park ◽  
G. Stotts
Keyword(s):  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Test Characteristics ◽  
Urgent Surgery ◽  
Ica Stenosis ◽  
Mean Time ◽  
Rule Out

Introduction: Carotid artery stenosis (CAS) is a common cause of stroke. Patients with severe, symptomatic CAS can have their subsequent stroke risk reduced by carotid endarterectomy or stenting when completed soon after a TIA or non-disabling stroke. Patients presenting to a peripheral ED with TIA/stroke, may require transfer to another hospital for imaging to rule-out CAS. The purpose of this study was to determine the test characteristics of carotid artery POCUS in detecting greater than 50% stenosis in patients presenting with TIA/stroke. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study on a convenience sample of adult patients presenting to a tertiary care academic ED with TIA/stroke between June and October 2017. Carotid POCUS was performed by a trained medical student or a trained emergency physician. Our outcome measure, CAS >50% was determined by the final radiology report of CTA imaging by a trained radiologist, blinded to our study. A blinded POCUS expert reviewed the carotid POCUS scans. We calculated the sensitivity and specificity for CAS >50% using carotid POCUS versus the gold standard of CTA. Results: We enrolled 75 patients of which 5 did not meet inclusion criteria. The mean age was 70.4 years, 57% were male. 16% were diagnosed with greater than 50% CAS. 47% were stroke codes and 37% were admitted to hospital. Carotid POCUS had a sensitivity and specificity of 72% (46%-99%) and 88% (80%-96%) respectively. There were three false negatives of which two were exactly 50% ICA stenosis on CTA and the other was 100% occlusion of the distal ICA. Kappa coefficient for inter-rater reliability between standard and expert interpretation was 0.68 for moderate agreement. The scan took a mean time of 6.2 minutes to complete. Conclusion: Carotid POCUS has moderate correlation with CTA for detection of CAS greater than 50%. Carotid POCUS identified all the critical 70-99% stenosis lesions that would need urgent surgery. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

scholarly journals Ischemic stroke: Observations and analysis of stroke patients admitted in a tertiary hospital of Kathmandu

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-71
Author(s):  
Dipesh Shakya ◽  
Rabindra Shrestha ◽  
Krishna Dhungana ◽  
Raisha Kafle ◽  
Sabnam Bhatta
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis ◽  
Common Risk Factors

Background: Stroke is a disabling condition that has physical and mental impact on a patient’s life. Stroke is an important morbidity for low and middle income countries like Nepal. Hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and dyslipidemia are common risk factors in this regard and are inadequately controlled; mainly because of poor public awareness, inadequate infrastructure, lack of service and qualified manpower.Objectives: This study aims to provide insight into the epidemiology and risk factors in ischemic stroke patients.Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in 92 ischemic stroke patients at a tertiary care hospital Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital (KMCTH), Sinamangal, Nepal from December 2017 to June 2018. Consecutive sampling technique was used and data was collected from ischemic stroke patients above 14 years of age who were admitted in the Department of Neurology. Information regarding pre-morbid and morbid conditions, imaging findings as well as results was obtained from biochemical analysis of blood after taking consent from the patient or patient’s relative. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Version 20 was used as a tool for statistical analysis.Results: Their mean age was 63.25 years with standard deviation of 16.45. Dyslipidemia was the most commonly found risk factor which was present in 77.2% of the subjects, followed by smoking (59.8%), presence of carotid artery atherosclerosis (59.8%), hypertension (50%), atrial fibrillation (26.1%) and diabetes mellitus(15.2%). Smoking was significant in males and heart disease was mostly seen in females.Conclusion: Dyslipidemia and smoking were the most common risk factors followed by carotid artery atherosclerosis. Patients with hypertension and dyslipidemia had higher incidence of stroke in both young and elderly group.

scholarly journals P047: Test characteristics of point of care ultrasound for the diagnosis of retinal detachment in the emergency department

