Are We Overlooking Stroke Chameleons? A Retrospective Study on the Delayed Recognition of Stroke Patients

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 83-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pitcha Chompoopong ◽  
Nassir Rostambeigi ◽  
Darine Kassar ◽  
Alberto Maud ◽  
Ihtesham A. Qureshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Early Recognition ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Neurological Manifestations ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Organ Systems ◽  
Atypical Manifestations ◽  
Delayed Recognition ◽  
Ischemic Attack ◽  
The Impact

Background and Purpose: New effective recanalization therapies are currently available for acute ischemic stroke; yet a vast majority of stroke patients are left untreated. The lack of early recognition may be because often times, stroke patients present with atypical manifestations that resemble other conditions (which are referred to as “stroke chameleons”). We set to study the proportion of patients with delayed stroke recognition in a single center. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected data over a 9-year period. All adult patients discharged with the diagnosis of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) were identified and traced for their diagnosis on admission. Those cases with a diagnosis other than ischemic stroke or TIA on admission were identified as possible stroke chameleons and categorized into different groups according to the occurrence of neurological or non-neurological manifestations at presentation. Results: Of 2,303 cases with discharge diagnosis of ischemic stroke or TIA, 919 (39.9%) were found to be possible stroke chameleons. More than half of these patients (58.4%) presented with neurological manifestations including disorders of the somatic sensation (33%), alteration of consciousness (30%), and disorders of speech/language (11%). The remaining possible stroke chameleons had manifestations pertaining to other organ systems such as cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal, systemic infection, trauma, and thromboembolic events elsewhere. Conclusions: In our cohort, a surprisingly large percentage of possible stroke chameleons was observed. It is important to confirm our findings, study the impact on clinical outcome, and develop strategies for early stroke patient recognition.

scholarly journals Neurological manifestations due to, during and after COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (S1) ◽  
pp. 81-89
Author(s):  
Patil A ◽  
Mohandas S
Keyword(s):  
Early Recognition ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Neurological Complications ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Atypical Pneumonia ◽  
Neurological Manifestations ◽  
Systemic Complications ◽  
Systemic Symptoms ◽  
The Impact

With the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many neurological manifestations have been linked to what began as an outbreak of atypical pneumonia. Like other corona viruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has potential for neurotropism. Viral invasion and likely pathogenecity has been associated with expression of ACE-2 receptors along endothelia and olfactory mucosa. Hyperinflammatory response after systemic infection is in part responsible for the severity and multi-organ dysfunction seen in severe cases. Features like encephalitis, central and peripheral demyelinating disorders, cranial neuropathies, stroke are seen not only in patients with severe illness but at times preceding any systemic symptoms. Neurological disorders are not only part of acute illness phase but also seen in postinfectious phase likely due to immune mediated effect. Also, long term sequelae in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19, either due to systemic complications or direct virus mediated effect are a matter of concern. High suspicion and early recognition of possible presenting features and neurological complications in severely affected patients is key for management. With the rapidity and enormity of ongoing pandemic whether these observations are causal or casual is yet to be determined. Further collaborations for comparisons of observations across the world in necessary to understand the potential impact of COVID-19. Accessing these observations will help in better understanding the agent host and environmental factors determining the expected impact of this pandemic. Reorganizing health care facilities to apt for better handling COVID-19 over time to come will help to mitigate the impact. Keywords: COVID-19; neurological manifestations; encephalitis; stroke; neurotropism

Abstract P850: Four C’s Are Vital in Improving Door to Thrombolytic Administration

Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Betty A McGee ◽  
Melissa Stephenson
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Median Time ◽  
Survival Data ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Administration Time ◽  
System Data ◽  
The Impact

Background and Purpose: Thrombolytic therapy is a key link in the stroke chain of survival. Data suggests that four components are vital in decreasing door to thrombolytic administration in acute stroke patients eligible for treatment. Analysis of system data, pre and post implementation of a Door to Needle Project, afforded the opportunity to assess. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that commitment, collaboration, communication, and consistency (referred to as Four C’s) are vital in improving door to thrombolytic administration time in ischemic stroke patients. Methods: In this quantitative study, we utilized case data collected by a quality improvement team serving five emergency departments within a healthcare system. We retrospectively reviewed times of thrombolytic administration from admission to the emergency department in acute ischemic stroke patients. Cases were included based on eligibility criteria from American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines. Times from 2019 were compared with times through April 2020, before and after implementation of the project, which had multidisciplinary process interventions that reinforced the Four C’s. Results: The data revealed a 13.5 % reduction in median administration time. Cases assessed from 2019 had a median time of 52 minutes from door to thrombolytic administration, 95% CI [47.0, 59.0], n = 52. Cases assessed through April 2020 had a median time of 45 minutes from door to thrombolytic administration, 95% CI [39.0, 57.5], n = 18. Comparing cases through April 2020 to those of 2019, there were improvements of 38.1% fewer cases for administration in greater than 60 minutes and 27.8% fewer cases for administration in greater than 45 minutes. Conclusion: The hypothesis that Four C’s are vital in improving door to thrombolytic administration was validated by a decrease in median administration time as well as a reduction in cases exceeding targeted administration times. The impact to clinical outcomes is significant as improving administration time directly impacts the amount of tissue saved. Ongoing initiatives encompassing the Four C’s, within a Cerebrovascular System of Care, are essential in optimizing outcomes in acute stroke patients.

