scholarly journals Reliability of Point-of-Care Testing of INR in Acute Stroke

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 348-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa L. Green ◽  
Adnan Mansoor ◽  
Nancy Newcommon ◽  
Caroline Stephenson ◽  
Eileen Stewart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Standard Laboratory ◽  
Point Of Care Testing

Background:In the emergency department, portable point-of-care testing (POCT) coagulation devices may facilitate stroke patient care by providing rapid International Normalized Ratio (INR) measurement. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability, validity, and impact on clinical decision-making of a POCT device for INR testing in the setting of acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Methods:A total of 150 patients (50 healthy volunteers, 51 anticoagulated patients, 49 AIS patients) were assessed in a tertiary care facility. The INR’s were measured using the Roche Coaguchek S and the standard laboratory technique.Results:The interclass correlation coefficient and 95% confidence interval between overall POCT device and standard laboratory value INRs was high (0.932 (0.69 - 0.78). In the AIS group alone, the correlation coefficient and 95% CI was also high 0.937 (0.59 - 0.74) and diagnostic accuracy of the POCT device was 94%.Conclusions:When used by a trained health professional in the emergency department to assess INR in acute ischemic stroke patients, the CoaguChek S is reliable and provides rapid results. However, as concordance with laboratory INR values decreases with higher INR values, it is recommended that with CoaguChek S INRs in the > 1.5 range, a standard laboratory measurement be used to confirm the results.

scholarly journals Early Ischemic Stroke Presentation in Pakistan

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayeesha Kamran Kamal ◽  
Bhojo Asumal Khealani ◽  
Sajjad Ahmed Ansari ◽  
Maria Afridi ◽  
Nadir Ali Syed
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Stroke Severity ◽  
Delayed Presentation ◽  
Tertiary Care Facility ◽  
Field Triage

Introduction:There are no studies from Pakistan that describe stroke presentation rates or factors associated with early or delayed presentation. This is important to know because current clinical protocols limit the use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA), the only available therapy for acute ischemic stroke, to a three-hour window from symptom onset.Methods:All patients aged 14 years or above with acute ischemic stroke of ≤ 48 hours duration were prospectively identified from the Aga Khan University Stroke Data Bank over a 22-month period ending May 2001.Results:269 ischemic stroke patients presented within 48 hours of stroke onset. 55 out of 269 (21%) presented within first three hours and 110 out of 269 (41%) within first six hours. Unawareness of treatment options (p <0.001) and inappropriate diagnosis and field triage (p=0.005) were associated with delayed presentation. Small vessel occlusion or lacunar stroke in the TOAST (Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) ischemic stroke subtype was associated with delayed presentation (p=0.047) and cardioembolic stroke was associated with earlier presentation (p=0.048). Stroke severity assessed with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at a cut off score of ≥ 15 was not associated with earlier time to presentation at three hours (p=0.114) but there was some tendency at six hours (p=0.097).Conclusions:The rate of early stroke presentation in a Pakistani tertiary care facility is comparable to certain developed countries. To increase the proportion of patients who can benefit from thrombolytic therapy, programs need to be instituted to increase public awareness of treatment options for stroke and expedited referral by the primary care provider.

scholarly journals Significance of serum electrolyte imbalance and comparison between different testing methods in patients with altered sensorium presenting to tertiary care hospital

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 828
Author(s):  
Harjit S. Dumra ◽  
Kautuk A. Patel ◽  
Gopal Raval ◽  
Mansi Dandnaik ◽  
Amrish Patel
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Tertiary Care Hospital ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
P Value ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Point Of Care Testing ◽  
Sodium And Potassium

Background: Electrolyte disorders are common in patients in the emergency department and intensive care unit, and have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In this respect sodium and potassium are the most important cations, whose improper adjustment may cause severe neuromuscular disorders. This study was designed to compare values obtained by laboratory and point-of-care testing and also to find most frequent electrolyte abnormalities.Methods: Observational Study was done on 51 patients presenting to Tertiary care Hospital emergency department with altered sensorium between 1st January 2016 to 31st May 2017 fulfilling the inclusion criteria and willing for participation by giving written informed consent. Electrolytes were tested in patients with GCS 14 or less by both point of care system and in the laboratory.Results: The distribution of mean sodium and potassium levels did not differ significantly between two techniques (P-value>0.05). The sodium and potassium levels by POC and laboratory techniques are significantly and positively correlated (P-value<0.001). The distribution of mean along with 95% CI of mean of amount of bias in the estimation of Sodium and Potassium levels by POC against Laboratory method is 3.50 [2.79-4.20] mEq/L and 0.83 [0.55-1.11] mEq/L respectively. The most common electrolyte abnormality was hyponatremia.Conclusions: We concluded that it is advisable to do a point-of-care electrolyte in Emergency department and Intensive care unit. By use of point-of-care testing, we can identify electrolytes imbalance early in emergency department. Point-of-care electrolyte levels had a near comparable value with laboratory electrolyte levels.

