Mobile Stroke Unit Computed Tomography Angiography Substantially Shortens Door-to-Puncture Time

Background and Purpose— Endovascular thrombectomy (ET) door-to-puncture time (DTPT) is a modifiable metric. One of the most important, yet time-consuming steps, is documentation of large vessel occlusion by computed tomography angiography (CTA). We hypothesized that obtaining CTA on board a Mobile Stroke Unit and direct alert of the ET team shortens DTPT by over 30 minutes. Methods— We compared DTPT between patients having CTA onboard the Mobile Stroke Unit then subsequent ET from September 2018 to November 2019 and patients in Mobile Stroke Unit from August 2014 to August 2018, when onboard CTA was not yet being used. We also correlated DTPT with change in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale between baseline and 24 hours. Results— Median DTPT was 53.5 (95% CI, 35–67) minutes shorter with onboard CTA and direct ET team notification: 41 minutes (interquartile range, 30.0–63.5) versus 94.5 minutes (interquartile range, 69.8–117.3; P <0.001). Median on-scene time was 31.5 minutes (interquartile range, 28.8–35.5) versus 27.0 minutes (interquartile range, 23.0–31.0) ( P <0.001). Shorter DTPT correlated with greater improvement of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (correlation=−0.2, P =0.07). Conclusions— Prehospital Mobile Stroke Unit management including on-board CTA and ET team alert substantially shortens DTPT. Registration— URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT02190500.

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Improving the Evaluation of Collateral Circulation by Multiphase Computed Tomography Angiography in Acute Stroke Patients Treated with Endovascular Reperfusion Therapies

Interventional Neurology ◽

10.1159/000448525 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 (3-4) ◽

pp. 209-217 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Alvaro García-Tornel ◽

Vanessa Carvalho ◽

Sandra Boned ◽

Alan Flores ◽

David Rodríguez-Luna ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Acute Stroke ◽

Computed Tomography Angiography ◽

Collateral Circulation ◽

Infarct Volume ◽

National Institutes Of Health ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Endovascular Thrombectomy ◽

The Mean ◽

Mean Time

Good collateral circulation (CC) is associated with favorable outcomes in acute stroke, but the best technique to evaluate collaterals is controversial. Single-phase computed tomography angiography (sCTA) is widely used but lacks temporal resolution. We aim to compare CC evaluation by sCTA and multiphase CTA (mCTA) as predictors of outcome in endovascular treated patients. Methods: Consecutive endovascular treated patients with M1 middle cerebral artery (MCA) or terminal intracranial carotid artery (TICA) occlusion confirmed by sCTA were included. Two more CTA acquisitions with 8- and 16-second delays were performed for mCTA. Endovascular thrombectomy was performed independently of the CC status according to a local protocol [Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score (ASPECTS) >6, modified Rankin scale (mRS) score <3]. CC on sCTA and mCTA were compared. Results: 108 patients were included. Their mean age was 69.6 ± 13 years and their median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 17 (interquartile range 8). 79 (73.1%) had M1 MCA and 29 (26.9%) TICA occlusions. The mean time from symptom onset to CTA was 146.8 ± 96.5 min. On sCTA, 50.9% patients presented good CC vs. 57.5% on mCTA. Good CC status in both sCTA and mCTA had a lower 24-hour infarct volume (27.4 vs. 74.8 cm3 on sCTA, p = 0.04; 17.2 vs. 97.8 cm3 on mCTA, p < 0.01). However, only good CC on mCTA was associated with lower 24-hour (5 vs. 8.5, p = 0.04) and median discharge NIHSS (2 vs. 4.5, p = 0.04) scores and functional independency (mRS score <3) at 3 months (76.9 vs. 23.1%, p < 0.01). In a logistic regression model including age, NIHSS, ASPECTS and recanalization, only age (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.99, p = 0.02) and good CC on mCTA (OR 5, 95% CI 1.99-12.6, p < 0.01) were independent predictors of functional outcome at 3 months. Conclusion: CC evaluation by mCTA is a better prognostic marker than CC evaluation by sCTA for clinical and functional endpoints in acute stroke patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy.