Abstract TP251: Onset-to-Door Times and Means of Transportation for Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Attending a Public Hospital in Bogota DC, Colombia. Is an Ambulance the Fastest Way to Reach the Hospital?

Stroke ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Vicini-Parra ◽  
Jenny Ospina ◽  
Cristian Correa ◽  
Natalia Gomez ◽  
Stephania Bohorquez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Public Hospital ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
First Year ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Ischemic Attack

Introduction: A prospective stroke database was implemented as part of a still-growing comprehensive stroke centre (CSC). This CSC is located within a referral public hospital (Hospital Occidente de Kennedy) in Bogota DC, Colombia , that serves 2.3 million people of mainly low economic income. In this abstract, we present the data pertaining patients who were thrombolysed in our institution during the first year of data collection, and specify onset-to-door (OTD) times as they relate to the means of transportation used. Hypothesis: Acute stroke patients who arrive in ambulance have the shortest onset-to-door times. Methods: Printed forms were filled for every patient who arrived with diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Data was transcribed to an electronic database (Numbers, Apple Inc.) and analyzed with SPSS Statistics version 23 (IBM Corporation). A retrospective descriptive analysis was performed for central tendency and dispersion measures. Results: Since August 1st 2014 until July 31st 2015, 39 patients (17.7% of AIS patients) were thrombolysed. Mean onset-to-door times are shown in table 1. Prenotification was received for only 1 patient. All patients came from their homes. Conclusions: Almost half of our thrombolysed patients arrived in taxi to our institution. Taxi was the fastest means of transportation, ambulance was the slowest and private cars were in the middle of those. This confirmed our suspicion that the state-owned emergency medical services (SEMD) are suboptimal and that stroke patients prefer to use public transportation rather than SEMD. This should warn public health authorities on he urgent need to improve our SEMD. In the meantime, this finding prompts us to include taxi drivers in our periodic stroke campaigns.

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 1122‐000034: Systematic CT‐Perfusion acquisition in All Suspected Stroke Patients Increases Vascular Occlusion Detection and Thrombectomy Rates

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Olive‐Gadea ◽  
Manuel Requena ◽  
Facundo Diaz ◽  
Alvaro Garcia‐Tornel ◽  
Marta Rubiera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Ct Perfusion ◽  
False Negative ◽  
False Negative Rate ◽  
Vascular Occlusion ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Imaging Protocols ◽  
The Impact

Introduction : In acute ischemic stroke patients, current guidelines recommend noninvasive vascular imaging to identify intracranial vessel occlusions (VO) that may benefit from endovascular treatment (EVT). However, VO can be missed in CT angiography (CTA) readings. We aim to evaluate the impact of consistently including CT perfusion (CTP) in admission stroke imaging protocols on VO diagnosis and EVT rates. Methods : We included patients with a suspected acute ischemic stroke that underwent urgent non‐contrast CT, CTA and CTP from April to October 2020. Hypoperfusion areas defined by Tmax>6s delay (RAPID software), congruent with the clinical symptoms and a vascular territory, were considered due to a VO (CTP‐VO). Cases in which mechanical thrombectomy was performed were defined as therapeutically relevant VO (EVT‐VO). For patients that received EVT, site of VO according to digital subtraction angiography was recorded. Two experienced neuroradiologists blinded to CTP but not to clinical symptoms, retrospectively evaluated NCCT and CTA to identify intracranial VO (CTA‐VO). We analyzed CTA‐VO sensitivity and specificity at detecting CTP‐VO and EVT‐VO respecitvely. We performed a logistic regression to test the association of Tmax>6s volumes with CTA‐VO identification and indication of EVT. Results : Of the 338 patients included in the analysis, 157 (46.5%) presented a CTP‐VO, (median Tmax>6s: 73 [29‐127] ml). CTA‐VO was identified in 83 (24.5%) of the cases. Overall CTA‐VO sensitivity for the detection of CTP‐VO was 50.3% and specificity was 97.8%. Higher hypoperfusion volume was associated with an increased CTA‐VO detection, with an odds ratio of 1.03 (95% confidence interval 1.02‐1.04) (figure). DSA was indicated in 107 patients; in 4 of them no EVT was attempted due to recanalization or a too distal VO in the first angiographic run. EVT was performed in 103 patients (30.5%. Tmax>6s: 102 [63‐160] ml), representing 65.6% of all CTP‐VO. Overall CTA‐VO sensitivity for the detection of EVT‐VO was 69.9%. The CTA‐VO sensitivity for detecting patients with indication of EVT according to clinical guidelines was as follows: 91.7% for ICA occlusions and 84.4% for M1‐MCA occlusions. For all other occlusion sites that received EVT, the CTA‐VO sensitivity was 36.1%. The overall specificity was 95.3%. Among patients who received EVT, CTA‐VO was not detected in 31 cases, resulting in a false negative rate of 30.1%. False negative CTA‐VO cases had lower Tmax>6s volumes (69[46‐99.5] vs 126[84‐169.5]ml, p<0.001) and lower NIHSS (13[8.5‐16] vs 17[14‐21], p<0.001). Conclusions : Systematically including CTP perfusion in the acute stroke admission imaging protocols may increase the diagnosis of VO and rate of EVT.

