Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit and Reperfusion Therapy

Background The Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) is the first Australian service to provide prehospital acute stroke treatment, including thrombolysis and facilitated triage for endovascular thrombectomy. Aims To estimate the cost-effectiveness of the MSU during the first full year of operation compared with standard ambulance and hospital stroke care pathways (standard care). Methods The costs and benefits of the Melbourne MSU were estimated using an economic simulation model. Operational costs and service utilization data were obtained from the MSU financial and patient tracking reports. The health benefits were estimated as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) avoided using local data on reperfusion therapy and estimates from the published literature on their effectiveness. Costs were presented in Australian dollars. The robustness of results was assessed using multivariable (model inputs varied simultaneously: 10,000 Monte Carlo iterations) and various one-way sensitivity analyses. Results In 2018, the MSU was dispatched to 1244 patients during 200 days of operation. Overall, 167 patients were diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke, and 58 received thrombolysis, endovascular thrombectomy, or both. We estimated 27.94 DALYs avoided with earlier access to endovascular thrombectomy (95% confidence interval (CI) 15.30 to 35.93) and 16.90 DALYs avoided with improvements in access to thrombolysis (95% CI 9.05 to 24.68). The MSU was estimated to cost an additional $30,982 per DALY avoided (95% CI $21,142 to $47,517) compared to standard care. Conclusions There is evidence that the introduction of MSU is cost-effective when compared with standard care due to earlier provision of reperfusion therapies.

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Prehospital idarucizumab prior to intravenous thrombolysis in a mobile stroke unit

International Journal of Stroke ◽

10.1177/1747493018790081 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 265-269 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Henry Zhao ◽

Skye Coote ◽

Lauren Pesavento ◽

Brett Jones ◽

Edrich Rodrigues ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stroke Unit ◽

Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽

Inpatient Rehabilitation ◽

Reperfusion Therapy ◽

Ct Scanner ◽

Vessel Occlusion ◽

Prehospital Treatment ◽

Mobile Stroke Unit ◽

Stroke Team

Background Administration of intravenous idarucizumab to reverse dabigatran anticoagulation prior to thrombolysis for patients with acute ischemic stroke has been previously described, but not in the prehospital setting. The speed and predictability of idarucizumab reversal is well suited to prehospital treatment in a mobile stroke unit and allows patients with recent dabigatran intake to access reperfusion therapy. Aims To describe feasibility of prehospital idarucizumab administration prior to thrombolysis on the Melbourne mobile stroke unit. Methods The Melbourne mobile stroke unit is a specialized stroke ambulance servicing central metropolitan Melbourne, Australia and provides prehospital assessment, scanning and treatment with an integrated CT scanner and multidisciplinary stroke team. All cases were identified through the mobile stroke unit treatment registry since launch in November 2017. Results Of a total of n = 20 thrombolysis cases in the first 4 months of operation, three patients (15%) received intravenous idarucizumab 5 g for dabigatran reversal prior to thrombolysis. Mean time between idarucizumab administration and thrombolysis was approximately 10 minutes. Two of the three patients were shown to have large vessel occlusion on CTA in the mobile stroke unit and proceeded to endovascular thrombectomy. At 24 hours, only one patient had a small amount of asymptomatic petechial hemorrhage on follow-up imaging. All patients demonstrated substantial neurological recovery and were discharged to inpatient rehabilitation. Conclusions Rapid treatment with prehospital administration of idarucizumab prior to thrombolysis using a mobile stroke unit is feasible and facilitates hyperacute treatment.

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011 Melbourne mobile stroke unit halves workflow for acute stroke reperfusion therapy

Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry ◽

10.1136/jnnp-2019-anzan.11 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 90 (e7) ◽

pp. A4.3-A5

Author(s):

Henry Zhao ◽

Skye Coote ◽

Francesca Langenberg ◽

Damien Easton ◽

Michael Stephenson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stroke Unit ◽

