scholarly journals Prehospital Unassisted Assessment of Stroke Severity Using Telemedicine

Stroke ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (10) ◽  
pp. 2907-2909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robbert-Jan Van Hooff ◽  
Melissa Cambron ◽  
Rita Van Dyck ◽  
Ann De Smedt ◽  
Maarten Moens ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose— We evaluated the feasibility and the reliability of remote stroke severity quantification in the prehospital setting using the Unassisted TeleStroke Scale (UTSS) via a telestroke ambulance system and a fourth-generation mobile network. Methods— The technical feasibility and the reliability of the UTSS were studied in healthy volunteers mimicking 41 stroke syndromes during ambulance transportation. Results— Except for 1 issue, high-quality telestroke assessment was feasible in all scenarios. The mean examination time for the UTSS was 3.1 minutes (SD, 0.4). The UTSS showed excellent intrarater and interrater variability (ρ=0.98 and 0.97; P <0.001), as well as excellent internal consistency and rater agreement. Adequate concurrent validity can be derived from the strong correlation between the UTSS and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (ρ=0.90; P <0.001). Conclusions— Remote assessment of stroke severity in fast-moving ambulances using a system dedicated to prehospital telemedicine, 4G technology, and the UTSS is feasible and reliable.

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-464
Author(s):  
Sanjith Aaron ◽  
Divyan Pancharatnam ◽  
Amal Al Hashmi

Background: The anterior cerebral artery (ACA) supplies many eloquent areas and can have anatomical variations making ACA strokes clinically and radiologically challenging. This study looks at the clinical and radiological features of isolated acute ACA strokes from a stroke centre in Oman. Methods: A retrospective study conducted over a 2 year period on ACA strokes presenting within 12 hours of symptom onset. TOAST classification was used for aetiology. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were used to assess stroke severity. Fischer’s classification was used for assessing the arterial segments with CT angiogram. Heidelberg Bleeding Classification was used for haemorrhagic conversion. Results: Isolated ACA strokes constituted 25/1180 (2.1 %) of ischemic strokes. Males 15/25 (60%) Mean age was 68.4 years (Range 42 -97 years). Twenty eight percent of patients had earlier strokes. Hemiparesis (68%) was the commonest clinical presentation. Twenty percent had only lower limb weakness. Hypertension 22/25 (88%) followed by diabetes mellitus 12/25 (48%) was the commonest risk factor. The mean NIHSS was 9 (range 3 to 13). In 36% of patients there was progression of stroke. Plain CT Picked the infarct only in 6/24 (25%). Left side involvement in 18/25 (72%) Artery of Hubner was involved in 6/25 (24%); 44% had an embolic aetiology. There was no mortality and at discharge, 11/25 (44%) had mRS3 or less. Conclusions: In acute ACA infarcts a CT scan can miss the diagnosis in 74%. An embolic aetiology has to be considered in any Isolated ACA stroke and the outcome appears to be good.


Author(s):  
Eman M. Khedr ◽  
Mohamed A. Abbass ◽  
Radwa K. Soliman ◽  
Ahmed F. Zaki ◽  
Ayman Gamea

Abstract Background The frequency of dysphagia varies considerably across literature. Post-stroke dysphagia is a common cause of increased morbidity and length of hospitalization. This study aimed to estimate the frequency, risk factors of dysphagia following first-ever ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke and its neuroradiological correlation. Methods Two hundred fifty patients (180 ischemic and 70 hemorrhagic strokes) with first-ever stroke were recruited within 72 h of onset. Detailed history, neurological examination, and computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance were done for each patient. Severity of stroke was evaluated by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Swallowing function was assessed by water swallowing test (WST) and dysphagia outcome severity scale (DOSS). Results Ninety-eight (39.2%) of all stroke patients had dysphagia, 57 (31.7%) of ischemic group, 41 (58.6%) of hemorrhagic group. The mean age of ischemic group with dysphagia was older than ages of non-dysphagic and older than hemorrhagic stroke with dysphagia group. The mean total NIHSS was higher in dysphagic group than non-dysphagic group in both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Dysphagia in ischemic group was highly associated with diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), and atrial fibrillation (AF). Dysphagia was commonly associated with middle cerebral artery (MCA), brainstem, and capsular infarctions as well as with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) with ventricular extension. Stroke severity and lesion size were the main determinant of dysphagia severity. Conclusions The frequency of post-stroke dysphagia is consistent with other studies. Advanced age, DM, HTN, and AF were the main risk factors. MCA, brain stem, capsular infarctions, and ICH with ventricular extension were frequently associated with dysphagia. Stroke severity and lesion size were independent predictors of dysphagia severity.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Petra Sedova ◽  
Robert D. Brown Jr. ◽  
Tomas Bryndziar ◽  
Jiri Jarkovsky ◽  
Ales Tomek ◽  
...  

