scholarly journals Long-term implementation of a prehospital severity scale for EMS triage of acute stroke: a real-world experience

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mouhammad A Jumaa ◽  
Alicia C Castonguay ◽  
Hisham Salahuddin ◽  
Julie Shawver ◽  
Linda Saju ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Arterial Occlusion ◽  
Final Diagnosis ◽  
Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Triage Protocol ◽  
Prehospital Triage ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Lucas County

BackgroundData on the implementation of prehospital large vessel occlusion (LVO) scales to identify and triage patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the field are limited, with the majority of studies occurring outside the USA.ObjectiveTo report our long-term experience of a US countywide emergency medical services (EMS) acute stroke triage protocol using the Rapid Arterial oCclusion Evaluation (RACE) score.MethodsOur prospective database was used to identify all consecutive patients triaged within Lucas County, Ohio by the EMS with (1) a RACE score ≥5, taken directly to an endovascular capable center (ECC) as RACE-alerts (RA) and (2) a RACE score <5, taken to the nearest hospital as stroke-alerts (SA). Baseline demographics, RACE score, time metrics, final diagnosis, treatments, and clinical and angiographic outcomes were captured. The sensitivity and specificity for patients with a RACE score ≥5 with LVO, eligible for mechanical thrombectomy (MT), were calculated.ResultsBetween July 2015 and June 2018, 492 RA and 1147 SA were triaged within our five-hospital network. Of the RA, 37% had AIS secondary to LVOs. Of the 492 RA and 1147 SA, 125 (25.4%) and 38 (3.3%), respectively, underwent MT (OR=9.9; 95% CI 6.8 to 14.6; p<0.0001). Median times from onset-to-ECC arrival (74 vs 167 min, p=0.03) and dispatch-to-ECC arrival (31 vs 46 min, p=0.0002) were shorter in the RA-MT than in the SA-MT cohort. A RACE cut-off point ≥5 showed a sensitivity and specificity of 0.77 and 0.75 for detection of patients with LVO eligible for MT, respectively.ConclusionsWe have demonstrated the long-term feasibility of a countywide EMS-based prehospital triage protocol using the RACE Scale within our hospital network.

Abstract WP277: Race Score is Scalable to Other Ems Systems; A Sensitivity Analysis

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharjeel Panjwani ◽  
Julie Shawver ◽  
Syed F Zaidi ◽  
Mouhammad A Jumaa
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Arterial Occlusion ◽  
Final Diagnosis ◽  
Medical Emergency ◽  
Stroke Severity ◽  
Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Spanish Study ◽  
Back Ground ◽  
Stroke Mimic ◽  
Lucas County

Back Ground: Rapid Arterial Occlusion Evaluation Scale (RACE) was first instituted in Barcelona and described in 2014 to successfully assess stroke severity and identify patients with acute stroke with large vessel occlusion (LVO) at pre-hospital setting by medical emergency technicians. Objective: We instituted Rapid Arterial Occlusion Evaluation Scale (RACE) hospital bypass protocol (RA) in Lucas county, Ohio since July 2015. Our aim in this study is to evaluate the sensitivity of our RACE protocol in identifying cerebro-vascular accidents and furthermore to identify ischemic CVAs from the cohort. Method: All county EMS personnel (N=464) underwent training in the Rapid Arterial Occlusion Evaluation (RACE) score. The RACE Alert (RA) protocol, whereby patients with stroke symptoms, who were last seen normal less than 12 hours and had a RACE score ≥5 were taken to a facility that has neuro-interventional capacity, was implemented in July 2015. An IRB approved prospective DB was maintained during that period. Patient’s stroke characteristics, type of acute treatment and final diagnosis on discharge were reviewed for the purpose of this abstract. Our results were comparable to the Spanish study done in Barcelona in 2014. Results: Between Jul 2016-Jun 2016 186 RAs were activated. The discharge diagnoses included ischemic stroke N=91 (49%), ICH N=26 (14%) and TIA N=17(9%). The rate of stroke mimic was N=52 (28%) of the total RACE alerts. These included seizures (12%), metabolic encephalotpathy (12%) and others including sepsis and migraines. Of the patients presenting as RA, 33% underwent IV tPA treatment ± mechanical thrombectomy. Conclusion: Results from our prospective county wide data is comparable to prior studies. RACE score may be scalable to other EMS systems to triage potential LVOs for direct transfer to centers with interventional capabilities.