Reperfusion Therapy ◽

Ct Scanner ◽

Royal Melbourne Hospital ◽

Prehospital Treatment ◽

Endovascular Thrombectomy ◽

Prehospital Thrombolysis ◽

Golden Hour ◽

Mobile Stroke Unit ◽

Historical Controls

BackgroundThe Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) utilises a specialised ambulance with on-board CT scanner and multidisciplinary team to provide on-scene imaging, treatment and triage for central Melbourne, Australia. We describe the operational impact of the MSU on commencement of acute reperfusion therapy.MethodsData from the first 12 months of operation were collected for all patients receiving reperfusion therapy from November 2017. Workflow times were compared to contemporary published Australian data and historical controls from Royal Melbourne Hospital.ResultsIn the first calendar 12 months of operation, the Melbourne MSU operated 30.5 service weeks and provided prehospital thrombolysis (tPA) to n=52 patients (44% of eligible infarcts) and directed n=33 patients for endovascular thrombectomy, of which 48% required bypass from the closest non-thrombectomy hospital. The overall median onset-to-tPA for MSU patients was 97.5 mins compared to the Australian metropolitan median of 150 mins. Thrombolysis in the first ‘golden hour’ increased to 13.5% from 3.3% in-hospital. Median onset-to-groin for MSU patients receiving EVT was 162 mins compared to 234 mins from historical controls.DiscussionPrehospital treatment and triage using the Mobile Stroke Unit in metropolitan Melbourne resulted in substantial improvements in commencement of reperfusion therapy. Workflow times are approximately halved for thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy respectively. Prehospital thrombolysis also allowed a >400% increase in the proportion of treatment in the first ‘golden hour’.

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Abstract 175: Faster Prehospital Workflow in the Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit Halves Onset to Reperfusion Therapy

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.50.suppl_1.175 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Henry Zhao ◽

Skye Coote ◽

Francesca Langenberg ◽

Damien Easton ◽

Lindsay Bent ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stroke Unit ◽

Reperfusion Therapy ◽

Mobile Stroke Unit

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Retrospective Review and Proof of Concept of Asia’s First Mobile Stroke Unit Experience in Kovai Medical Center and Hospital

Journal of Stroke Medicine ◽

10.1177/2516608520968418 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 116-123

Author(s):

Mathew Cherian ◽

Pankaj Mehta ◽

Shriram Varadharajan ◽

Santosh Poyyamozhi ◽

Elango Swamiappan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acute Stroke ◽

Retrospective Review ◽

Stroke Unit ◽

Care Pathway ◽

Clinical Care ◽

Stroke Care ◽

First Year ◽

Proof Of Concept ◽

Mobile Stroke Unit ◽

Clinical Care Pathway

Background: We review our initial experience of India’s and Asia’s first mobile stroke unit (MSU) following the completion of its first year of operation. We outline the clinical care pathway integrating the MSU services using a case example taking readers along our clinical care workflow while highlighting the challenges faced in organizing and optimizing such services in India. Methods: Retrospective review of data collected for all patients from March 2018 to February 2019 transported and treated within the MSU during the first year of its operation. Recent case example is reviewed highlighting complete comprehensive acute clinical care pathway from prehospital MSU services to advanced endovascular treatment with focus on challenges faced in developing nation for stroke care. Results: The MSU was dispatched and utilized for 14 patients with clinical symptoms of acute stroke. These patients were predominantly males (64%) with median age of 59 years. Ischemic stroke was seen in 7 patients, hemorrhagic in 6, and 1 patient was classified as stroke mimic. Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator was administered to 3 patients within MSU. Most of the patients’ treatment was initiated within 2 h of symptom onset and with the median time of patient contact (rendezvous) following stroke being 55 mins. Conclusion: Retrospective review of Asia’s first MSU reveals its proof of concept in India. Although the number of patients availing treatment in MSU is low as compared to elsewhere in the world, increased public awareness with active government support including subsidizing treatment costs could accelerate development of optimal prehospital acute stroke care policy in India.

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The mobile stroke unit and management of acute stroke in rural settings

Canadian Medical Association Journal ◽

10.1503/cmaj.170999 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 190 (28) ◽

pp. E855-E858 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Ashfaq Shuaib ◽

Thomas Jeerakathil

Keyword(s):

Acute Stroke ◽

Stroke Unit ◽

Mobile Stroke Unit ◽

Rural Settings

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Abstract WP72: Early Experience on Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator Delivery in Mobile Stroke Unit Patients with Stroke Mimics

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.48.suppl_1.wp72 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Lila E Sheikhi ◽

Stacey Winners ◽

Pravin George ◽

Andrew Russman ◽

Zeshaun Khawaja ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plasminogen Activator ◽