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> During the COVID-19 pandemic, studies reported less number of hospitalizations for acute stroke and reduction in the use of recanalization treatments. This study analyzes nationwide data on stroke admissions and management in the Czech Republic during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We compared the early COVID-19 pandemic (March–May 2020) with the pre-pandemic period (January–February 2020 and March–May 2019): (a) the National Register of Reimbursed Health Services provided volume of all admissions for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and ischemic stroke (IS), and volume of recanalization treatments (intravenous thrombolysis [IVT] and mechanical thrombectomy [MT]); (b) Registry of Stroke Care Quality provided door-to-needle time (DNT), onset-to-door time (ODT), and stroke severity at admission (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, NIHSS) for IS. <b><i>Results:</i></b> During the pandemic (March–May 2020), the peak number of COVID-19 patients treated in Czech hospitals was 39 per million. In March–May 2020 versus March–May 2019, hospital admissions decreased as follows: stroke overall by 14% (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001), IS by 14% (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001), SAH by 15% (<i>p</i> = 0.07), and ICH by 7% (<i>p</i> = 0.17). The mean age was 74 years versus 74 years (<i>p</i> = 0.33), and 52% versus 51% were men (<i>p</i> = 0.34). The volumes of IVT and MT decreased by 14% (<i>p</i> = 0.001) and 19% (<i>p</i> = 0.01), respectively. The proportions of all IS patients receiving IVT or MT remained unchanged, with, respectively, 17% versus 17% receiving IVT (<i>p</i> = 0.86) and 5% versus 5% receiving MT (<i>p</i> = 0.48). DNT and ODT were 24 versus 25 min (<i>p</i> = 0.58) and 168 versus 156 min (<i>p</i> = 0.23), respectively. NIHSS at admission did not differ (6 vs. 6; <i>p</i> = 0.54). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Even with a low burden of COVID-19 during the first wave and no change in organization and logistics of stroke services, stroke admissions and volume of recanalization treatments decreased. Public health communication campaigns should encourage people to seek emergency medical care for stroke symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Author(s):  
Min Chen ◽  
Dorothea Kronsteiner ◽  
Johannes Pfaff ◽  
Simon Schieber ◽  
Laura Jäger ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Optimal blood pressure (BP) management during endovascular stroke treatment in patients with large-vessel occlusion is not well established. We aimed to investigate associations of BP during different phases of endovascular therapy with reperfusion and functional outcome. Methods We performed a post hoc analysis of a single-center prospective study that evaluated a new simplified procedural sedation standard during endovascular therapy (Keep Evaluating Protocol Simplification in Managing Periinterventional Light Sedation for Endovascular Stroke Treatment). BP during endovascular therapy in patients was managed according to protocol. Data from four different phases (baseline, pre-recanalization, post recanalization, and post intervention) were obtained, and mean BP values, as well as changes in BP between different phases and reductions in systolic BP (SBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) from baseline to pre-recanalization, were used as exposure variables. The main outcome was a modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2 three months after admission. Secondary outcomes were successful reperfusion and change in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score after 24 h. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used for statistical analysis. Results Functional outcomes were analyzed in 139 patients with successful reperfusion (defined as thrombolysis in cerebral infarction grade 2b–3). The mean (standard deviation) age was 76 (10.9) years, the mean (standard deviation) National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 14.3 (7.5), and 70 (43.5%) patients had a left-sided vessel occlusion. Favorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0–2) was less likely with every 10-mm Hg increase in baseline (odds ratio [OR] 0.76, P = 0.04) and pre-recanalization (OR 0.65, P = 0.011) SBP. This was also found for baseline (OR 0.76, P = 0.05) and pre-recanalization MAP (OR 0.66, P = 0.03). The maximum Youden index in a receiver operating characteristics analysis revealed an SBP of 163 mm Hg and MAP of 117 mm Hg as discriminatory thresholds during the pre-recanalization phase to predict functional outcome. Conclusions In our protocol-based setting, intraprocedural pre-recanalization BP reductions during endovascular therapy were not associated with functional outcome. However, higher intraprocedural pre-recanalization SBP and MAP were associated with worse functional outcome. Prospective randomized controlled studies are needed to determine whether BP is a feasible treatment target for the modification of outcomes.


Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ganesh Asaithambi ◽  
Amy L Castle ◽  
Lana J Stein ◽  
Sandra K Hanson ◽  
Jeffrey P Lassig

Background: Recent endovascular stroke studies utilizing primarily stent retrievers have proven clinical benefit among eligible patients. It remains unclear if this benefit is exclusive to stent retrievers. We present the results of a single-center experience for patients undergoing primary aspiration thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: A retrospective analysis of all AIS patients receiving primary aspiration thrombectomy from January 2014 to March 2016 was performed. We assessed stroke severity at admission and discharge as defined by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (NIHSSS), median onset to puncture and onset to recanalization times, location of target vessel treated, rate of concurrent intravenous (IV) alteplase use, and rate of TICI 2b/3 reperfusion. Outcomes adjudicated included rates of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), favorable discharge disposition to home, and 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≤2. Results: During the study period, 121 patients (mean age 68.7±16.5 years, 53.7% women) received primary aspiration thrombectomy for 124 occlusions (26% terminal internal carotid artery, 45% M1, 15% M2, 11% basilar artery, 3% other). Median admission NIHSSS was 19 [11, 22] and improved to 6 [1, 15] upon discharge. Median onset to puncture and onset to recanalization times were 258 [148, 371] and 300 [180, 409] minutes, respectively. The rate of TICI 2b/3 reperfusion was 84.7%, and 52% received adjunctive IV alteplase. Rates of favorable discharge to home was 28.9% and 90-day mRS ≤2 was 39.8%. Only one patient developed sICH. Conclusion: Our single-center experience shows that primary aspiration thrombectomy can yield both favorable angiographic and clinical outcomes with minimal adverse effect.


Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam de Havenon ◽  
Haimei Wang ◽  
Greg Stoddard ◽  
Lee Chung ◽  
Jennifer Majersik

Background: Increased blood pressure variability (BPV) is detrimental in the weeks to months after ischemic stroke, but it has not been adequately studied in the acute phase. We hypothesized that increased BPV in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients would be associated with worse outcome. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed inpatients at our hospital between 2010-2014 with an ICD-9 code of AIS; 213 were confirmed to have AIS by a vascular neurologist. A modified Rankin Score (mRS) after discharge was available in 148/213, at a mean of 86 ± 60 days. In 45/213 the discharge mRS was either 0 or 6, in which case they were included in the final analysis. BPV was measured as the standard deviation (SD) of each patient’s systolic blood pressure readings during the first 24 hours and 5 days of hospitalization (9,844 total readings), or until discharge if discharged in <5 days (Figure 1). The SBP SD was further divided in quartiles. A multivariate ordinal logistic regression with the outcome of mRS, the primary predictor of quartiles of SBP SD, and baseline NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) to control for initial stroke severity. Results: Mean±SD age was 64.2 ± 16.3 years, NIHSS was 12.6 ± 7.9, and mRS was 2.7 ± 2.1. The mean SBP SDs for the first 24 hours and 5 days were 12.1 ± 6.2 mm Hg and 14.1 ± 4.9 mm Hg. In the ordinal logistic regression model, the quartiles of SBP SD for the first 24 hours and 5 days were positively associated with higher mRS (OR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.01 - 1.74, p = 0.009; OR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.03 - 1.63, p = 0.028). This effect became even more pronounced in patients with the highest quartile of variability (OR = 2.76, 95% CI 1.29 - 5.88, p = 0.009; OR = 2.10, 95% CI 1.01 - 4.36, p = 0.046). Conclusion: In our cohort of 193 patients with AIS, there was a significant association between increased systolic BPV and worse functional outcome, after controlling for initial stroke severity. This data suggests that increased BPV may have a harmful effect for AIS patients, which warrants a prospective observational study.