scholarly journals Emergency medical dispatchers’ ability to identify large vessel occlusion stroke during emergency calls

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauli E. T. Vuorinen ◽  
Jyrki P. J. Ollikainen ◽  
Pasi A. Ketola ◽  
Riikka-Liisa K. Vuorinen ◽  
Piritta A. Setälä ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Large Vessel ◽  
Emergency Call ◽  
Large Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Emergency Response System ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Cortical Ischemia

Abstract Background In acute ischemic stroke, conjugated eye deviation (CED) is an evident sign of cortical ischemia and large vessel occlusion (LVO). We aimed to determine if an emergency dispatcher can recognise LVO stroke during an emergency call by asking the caller a binary question regarding whether the patient’s head or gaze is away from the side of the hemiparesis or not. Further, we investigated if the paramedics can confirm this sign at the scene. In the group of positive CED answers to the emergency dispatcher, we investigated what diagnoses these patients received at the emergency department (ED). Among all patients brought to ED and subsequently treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) we tracked the proportion of patients with a positive CED answer during the emergency call. Methods We collected data on all stroke dispatches in the city of Tampere, Finland, from 13 February 2019 to 31 October 2020. We then reviewed all patient records from cases where the dispatcher had marked ‘yes’ to the question regarding patient CED in the computer-aided emergency response system. We also viewed all emergency department admissions to see how many patients in total were treated with MT during the period studied. Results Out of 1913 dispatches, we found 81 cases (4%) in which the caller had verified CED during the emergency call. Twenty-four of these patients were diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke. Paramedics confirmed CED in only 9 (11%) of these 81 patients. Two patients with positive CED answers during the emergency call and 19 other patients brought to the emergency department were treated with MT. Conclusion A small minority of stroke dispatches include a positive answer to the CED question but paramedics rarely confirm the emergency medical dispatcher’s suspicion of CED as a sign of LVO. Few patients in need of MT can be found this way. Stroke dispatch protocol with a CED question needs intensive implementation.

scholarly journals Feasibility and Success of Hiv Point-of-Care Testing in an Emergency Department in an Urban Canadian Setting

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marissa L Becker ◽  
Laura H Thompson ◽  
Carla Pindera ◽  
Natalie Bridger ◽  
Carmen Lopez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Antibody Test ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Centre Hospital

BACKGROUND: Approximately 26% of Canadians living with HIV are unaware of their status. Point-of-care (POC) HIV tests have been introduced to simplify and expand HIV testing.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of POC testing in an emergency department (ED) setting in Winnipeg, Manitoba.METHODS: A cross-sectional study of unselected adults presenting to the ED at the Health Sciences Centre Hospital (Winnipeg, Manitoba) was performed. Study procedures included pre- and post-test counselling, administration of the INSTI HIV-1/HIV-2 Antibody Test (bioLytical Laboratories, Canada) and a brief questionnaire. Venous blood samples were collected from participants for confirmatory testing on all reactive and indeterminate specimens.RESULTS: In total, 501 adults participated in the study. The majority of participants were younger than 40 years of age, approximately one-half (48.5%) were women and 53% self-identified as Aboriginal. Nearly one-half (49.1%) of the participants had undergone previous HIV testing, although 63% of these tests were performed more than a year earlier. A total of seven individuals tested reactive with the POC test, all of whom were confirmed positive using serological testing (1.4%) and were linked to an HIV specialist within 24 h. Nearly all of the participants (96%) reported satisfaction with the test and believed it belonged in the ED (93%).CONCLUSIONS: Of the participants tested, 1.4% tested reactive for HIV, which is significantly higher than the reported prevalence in Manitoba and in other similar studies conducted in North America. Furthermore, all individuals were linked to timely care. The present study demonstrated that this particular busy tertiary care ED is an important and feasible location for HIV POC testing.

Abstract P119: Factors Influencing Door to Needle Administration for Acute Stroke Patients in the Emergency Department

Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolle W Davis ◽  
Meghan Bailey ◽  
Natalie Buchwald ◽  
Amreen Farooqui ◽  
Anna Khanna
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Acute Stroke Care ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Iv Tpa