CJEM ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (S1) ◽  
pp. S93-S94
Author(s):  
G. Docherty ◽  
M. Francispragasam ◽  
B. Silver ◽  
R. Prager ◽  
D. Maberley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Retinal Detachment ◽  
Likelihood Ratio ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Heterogeneous Group ◽  
Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Test Characteristics

Introduction: The acute onset of flashes and floaters is a common presentation to the emergency department (ED). The most emergent etiology is retinal detachment (RD), which requires prompt ophthalmologic assessment. Previous studies of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) have reported high sensitivity and specificity for RD, but are limited by small sample size, use of highly trained and experienced sonographers, and referral bias. Our primary objective was to assess the test characteristics of POCUS performed by a large heterogeneous group of emergency physicians (EPs) for the diagnosis of RD. Methods: This was a prospective diagnostic test assessment of POCUS performed by EPs with varying ultrasound experience on a convenience sample of ED patients presenting with the complaint of flashes or floaters in one or both eyes. Participating EPs completed a one hour didactic lecture and were expected to demonstrate appropriate performance of one practice scan before enrolling patients. After standard ED assessment, patients underwent an ocular POCUS scan targeted to detect RD. EPs recorded the presence or absence of RD on the data collection instrument based on their POCUS scan. After completing their ED visit, all patients were assessed by a retina specialist who was blinded to the results of the POCUS scan. We calculated sensitivity and specificity with associated exact binomial confidence intervals (CI) using the retina specialist’s determination of the final diagnosis as the criterion standard. Results: A total of 30 EPs, consisting of 21 staff physicians and 9 residents, participated in this study. These EPs performed a total of 128 POCUS scans. Of these scans, 13 were excluded. Of the remaining 115 enrolled patients, median age was 60 years, and 64% were female. The retina specialist diagnosed RD in 16 (14%) cases. The sensitivity and specificity of POCUS for detecting RD was 75% (95% CI 48% to 93%) and 94% (95% CI 87% to 98%), respectively. The positive likelihood ratio was 12.4 (95% CI 5.4 to 28.3), and negative likelihood ratio was 0.27 (95% CI 0.11 to 0.62). Conclusion: In a heterogeneous group of EPs with varying ultrasound experience, POCUS demonstrates high specificity but only intermediate sensitivity for the detection of RD. A negative POCUS scan is not sufficiently sensitive to rule out RD in a patient with new onset flashes or floaters.

scholarly journals Awareness and Community Response To Stroke Signs and Symptoms Following the National ‘Act Fast’ Campaign in An Ethnically Diverse Population

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zain A. Bhutta ◽  
Sameer A. Pathan ◽  
Tuukka Puolakka ◽  
Naveed Akhtar ◽  
Stephen H. Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Community Response ◽  
Stroke Onset ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Total N ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Study Population

Abstract Background Evaluation of public education stroke campaigns and behavioral studies to assess emergency response at stroke onset are scarce. We aimed to assess patient’s and bystanders’ foreknowledge of stroke signs and symptoms and their response at stroke onset. We also enquired if ‘Act FAST’ stroke campaign in Qatar contributed to their foreknowledge. Methods In Qatar, the first national stroke awareness campaign, ‘Act FAST’, was launched in May 2015. The study population included a convenience sample of stroke patients admitted to the stroke service in Qatar’s largest tertiary care hospital from November 2015-February 2016. We interviewed patients with acute onset stroke admitted to the stroke unit using a validated questionnaire. If the patient had disabling stroke, we interviewed relatives/bystanders present at stroke onset. The primary outcome was the correct response of calling Emergency Medical Services (EMS), recognizing the possibility of stroke. Results The questionnaire was administered to 165 participants, 142 (86.1%) stroke patients, and 23 (13.9%) bystanders. The mean age of the study population was 52.6 (SD = 11.7), and sex (male-female) ratio was 7:1. Ethnic categories were South-Asian (n = 101, 62.2%), Middle-Eastern (n = 14, 8.5%), Far-Eastern (n = 26, 15.8%), African (n = 16, 9.7%) and Others (n = 8, 4.9%). From the study group, 33 (20.1%) participants had foreknowledge of stroke signs and symptoms, and of these, 27 (16.5%) knew about the Act FAST campaign in Qatar. The behavioral responses of the participants (total n = 165) on stroke onset included; immediately activated EMS (n = 55, 33.3%), called friends/relatives (n = 69, 41.8%), drove to hospital (n = 33, 20%), decided to rest and waited for improvement in condition (n = 21, 12.7%), and 12 (7.3%) responded as none of the above. Of the participants who admitted having watched the Act FAST campaign, 92.6% (25/27) reported that the campaign affected their response to stroke onset. There was no association of ethnicity, marital status or FAST campaign awareness with behavioral response of EMS activation on stroke onset. Conclusions The foreknowledge of stroke signs and symptoms and the Act FAST campaign was low in the community. However, seeking help by activating EMS at stroke onset was generally high in the study population irrespective of the awareness to the campaign.