Tissue Plasminogen Activator ◽

Stroke Unit ◽

Early Experience ◽

Final Diagnosis ◽

Stroke Mimics ◽

Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator ◽

Mobile Stroke Unit ◽

Tissue Plasminogen ◽

Iv Tpa

Background: A mobile stroke unit (MSU) allows for early delivery for intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV-tPA). A proportion of IV-tPA treated patients may turn out to be stroke mimics. We evaluated the rate and complications seen in stroke mimics treated with tPA from our early experience on MSU. Methods: Retrospective review of patients treated with IV-tPA on the MSU from 2014 to 2016. Charts were reviewed for confirmed strokes by imaging (MRI or CT) and hemorrhagic transformation. Stroke mimics were defined as those without imaging evidence of infarction and a final diagnosis which was not suspected to be stroke. Results: Among 62 patients treated with IV-tPA, 14 (28.6%) had a final diagnosis consistent with a stroke mimics. The majority of these occurred in the first year of the MSU program. Most common mimics included conversion disorder (n=5) and seizures (n=5). While the last known well to IV-tPA times were similar, the MSU door-to-needle time was significantly longer in stroke mimics (38 vs 31 minutes, p = 0.03). No intracerebral hemorrhages or other IV-tPA related complications were identified in the stroke mimics group. Conclusions: In our early experience with MSU, treatment of stroke mimics occurred without IV-tPA related complications. This does not appear to be due to rushed decision making.

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Abstract WP339: Validation of the Fast-ed Scale Use by Paramedics in a Mobile Stroke Unit

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.51.suppl_1.wp339 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Diogo C Haussen ◽

Raul G Nogueira ◽

Nirav Bhatt ◽

Carol Flemming ◽

Nicolas Bianchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stroke Unit ◽

Hospital Setting ◽

Final Diagnosis ◽

Large Vessel Occlusion ◽

Vessel Occlusion ◽

Hospital Arrival ◽

Mobile Stroke Unit ◽

Standard Operating ◽

Intravenous Alteplase ◽

Cerebrovascular Imaging

Introduction: FAST-ED scale is a helpful tool to triage stroke patients in the field. However, data on the accuracy of the scale in the pre-hospital setting is lacking. We aim to validate the use of FAST-ED by paramedics in a mobile stroke unit (MSU) covering a metropolis. Methods: As part of standard operating MSU procedures, paramedics clinically evaluated patients. If the event characterized a stroke alert, the FAST-ED score was determined by the paramedic (in-person) upon patient contact, and independently by a vascular neurologist (telemedicine) immediately after the paramedic evaluation. An MSU nurse determined the NIHSS. This will allow testing of the inter-rater agreement of the FAST-ED scoring performance between on-site pre-hospital providers and remotely located vascular neurologists. Results: In the first 13 months of the MSU’s activity 193 stroke-alert patients were evaluated. 103 (53%) patients had a final diagnosis of stroke/TIA (75/28, respectively), 21 (11%) intracranial hemorrhage, and 69 (36%) were considered stroke mimics. 28 (14%) patients received intravenous alteplase. In the first 48 patients, FAST-ED was only scored by the paramedic and in 145 patients by both the physician and paramedic. FAST-ED scores matched perfectly amongst paramedics and physicians in 77 (53%) instances, while there was only 1-point difference in 51 (35%), 2-point difference in 10 (6%) and 3-point difference in two. Correlation between physician and paramedic FAST-ED scores was highly positive (rho 0.898; 2-sided p<0.001), as well as the correlation between physicians FAST-ED score and NIHSS (rho 0.853; 2-sided p<0.001). When the physician recorded FAST-ED score≥3 (n=62), the paramedics also scored FAST-ED≥3 in the vast majority of instances (n=55; 89%). After hospital arrival, cerebrovascular imaging was deemed necessary and performed in 144 patients within 24 hours of arrival. A visible large vessel occlusion was identified in 30 patients; 18 occlusions were identified with a FAST-ED≥3 while 12 were missed (10/12 had NIHSS≤5). Conclusion: The correlation of the FAST-ED scoring between vascular neurologists and paramedics was highly positive, indicating that FAST-ED is accurately and reliably utilized by paramedics in the pre-hospital setting.

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