Barriers to Providing Prehospital Care to Ischemic Stroke Patients: Predictors and Impact on Care

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 501-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timmy Li ◽  
Jeremy T. Cushman ◽  
Manish N. Shah ◽  
Adam G. Kelly ◽  
David Q. Rich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Barriers To Care ◽  
Prehospital Care ◽  
Heart Association ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Publication Type ◽  
Stroke Treatment ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIntroductionIschemic stroke treatment is time-sensitive, and barriers to providing prehospital care encountered by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers have been under-studied.Hypothesis/ProblemThis study described barriers to providing prehospital care, identified predictors of these barriers, and assessed the impact of these barriers on EMS on-scene time and administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in the emergency department (ED).MethodsA retrospective cohort study was performed using the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke (GWTG-S; American Heart Association [AHA]; Dallas, Texas USA) registry at two hospitals to identify ischemic stroke patients arriving by EMS. Variables were abstracted from prehospital and hospital medical records and merged with registry data. Barriers to care were grouped into themes. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of barriers to care, and bi-variate tests were used to assess differences in EMS on-scene time and the proportion of patients receiving tPA between patients with and without barriers.ResultsBarriers to providing prehospital care were documented for 15.5% of patients: 29.6% related to access, 26.7% communication, 23.0% extrication and transportation, 20.0% refusal, and 14.1% assessment/management. Non-white and non-black race (OR: 3.69; 95% CI, 1.63-8.36) and living alone (OR: 1.53; 95% CI, 1.05-2.23) were associated with greater odds of barriers to providing care. The EMS on-scene time was ≥15 minutes for 70.4% of patients who had a barrier to care, compared with 49.0% of patients who did not (P<.001). There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients who were administered tPA between those with and without barriers to care (14.1% vs 19.2%; P=.159).ConclusionsBarriers to providing prehospital care were documented for a sizable proportion of ischemic stroke patients, with the majority related to patient access and communication, and occurred more frequently among non-white and non-black patients and those living alone. Although EMS on-scene time was longer for patients with barriers to care, the proportion of patients receiving tPA in the ED did not differ.LiT, CushmanJT, ShahMN, KellyAG, RichDQ, JonesCMC. Barriers to providing prehospital care to ischemic stroke patients: predictors and impact on care. Prehosp Disaster Med.2018;33(5):501–507.

Abstract WP359: Microembolic Signals Are Associated With Stroke Readmission in Patients With Ischemic Stroke

Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasir Fakhri ◽  
Simin Mahinrad ◽  
Arth Srivastava ◽  
Eric Liotta ◽  
Richard Bernstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Recurrent Stroke ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Entire Cohort ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard ◽  
Stroke Population ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard Models ◽  
Ischemic Attack

Background: Microembolic signals (MES) identified by transcranial Doppler (TCD) are strong predictors of recurrent stroke in patients with carotid disease. In this study, we investigated the association of MES with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke readmission among ischemic stroke patients. Methods: We included a total of 789 patients (mean age 62±17 years, 55% male) who were consecutively admitted to Northwestern Memorial hospital with a diagnosis of stroke. All patients who underwent TCD studies within the first 48 hours of admission were included. Using an electronic database warehouse, patients were followed during 12 months for any hospital readmission due to ischemic stroke or TIA. Risk of stroke readmission was estimated using multivariate Cox proportional hazard models. Results: MES were detected in 95 patients on admission. During 12 months of follow-up, incidence rates for stroke and TIA readmission, and stroke readmission alone were 23.0 and 7.0 per 100 person-years across the entire cohort, respectively. In multivariate adjusted models, patients with MES, as compared to patients without MES, had 1.80-fold (95% CI=1.07, 2.53; p =0.008) higher risk of stroke and TIA readmission, and 2.30-fold (95% CI=1.13, 4.67, p =0.021) higher risk of readmission due to stroke alone. Conclusion: We showed that the presence of MES early after stroke admission is associated with higher risk of stroke and TIA readmission in stroke patients. This not only highlights the importance of identifying MES in the stroke population upon first admission, but also the need to further identify and implement therapeutic strategies to reduce stroke burden and prevent readmission in this high-risk population.