scholarly journals Test characteristics of quick brain MRI for shunt evaluation in children: an alternative modality to avoid radiation

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 420-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther L. Yue ◽  
Garth D. Meckler ◽  
Ross J. Fleischman ◽  
Nathan R. Selden ◽  
Dianna M. E. Bardo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Surgical Revision ◽  
Shunt Malfunction ◽  
Csf Shunt ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Shunt Pathway ◽  
Test Characteristics ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Study Completion ◽  
Mean Time

OBJECT Quick brain magnetic resonance imaging (QB-MRI) is a rapid, radiation-free technique to detect life-threatening CSF shunt malfunction. QB-MRI has not been widely studied or adopted. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the test characteristics of QB-MRI for detecting shunt malfunction. Test characteristics of brain computed tomography (CT) and QB-MRI were then compared. Secondary objectives included comparison of time to study completion and use of sedatives for both modalities, as well as comparison of time to study completion for QB-MRI before and after implementation of a Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) shunt clinical pathway. METHODS A retrospective chart review was performed at 2 tertiary care hospital PEDs. The authors reviewed the charts of children who underwent QB-MRI or CT for suspected shunt malfunction between July 2008 and June 2012. They also reviewed the patients' neuroradiology reports and classified ventricular size as positive (enlarged) or negative (normal, smaller, or unchanged). Shunt malfunction was defined by surgical revision within 30 days. RESULTS Nine hundred ninety-seven PED visits (involving 724 QB-MRIs and 273 CTs) were included. Surgical revision was performed in 235 cases (23.6%). For QB-MRI, sensitivity was 58.5% (95% CI 51.1%–65.6%) and specificity was 93.3% (90.8%–95.3%). For CT, sensitivity was 53.2% (95% CI 38.1%–67.9%) and specificity was 95.6% (92%–97.9%). The mean time to completion of QB-MRI was 115 minutes versus 83 minutes for CT (difference 32 minutes, 95% CI, 22–42 minutes, p < 0.001). The mean time from presentation to completion of QB-MRI prior to application of the CSF shunt pathway was 132 minutes versus 112 minutes after application of the CSF shunt pathway (difference 20 minutes, 95% CI 5–35 minutes, p = 0.01). Anxiolytic medications were used in 3.7% of CT studies and 4.4% of QB-MRI studies (p = 0.74). CONCLUSIONS QB-MRI and CT have similar test characteristics for detecting CSF shunt malfunction in children and similar requirements for sedation. The longer interval from order placement to imaging completion for QB-MRI is arguably justified by reduction of radiation exposure in this population subject to frequent brain imaging.

scholarly journals Validation of a Dysphagia Screening Tool in Acute Stroke Patients

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Edmiaston ◽  
Lisa Tabor Connor ◽  
Lynda Loehr ◽  
Abdullah Nassief
Keyword(s):  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Screening Tool ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Aspiration Risk ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Time