Abstract W P211: Clinical Characteristics of Pseudo Negative Cases in Prehospital Triage for Stroke

Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuichi Tonomura
Keyword(s):  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Stroke Onset ◽  
The Other ◽  
Small Vessel ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Stroke Subtypes ◽  
Prehospital Triage ◽  
Prehospital Diagnosis

Objective: The accuracy of prehospital diagnosis for stroke by emergency medical services (EMS) is improved using instruments for symptom recognition. On the other hand, prehospital misdiagnosis for stroke and subsequent delay in presentation to a hospital with stroke expertise play a critical role in the exclusion of potential therapeutic candidates. Our study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics of pseudo-negative cases in prehospital triage for stroke/TIA by EMS. Methods: From April 2013 to April 2014, consecutive 644 acute stroke patients were transferred by EMS to our hospital. We investigated prehospital diagnosis, Cincinnati prehospital stroke scale (CPSS) by EMS, neurological symptoms and complaints of patients themselves at stroke onset. We also examined activity of daily life (ADL) and cognitive impairments before stroke onset, and stroke subtypes in final diagnoses. Results: Among 644 acute stroke patients, 36 patients (22 men, mean 72.5±4.4 years old) were pseudo-negative cases in prehospital triage for stroke and had no abnormalities in CPSS by EMS. When EMS arrived at emergency site, 12 patients (33%) had loss of consciousness. Before stroke onset, 6 patients (17%) had impaired ADL (modified Rankin Scale >2), and 5 (14%) cognitive impairment. Among the stroke subtypes, the proportion of small vessel occlusion (22.4%, p=0.0025) and transient ischemic attack (TIA) (25%, p=0.0021) was significant higher in pseudo negative cases in prehospital triage; on the other hand, intracranial hemorrage (11%, p=0.0028) was lower. In complaint of patients themselves at stroke onset, weakness in one or two extremities was reported in 20 patients (56%), abnormal speech/language in 13 (36%), however all of them were not clarified by EMS. Conclusion: This study showed that small vessel occlusion and TIA tend to be misdiagnosed in a prehospital triage by EMS. The complaint of patients themselves at stroke onset is important to prehospital diagnoses by EMS.

scholarly journals Prehospital Stroke Triage

Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 97 (20 Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. S25-S33
Author(s):  
Anna Ramos ◽  
Waldo R. Guerrero ◽  
Natalia Pérez de la Ossa
Keyword(s):  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Novel Technologies ◽  
Maximum Benefit ◽  
Prehospital Management ◽  
Prehospital Triage ◽  
Clinical Tools ◽  
Comprehensive Stroke Center ◽  
Stroke Center

Purpose of the ReviewThis article reviews prehospital organization in the treatment of acute stroke. Rapid access to an endovascular therapy (EVT) capable center and prehospital assessment of large vessel occlusion (LVO) are 2 important challenges in acute stroke therapy. This article emphasizes the use of transfer protocols to assure the prompt access of patients with an LVO to a comprehensive stroke center where EVT can be offered. Available prehospital clinical tools and novel technologies to identify LVO are also discussed. Moreover, different routing paradigms like first attention at a local stroke center (“drip and ship”), direct transfer of the patient to an endovascular center (“mothership”), transfer of the neurointerventional team to a local primary center (“drip and drive”), mobile stroke units, and prehospital management communication tools all aimed to improve connection and coordination between care levels are reviewed.Recent FindingsLocal observational data and mathematical models suggest that implementing triage tools and bypass protocols may be an efficient solution. Ongoing randomized clinical trials comparing drip and ship vs mothership will elucidate which is the more effective routing protocol.SummaryPrehospital organization is critical in realizing maximum benefit from available therapies in acute stroke. The optimal transfer protocols directed to accelerate EVT are under study, and more accurate prehospital triage tools are needed. To improve care in the prehospital setting, efficient tools based on patient factors, local geography, and hospital capability are needed. These tools would optimally lead to individualized real-time decision-making.