Background/Objective: There is growing importance on discovering factors that delay time to intervention for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients, as rapid intervention remains essential for better patient outcomes. The management of these patients involves a multidisciplinary effort and quality improvement initiatives to safely increase treatment with intravenous thrombolytic (IV tPa). The objective of this pilot is to evaluate factors of acute stroke care in the emergency department (ED) and the impact they have on IV tPa administration. Methods: A sample of 89 acute ischemic stroke patients that received IV tPa from a single academic medical institution was selected for retrospective analysis. System characteristics (presence of a stroke nurse and time of day) and patient characteristics (mode of arrival and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (NIHSS) on arrival) were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression to address the study question. Results: The mean door to needle time is 53.74 minutes ( + 38.06) with 74.2% of patients arriving to the ED via emergency medical services (EMS) and 25.8% having a stroke nurse present during IV tPa administration. Mode of arrival ( p = .001) and having a stroke nurse present ( p = .022) are significant predictors of door to needle time in the emergency department (ED). Conclusion: While many factors can influence door to needle times in the ED, we did not find NIHSS on arrival or time of day to be significant factors. Patients arriving to the ED by personal vehicle will have a significant delay in IV tPa administration, therefore emphasizing the importance of using EMS. Perhaps more importantly, collaborative efforts including the addition of a specialized stroke nurse significantly decreased time to IV tPa administration for AIS patients. With this dedicated role, accelerated triage and more effective management of AIS patients is accomplished, leading to decreased intervention times and potentially improving patient outcomes.

Abstract 1122‐000214: Clinical Factors Associated rTPA Administration in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients with History of Atrial Fibrillation

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chase A Rathfoot ◽  
Camron Edressi ◽  
Carolyn B Sanders ◽  
Krista Knisely ◽  
Nicolas Poupore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Medical History ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Past Medical History ◽  
Clinical Factors ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
History Of

Introduction : Previous research into the administration of rTPA therapy in acute ischemic stroke patients has largely focused on the general population, however the comorbid clinical factors held by stroke patients are important factors in clinical decision making. One such comorbid condition is Atrial Fibrillation. The purpose of this study is to determine the clinical factors associated with the administration of rtPA in Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) patients specifically with a past medical history of Atrial Fibrillation (AFib). Methods : The data for this analysis was collected at a regional stroke center from January 2010 to June 2016 in Greenville, SC. It was then analyzed retrospectively using a multivariate logistic regression to identify factors significantly associated with the inclusion or exclusion receiving rtPA therapy in the AIS/AFib patient population. This inclusion or exclusion is presented as an Odds Ratio and all data was analyzed using IBM SPSS. Results : A total of 158 patients with Atrial Fibrillation who had Acute Ischemic Strokes were identified. For the 158 patients, the clinical factors associated with receiving rtPA therapy were a Previous TIA event (OR = 12.155, 95% CI, 1.125‐131.294, P < 0.040), the administration of Antihypertensive medication before admission (OR = 7.157, 95% CI, 1.071‐47.837, P < 0.042), the administration of Diabetic medication before admission (OR = 13.058, 95% CI, 2.004‐85.105, P < 0.007), and serum LDL level (OR = 1.023, 95% CI, 1.004‐1.042, P < 0.16). Factors associated with not receiving rtPA therapy included a past medical history of Depression (OR = 0.012, 95% CI, 0.000‐0.401, P < 0.013) or Obesity (OR = 0.131, 95% CI, 0.034‐0.507, P < 0.003), Direct Admission to the Neurology Floor (OR = 0.179, 95% CI, 0.050‐0.639, P < 0.008), serum Lipid level (OR = 0.544, 95% CI, 0.381‐0.984, P < 0.044), and Diastolic Blood Pressure (OR = 0.896, 95% CI, 0.848‐0.946, P < 0.001). Conclusions : The results of this study demonstrate that there are significant associations between several clinical risk factors, patient lab values, and hospital admission factors in the administration of rTPA therapy to AIS patients with a past medical history of Atrial Fibrillation. Further research is recommended to determine the extent and reasoning behind of these associations as well as their impact on the clinical course for AIS/AFib patients.

scholarly journals Estimation of the presence of small dense lipoprotein cholesterol in acute ischemic stroke

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuhiro Manabe ◽  
Ryuta Morihara ◽  
Kosuke Matsuzono ◽  
Yumiko Nakano ◽  
Yoshiaki Takahashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Poor Prognosis ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Standard Laboratory ◽  
Laboratory Methods ◽  
Established Risk Factor ◽  
The One ◽  
Lipid Parameters

Small dense low-density lipoprotein (sdLDL) is an established risk factor in ischemic heart disease. However, its clinical significance in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is uncertain. This study evaluates the prognostic value of the presence of sdLDL in patients with AIS by determining whether it contributes to clinical outcome or not. We studied 530 consecutive patients admitted within the first 48 hours after onset of ischemic stroke and 50 corresponding controls. Serum lipid parameters were measured on admission by standard laboratory methods. The percentage of AIS patients with sdLDL was significantly higher than the one of matched controls with sdLDL. Concerning comparisons between AIS patients with or without sdLDL, the percentages of males and patients with histories of smoking, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease were significantly higher in AIS patients with sdLDL. Concerning the grade of severity, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) on discharge was significantly higher in AIS patients with sdLDL. On logistic regression analysis, age (OR=2.29, P3). Our study showed that the presence of sdLDL might be independently associated with a poor prognosis after AIS.

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