Background Although many dysphagia screening tools exist, none has high sensitivity and reliability or can be administered quickly with minimal training. Objective To design and validate a swallowing screening tool to be used by health care professionals who are not speech language pathologists to identify dysphagia and aspiration risk in acute stroke patients. Methods In a prospective study of 300 patients admitted to the stroke service at an urban tertiary care hospital, interrater and test-retest reliabilities of a new tool (the Acute Stroke Dysphagia Screen) were established. The tool was administered by nursing staff when patients were admitted to the stroke unit. A speech language pathologist blinded to the results with the new tool administered the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability, a clinical bedside evaluation, with dysphagia operationally defined by a score less than 178. Results The mean time from admission to screening with the new tool was 8 hours. The mean time between administration of the new tool and the clinical bedside evaluation was 32 hours. For the new tool, interrater reliability was 93.6% and test-retest reliability was 92.5%. The new tool had a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 74% for detecting dysphagia and a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 68% for detecting aspiration risk. Conclusions The Acute Stroke Dysphagia Screen is an easily administered and reliable tool that has sufficient sensitivity to detect both dysphagia and aspiration risk in acute stroke patients.

Association of plaque echostructure and cardiovascular risk factors with symptomatic carotid artery disease

VASA ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giannoukas ◽  
Sfyroeras ◽  
Griffin ◽  
Saleptsis ◽  
Antoniou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽  
Carotid Plaque ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Symptomatic Disease ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Ica Stenosis

Background: Severity of stenosis remains the main factor for assessing risk of stroke in patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) disease. This study was conducted to investigate the association of plaque echostructure and other established and emerging cardiovascular risk factors with symptomatic ICA disease. Design: Cross-sectional study of consecutive patients with significant (> 50 %) ICA stenosis. Patients and methods: Carotid plaque echostructure, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, serum lipoprotein (a), homocysteine, vitamin B12, folate, cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein ratio, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, and the Framingham risk score were assessed in 124 consecutive patients (70 asymptomatic; 54 symptomatic) with significant (> 50 %) ICA stenosis. Results: The asymptomatic and symptomatic groups did not differ in terms of gender distribution (p = 0.76) and severity of stenosis (p = 0.62). Echolucent plaques (type 1 and 2) were more predominant in patients with symptomatic disease (p = 0.004, OR = 2.13, 95 % CI = 1.26-3.6). Patients with plaques type 1 were relatively younger than those with type 4 (p = 0.02). None of the other factors assessed had any significant association with symptomatic disease and any type of carotid plaque. Conclusions: Besides the severity of carotid stenosis, the presence of an echolucent plaque appears as an important factor associated with symptomatic ICA disease. Also, young patients are more likely to have an echolucent plaque suggesting an age-related association with plaque maturation.

Unruptured intracranial aneurysms in children: 18 years’ experience in a tertiary care pediatric institution

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel-Alexandre Bisson ◽  
Peter Dirks ◽  
Afsaneh Amirabadi ◽  
Manohar M. Shroff ◽  
Timo Krings ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Internal Carotid Artery ◽  
Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
Internal Carotid ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mean Size