Stroke ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Latisha K Ali ◽  
Sidney Starkman ◽  
Gilda Avila ◽  
Neal M Rao ◽  
Rana Fiaz ◽  
...  

Background: Availability of 4G cellular network and video cellphone handsets may allow mobile videophone assessment to be employed in prehospital stroke care. The California Brief Stroke Scale (CABSS) is a 4 item scale designed as a mobile videophone test to evaluate a prehospital telemedicine instrument to rate stroke severity. Potential uses include identifying patients who are likely harboring persisting large vessel occlusions and to characterize baseline deficits prior to enrollment in prehospital trials. Methods: One bedside and one remote CABSS score were independently obtained on 15 ischemic stroke patients with persistent neurologic deficits. The bedside examination was performed by a stroke neurologist. The remote examination was performed by a second stroke neurologist through mobile video phone. A CABSS score of 1 or higher (scale 0-7) was an index of global stroke deficit severity. Kappa coefficients were calculated for concordance between bedside and remote scores. Results: The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 6 (interquartile range IQR 4-10). On average the CABSS score evaluation took 25 seconds to perform. The median video CABSS was 2, (IQR1-3) and median bedside CABSS was 3, (IQR 1-3). Based on weighted K coefficients, cortical findings (aphasia, gaze deviation/hemineglect) displayed excellent agreement κ=1 (95% CI 1.0) and non-cortical findings (facial droop, arm drift) displayed substantial agreement κ =0.7 (95% CI 0.4-1.0). There was substantial agreement between bedside and remote methods for the total CABSS κ 0.68 (95% CI 0.44-0.92). The CABSS scores obtained by bedside and remote methods were strongly correlated (r= 0.85, P<0.0001). Conclusion: Our prospective study found that mobile videocell phone evaluation using CABSS is a feasible and reliable means of examining hyperacute stroke patients in the field. A physician can rapidly perform an audiovideo examination to increase the accuracy of prehospital identification of patients harboring persisting large vessel occlusions and characterize baseline deficits prior to enrollment in prehospital clinical trials to a clinically important degree.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 374-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania Martignon ◽  
Andrea Cortes ◽  
Soledad Isabel Gómez ◽  
Gina Alejandra Castiblanco ◽  
Ximena Baquero ◽  
...  