scholarly journals Transfer to the Local Stroke Center versus Direct Transfer to Endovascular Center of Acute Stroke Patients with Suspected Large Vessel Occlusion in the Catalan Territory (RACECAT): Study protocol of a cluster randomized within a cohort trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 734-744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sònia Abilleira ◽  
Natalia Pérez de la Ossa ◽  
Xavier Jiménez ◽  
Pere Cardona ◽  
Dolores Cocho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endovascular Treatment ◽  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Arterial Occlusion ◽  
Large Vessel ◽  
Modified Rankin Scale ◽  
Large Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Stroke Center ◽  
Cluster Randomized

Rationale Optimal pre-hospital delivery pathways for acute stroke patients suspected to harbor a large vessel occlusion have not been assessed in randomized trials. Aim To establish whether stroke subjects with rapid arterial occlusion evaluation scale based suspicion of large vessel occlusion evaluated by emergency medical services in the field have higher rates of favorable outcome when transferred directly to an endovascular center (endovascular treatment stroke center), as compared to the standard transfer to the closest local stroke center (local-SC). Design Multicenter, superiority, cluster randomized within a cohort trial with blinded endpoint assessment. Procedure Eligible patients must be 18 or older, have acute stroke symptoms and not have an immediate life threatening condition requiring emergent medical intervention. They must be suspected to have intracranial large vessel occlusion based on a pre-hospital rapid arterial occlusion evaluation scale of ≥5, be located in geographical areas where the default health authority assigned referral stroke center is a non-thrombectomy capable hospital, and estimated arrival at a thrombectomy capable stroke hospital in less than 7 h from time last seen well. Cluster randomization is performed according to a pre-established temporal sequence (temporal cluster design) with three strata: day/night, distance to the endovascular treatment stroke center, and week/week-end day. Study outcome The primary endpoint is the modified Rankin Scale score at 90 days. The primary safety outcome is mortality at 90 days. Analysis The primary endpoint based on the modified intention-to-treat population is the distribution of modified Rankin Scale scores at 90 days analyzed under a sequential triangular design. The maximum sample size is 1754 patients, with two planned interim analyses when 701 (40%) and 1227 patients have completed follow-up. Hypothesized common odds ratio is 1.35.

Republished: Revisiting the therapeutic time window dogma: successful thrombectomy 6 days after stroke onset

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e8-e8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Aguilar-Salinas ◽  
Roberta Santos ◽  
Manuel F Granja ◽  
Sabih Effendi ◽  
Eric Sauvageau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
American Heart Association ◽  
American Heart ◽  
Time Window ◽  
Arterial Occlusion ◽  
Heart Association ◽  
Stroke Onset ◽  
Current Guideline ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Therapeutic Time Window

Stroke is the leading cause of serious long-term disability in the USA. Recent clinical trials, DAWN and DEFUSE 3, have expanded the endovascular therapeutic time window which has been adopted by the American Heart Association stroke guideline. However, there continues to be a dilemma as to what is the best approach for patients who present beyond the time window set by these trials and the current guideline. The interval from arterial occlusion to completion of brain tissue infarction varies from patient to patient and depends on the actual time and also a physiological clock or a tissue time window. Offering endovascular treatment based solely on a rigid time criterion excludes patients who may have a clinical benefit because of potentially salvageable tissue. We present a case of a patient who underwent successful stroke thrombectomy 6 days after stroke onset.

scholarly journals Support of New Triage Protocol among Acute Stroke Care Providers

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 241-245
Author(s):  
Haitham M. Hussein ◽  
David C. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Medical Service ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Large Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Acute Stroke Care ◽  
Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Triage Protocol ◽  
Almost All