OBJECTIVEThere are little data in the literature on the characteristics and natural history of unruptured intracranial aneurysms in children. The authors analyzed their experience with unruptured intracranial aneurysms in the pediatric population at their tertiary care pediatric institution over the last 18 years. The first objective was to assess the imaging characteristics and natural history of these aneurysms in order to help guide management strategies in the future. A second objective was to evaluate the frequency of an underlying condition when an incidental intracranial aneurysm was detected in a child.METHODSThe authors conducted a Research Ethics Board–approved retrospective review of incidental intracranial aneurysms in patients younger than 18 years of age who had been treated at their institution in the period from 1998 to 2016. Clinical (age, sex, syndrome) and radiological (aneurysm location, type, size, thrombus, mass effect) data were recorded. Follow-up imaging was assessed for temporal changes.RESULTSSixty intracranial aneurysms occurred in 51 patients (36 males, 15 females) with a mean age of 10.5 ± 0.5 years (range 9 months–17 years). Forty-five patients (88.2%) had a single aneurysm, while 2 and 3 aneurysms were found in 3 patients each (5.8%). Syndromic association was found in 22 patients (43.1%), most frequently sickle cell disease (10/22 [45.5%]). Aneurysms were saccular in 43 cases (71.7%; mean size 5.0 ± 5.7 mm) and fusiform in the remaining 17 (28.3%; mean size 6.5 ± 2.7 mm). Thirty-one aneurysms (51.7%) arose from the internal carotid artery (right/left 1.4), most commonly in the cavernous segment (10/31 [32.3%]). Mean size change over the entire follow-up of 109 patient-years was a decrease of 0.6 ± 4.2 mm (range −30.0 to +4.0 mm, rate −0.12 ± 9.9 mm/yr). Interval growth (2.0 ± 1.0 mm) was seen in 8 aneurysms (13.3%; 4 saccular, 4 fusiform). An interval decrease in size (8.3 ± 10.7 mm) was seen in 6 aneurysms (10%). There was an inverse relationship between aneurysm size and growth rate (r = −0.82, p < 0.00001). One aneurysm was treated endovascularly with internal carotid artery sacrifice.CONCLUSIONSUnruptured pediatric intracranial aneurysms are most frequently single but can occur in multiples in a syndromic setting. None of the cases from the study period showed clinical or imaging signs of rupture. Growth over time, although unusual and slow, can occur in a proportion of these patients, who should be identified for short-term imaging surveillance.

scholarly journals Optimization of duplex velocity criteria for diagnosis of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis: A report of the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) Vascular Testing Division Carotid Diagnostic Criteria Committee

2021 ◽  
pp. 1358863X2110112
Author(s):  
Heather L Gornik ◽  
Tatjana Rundek ◽  
Hannah Gardener ◽  
James F Benenati ◽  
Nirvikar Dahiya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Internal Carotid Artery ◽  
Diagnostic Criteria ◽  
Internal Carotid ◽  
Peak Systolic Velocity ◽  
Duplex Ultrasound ◽  
Additional Parameter ◽  
Characteristic Analysis ◽  
Carotid Duplex ◽  
Ica Stenosis

Diagnostic criteria to classify severity of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis vary across vascular laboratories. Consensus-based criteria, proposed by the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound in 2003 (SRUCC), have been broadly implemented but have not been adequately validated. We conducted a multicentered, retrospective correlative imaging study of duplex ultrasound versus catheter angiography for evaluation of severity of ICA stenosis. Velocity data were abstracted from bilateral duplex studies performed between 1/1/2009 and 12/31/2015 and studies were interpreted using SRUCC. Percentage ICA stenosis was determined using North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) methodology. Receiver operating characteristic analysis evaluated the performance of SRUCC parameters compared with angiography. Of 448 ICA sides (from 224 patients), 299 ICA sides (from 167 patients) were included. Agreement between duplex ultrasound and angiography was moderate (κ = 0.42), with overestimation of degree of stenosis for both moderate (50–69%) and severe (⩾ 70%) ICA lesions. The primary SRUCC parameter for ⩾ 50% ICA stenosis of peak-systolic velocity (PSV) of ⩾ 125 cm/sec did not meet prespecified thresholds for adequate sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy (sensitivity 97.8%, specificity 64.2%, accuracy 74.5%). Test performance was improved by raising the PSV threshold to ⩾ 180 cm/sec (sensitivity 93.3%, specificity 81.6%, accuracy 85.2%) or by adding the additional parameter of ICA/common carotid artery (CCA) PSV ratio ⩾ 2.0 (sensitivity 94.3%, specificity 84.3%, accuracy 87.4%). For ⩾ 70% ICA stenosis, analysis was limited by a low number of cases with angiographically severe disease. Interpretation of carotid duplex examinations using SRUCC resulted in significant overestimation of severity of ICA stenosis when compared with angiography; raising the PSV threshold for ⩾ 50% ICA stenosis to ⩾ 180 cm/sec as a single parameter or requiring the ICA/CCA PSV ratio ⩾ 2.0 in addition to PSV of ⩾ 125 cm/sec for laboratories using the SRUCC is recommended to improve the accuracy of carotid duplex examinations.

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