Abstract A caries-epidemiological study using the ICDASepi-merged system was conducted in Colombian young children. This study aimed at associating the time needed for the clinical examination of caries and caries risk in 1 to 5-year-old children according to age and caries risk, and to assess behavior and child pain self-perception during examination according to age. After IRB approval and given parents/caregivers’ informed consent, seven trained examiners assessed 1 to 5-year olds in kindergartens under local field conditions. ICDASepi-merged caries experience (depiMEmf) was assessed as follows: Initial-depi (ICDAS 1/2 without air-drying); Moderate-dM (ICDAS 3,4); Extensive-dE (ICDAS 5,6) lesions; due-to-caries fillings-f and missing-m surfaces/teeth. Caries risk was assessed with Cariogram®. Child’s behavior (Frankl-Behavior-Rating-Scale) and self-perceived pain (Visual-Analogue-Scale-of-Faces) during examination were evaluated. Clinical examination time was recorded with a stopwatch. A total of 592 children participated (1-yr.: n=31; 2-yrs.: n=96; 3-yrs.: n=155; 4-yrs.: n=209, 5-yrs.: n=101). The depiMEmfs prevalence was of 79.9% and the mean 8.4±10.4. Most were high-caries-risk children (68.9%). The majority (58.9%) showed ≥ positive-behavior and ≤ light-pain self-perception (88.4%). Mean clinical examination time was around 3.5 minutes (216.9±133.9 seconds). For 5-yr. olds it corresponded to 4 minutes (240.4±145.0 seconds) vs. 2 minutes (122.8±80.1 seconds) for 1-yr. olds (Kruskal-Wallis; p=0.00). For high- and low-caries risk children it was around 4.3 minutes (255.7±118.5 seconds) and 3.3 minutes (201.3±129.4 seconds), respectively (ANOVA; p=0.01). This study demonstrates using the ICDAS system in young children is feasible, taking less than 4 minutes for the clinical examination without children behavior/pain self-perception issues.


Narra J ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rizky Sarengat ◽  
Mohammad S. Islam ◽  
Mohammad S. Ardhi

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused millions of deaths worldwide. Acute ischemic stroke is a life-threatening risk factor for COVID-19 infection. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is one of the predictors of poor prognosis in acute ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between NLR values and the clinical outcome of acute thrombotic stroke patients with COVID-19 that was measured using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted in Dr. Soetomo General Hospital Surabaya, Indonesia. Patients with acute thrombotic stroke and COVID-19 admitted between 1 March 2020 and 31 May 2021 were recruited. The NLR values and the NIHSS scores were assessed during the admission and the correlation between NLR and NIHSS scores was calculated. This study included 21 patients with acute thrombotic stroke and COVID-19, consisting of 12 males and 9 females. The mean age was 57.6 years old. The mean NLR values was 8.33±6.7 and the NIHSS scores ranging from 1 to 33. Our data suggested a positive correlation between NLR values and NIHSS scores, r=0.45 with p=0.041. In conclusion, the NLR value is potentially to be used as a predictor of the clinical outcome in acute thrombotic stroke patients with COVID-19. However, further study is warranted to validate this finding.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guilherme Falcão Mendes ◽  
Caio Eduardo Gonçalves Reis ◽  
Eduardo Yoshio Nakano ◽  
Renata Puppin Zandonadi

The use of extensive questionnaires has the limitation of filling time bias, related to the ability to focus and accurately respond to many items, justifying the necessity for a brief version. This study aimed to build a brief version of the Caffeine Expectancy Questionnaire in Brazil (B-CaffEQ-BR) composed of 21 items divided into seven factors, with as adequate consistency and reproducibility as the full version. Quantitative procedures using statistical modeling were applied using the CaffEQ-BR (full version) database keeping the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) (based on the full version) &lt;0.5 and Cronbach's α and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) ≥0.7. The expert panel (n = 3), in a blind design, evaluated the semantic structuring within the options indicated by previous statistical modeling until the agreement of the expert panel. The participants (n = 62), Brazilian adults who were regular caffeine consumers (175.8 ± 94.4 mg/day), of whom 62.9% were women, 33.1 ± 9.7 years, 24.5 ± 3.8 kg/m2, and 62.9% of whom self-identified as white, were asked to respond twice to the online questionnaire in 48–72 h. The first sample (n = 40) tested interobserver reproducibility with the double application of B-CaffEQ-BR. Another sample (n = 22) answered the CaffEQ-BR (full version) and B-CaffEQ-BR, and the last sample (n = 18) performed the reverse process. The B-CaffEQ-BR presented excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α ≥ 0.729) and overall reproducibility (ICC ≥ 0.915) for the entire questionnaire and its seven factors. The B-CaffEQ-BR can be a valuable tool in caffeine research with the Brazilian adult population.


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