Objective: We conducted an online survey to gauge the acceptance of sending acute stroke patients with suspected large vessel occlusion (LVO) directly to an endovascular-capable hospital (ECH) even if that means bypassing a closer alteplase-capable hospital (ACH) without endovascular capability. Methods: The survey was composed of two cases of acute stroke, one with cortical symptoms suggestive of LVO and the other without. In each case, responders were asked to choose between triaging to a closer ACH or an ECH that is further away and to provide an opinion regarding the maximum extra travel time they would tolerate if they chose the ECH. The survey was sent electronically to national groups of neurologists, emergency department (ED) physicians, emergency medical service (EMS) directors, and stroke coordinators. Results: There were 320 responders from 44 states, most of them with 10 years or more of experience. Most of the responders, 72.5%, chose ECH for the LVO case, while 56% chose ACH for the non-LVO case. There were marked differences in responses by specialty: neurology strongly supported ECH for LVO and strongly supported ACH for non-LVO, most ED and EMS chose ECH for both cases, and stroke coordinators were the least supportive of bypassing ACH. Almost all groups agreed on 30 min as the acceptable extra transfer time to ECH. Conclusion: Among the survey responders, there is a broad acceptance of the idea of bypassing ACH and going straight to ECH when LVO is suspected; however, there is less agreement on triaging patients with non-LVO stroke.

A review of acute ischemic stroke triage protocol evidence: a context for discussion

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1047-1052 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander G Chartrain ◽  
Hazem Shoirah ◽  
Edward C Jauch ◽  
J Mocco
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Endovascular Thrombectomy ◽  
Triage Protocol ◽  
Prehospital Triage ◽  
Clinical Benefits ◽  
Hospital Systems ◽  
The Subject

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is now the standard of care for eligible patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) secondary to emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO). However, there remains uncertainty in how hospital systems can most efficiently route patients with suspected ELVO for EVT treatment. Given the relative geographic distribution of centers with and without endovascular capabilities, the value of prehospital triage directly to centers with the ability to provide EVT remains debated. While there are no randomized trial data available to date, there is substantial evidence in the literature that may offer guidance on the subject. In this review we examine the available data in the context of improving the existing AIS triage systems and discuss how prehospital triage directly to endovascular-capable centers may confer clinical benefits for patients with suspected ELVO.

Abstract TP253: A Novel Prehospital Scale to Predict Candidates for Acute Stroke Thrombectomy : The Fukuoka Acute Stroke ThrombEctomy pRediction (FASTER) Scale

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuichi Miyazaki ◽  
Tomoyuki Tsumoto ◽  
Ryu Matsuo ◽  
Tetsuro Ago ◽  
Masahiro Kamouchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Arterial Occlusion ◽  
Stroke Severity ◽  
Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Discriminative Performance ◽  
Stroke Registry ◽  
Intracranial Vessel ◽  
Promising Tool

Background: We aimed to design a prehospital scale to predict candidates for endovascular thrombectomy (CET) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Materials and methods: In the Fukuoka Stroke Registry, we identified 3,470 patients with AIS who were transferred by emergency medical service within 24 hours of stroke onset and underwent intracranial vessel evaluation on admission from September 2007 to December 2015. CET were defined as patients with causative occlusion of internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery, or basilar artery, and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≥ 6. The Fukuoka Acute Stroke ThrombEctomy pRediction (FASTER) scale was developed with NIHSS items based on the predictive importance derived from random forest analysis to predict CET. The discriminative performance was compared with other published scales for large vessel occlusion. Results: The FASTER scale was designed comprising of 4 NIHSS items : one point each was given for extinction and inattention (NIHSS subscore ≥ 1), best gaze (≥ 1), best language (≥ 1), and motor arm (≥ 2). Receiver operator curves demonstrated that the area under the curve of the FASTER scale was significantly larger than that of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Severity Scale (0.907 vs 0.881, p<0.001), and not significantly different from that of the Rapid Arterial oCclusion Evaluation scale (vs 0.910, p= 0.68). The FASTER scale score ≥2 showed sensitivity of 88.4%, specificity 82.3%, positive predictive value 51.3%, and negative predictive value 97.1% for detecting CET. Conclusion: The FASTER scale is a simple and promising tool that can identify CET in the prehospital setting.

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