Abstract W P287: Does Comprehensive Stroke Certification Demonstrate a Significant Effect on Volume and Quality of Care?

Stroke ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie Paletz ◽  
Shlee Song ◽  
Nili Steiner ◽  
Betty Robertson ◽  
Nicole Wolber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Joint Commission ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
The Impact

Introduction/Background information: At the onset of acute stroke symptoms, speed, capability, safety and skill are essential-lost minutes can be the difference between full recoveries, poor outcome, or even death. The Joint Commission's Certificate of Distinction for Comprehensive Stroke Centers recognizes centers that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care. While many hospitals have been surveyed, Cedars Sinai was the 5 th hospital in the nation to receive this certification. Researchable question: Does Comprehensive stroke certification (CSC) demonstrate a significant effect on volume and quality of care? Methods: We assembled a cross-functional, multidisciplinary expert team representing all departments and skill sets involved in treating stroke patients. We carefully screened eligible patients with acute ischemic stroke We assessed the number of patients treated at Cedars-Sinai with IV-T-pa t 6 months before and then 6 months after CSC and the quality of their care including medical treatment and door to needle time. Results: In the 6 months prior to Joint Commissions Stroke Certification we treated 20 of 395acute stroke patients with t-PA with an average CT turnaround time of 31±19minutes and an average Door to needle time (DTNT) of 68±32minutes. In the 6 months since Joint Commission Stroke Certification we have increased the number of acute stroke patients treated by almost double. There were 37 out of 489(P=0.02, Chi Square) patients treated with IV t-PA with an average CT turnaround time of 22±7minutes (p=0.08, t-test, compared to pre-CSC) and an average DTNT of 61± 23minutes (not different than pre-CSC). Conclusion: We conclude that Joint Commission Certification for stroke was associated with an increased rate of treatment with IV rt-PA in acute ischemic stroke patients. We were not able to document an effect on quality of care. Further studies of the impact of CSC certification are warranted.

scholarly journals The stroke mothership model survived during COVID-19 era: an observational single-center study in Emilia-Romagna, Italy

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (12) ◽  
pp. 3395-3399
Author(s):  
Andrea Zini ◽  
Michele Romoli ◽  
Mauro Gentile ◽  
Ludovica Migliaccio ◽  
Cosimo Picoco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Treatment Time ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Minor Stroke ◽  
Care Organization ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Stroke Center ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction A reduction of the hospitalization and reperfusion treatments was reported during COVID-19 pandemic. However, high variability in results emerged, potentially due to logistic paradigms adopted. Here, we analyze stroke code admissions, hospitalizations, and stroke belt performance for ischemic stroke patients in the metropolitan Bologna region, comparing temporal trends between 2019 and 2020 to define the impact of COVID-19 on the stroke network. Methods This retrospective observational study included all people admitted at the Bologna Metropolitan Stroke Center in timeframes 1 March 2019–30 April 2019 (cohort-2019) and 1 March 2020–30 April 2020 (cohort-2020). Diagnosis, treatment strategy, and timing were compared between the two cohorts to define temporal trends. Results Overall, 283 patients were admitted to the Stroke Center, with no differences in demographic factors between cohort-2019 and cohort-2020. In cohort-2020, transient ischemic attack (TIA) was significantly less prevalent than 2019 (6.9% vs 14.4%, p = .04). Among 216 ischemic stroke patients, moderate-to-severe stroke was more represented in cohort-2020 (17.8% vs 6.2%, p = .027). Similar proportions of patients underwent reperfusion (45.9% in 2019 vs 53.4% in 2020), although a slight increase in combined treatment was detected (14.4% vs 25.4%, p = .05). Door-to-scan timing was significantly prolonged in 2020 compared with 2019 (28.4 ± 12.6 vs 36.7 ± 14.6, p = .03), although overall timing from stroke to treatment was preserved. Conclusion During COVID-19 pandemic, TIA and minor stroke consistently reduced compared to the same timeframe in 2019. Longer stroke-to-call and door-to-scan times, attributable to change in citizen behavior and screening at hospital arrival, did not impact on stroke-to-treatment time. Mothership model might have minimized the effects of the pandemic on the stroke care organization.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document