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Abstract 99: Mobile Stroke Unit CTA and Direct Notification of Interventional Team Shortens Door-to-Puncture Time by One Hour

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.51.suppl_1.99 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Alexandra L Czap ◽

Noopur Singh ◽

Ritvij Bowry ◽

Amanda Jagolino-Cole ◽

Stephanie A Parker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stroke Unit ◽

Additional Time ◽

Vessel Occlusion ◽

Endovascular Thrombectomy ◽

Single Center Experience ◽

Standard Management ◽

Mobile Stroke Unit ◽

Comparative Effectiveness Study ◽

Baseline Characteristics ◽

Safety Guidelines

Introduction: Endovascular thrombectomy (ET) is an effective but time sensitive treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Time from Emergency Department (ED) arrival to start of ET (door-to-puncture time, DTPT) is a modifiable metric. One of the most time consuming steps in prolonging DTPT is identification of large vessel occlusion (LVO) by CT angiography (CTA). BEST-MSU is a prospective multicenter comparative effectiveness study of tPA-eligible patients managed on a mobile stroke unit (MSU) vs Emergency Medical Services (Standard Management, SM). After discovering that DTPT was greater than 60 minutes in both groups at three BEST-MSU centers in 2018, we began to routinely obtain CTA on the MSU and directly alert the ET team at receiving hospitals if a LVO was identified. We hypothesized this would shorten DTPT by over 30 minutes. Methods: In this single center experience, we compared the median (interquartile range, IQR) DTPT and MSU on-scene time for MSU patients having on-board CTA and then ET from 9/2018 to 7/2019 to corresponding MSU ET patients (excluding any that had on-board CTA) from 8/2014 to 8/2018. All CTAs were completed after tPA bolus and during tPA infusion on a Ceretom 8 slice scanner with OptiStat hand injector. All imaging occurred on-scene with the MSU stationary. Consent was obtained for all patients and strict radiation safety guidelines followed. Results: 13 consecutive patients having CTA on-board the MSU and then ET were compared to 84 patients in the pre-on-board CTA group. Baseline characteristics including median NIHSS score (20 in both groups) and frequency of tPA (85% on-board CTA vs 89% pre-on-board CTA) were comparable. Median DTPT was 60 minutes shorter with on-board CTA and direct notification of the interventional team from the MSU; 34 minutes (IQR 30-57) vs 94.5 minutes (IQR 69.75-117.25) (p < 0.001). Despite the additional time to obtain the CTA on the MSU, on-scene time was only slightly prolonged and did not offset the reduction in DTPT (on-board CTA 30 minutes (IQR 28-33) vs pre-on-board CTA 27 minutes (IQR 23-31) (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Pre-hospital identification and notification of LVO by a MSU allows a one hour reduction of DTPT, and can be utilized to establish a direct to angiosuite protocol.

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Optimizing Outcome Prediction Scores in Patients Undergoing Endovascular Thrombectomy for Large Vessel Occlusions Using Collateral Grade on Computed Tomography Angiography

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1093/neuros/nyy316 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 85 (3) ◽

pp. 350-358

Author(s):

Chang-Woo Ryu ◽

Byung Moon Kim ◽

Hyug-Gi Kim ◽

Ji Hoe Heo ◽

Hyo Suk Nam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Computed Tomography Angiography ◽

Outcome Prediction ◽

Prediction Models ◽

Large Vessel ◽

Vascular Events ◽

Anterior Circulation ◽

Vessel Occlusion ◽

Endovascular Thrombectomy ◽

Poor Outcomes

Abstract BACKGROUND Although several outcome prediction scores incorporated with pretreatment variables have been developed for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients, there is not currently a prediction score that includes pretreatment imaging that can show salvageable brain tissue. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether addition of the collateral grade on computed tomography angiography to previously published prediction scores could increase accuracy of clinical outcome prediction in endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for AIS. METHODS This study used a retrospective multicenter registry for patients undergoing EVT for anterior circulation large vessel occlusion. Three previously published outcome prediction scores (Houston intra-arterial therapy 2, HIAT2; totaled health risks in vascular events, THRIVE; and Pittsburgh response to endovascular therapy, PRE scores) were tested in this study. Using 482 deprivation cohorts, areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC-ROCs) were compared between prediction scores with/without collateral grades in predicting the poor outcomes (modified Rankin Scale 4-6 at 3-mo follow-up) after EVT. We developed modified prediction scores by adding the collateral grade, and their advancement of outcome prediction was validated using 208 independent validation cohorts. RESULTS AUC-ROCs of HIAT2, THRIVE, and PRE scores that incorporated with collateral grade were superior in predicting poor outcomes when compared to that of the unmodified scores (P < 0.001). In modified prediction models, 3, 3, and 10 points were added for poor collateral grade to HIAT2, THRIVE, and PRE score. Modified models outperformed unmodified models in testing of the validation cohorts (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The addition of the collateral grade to outcome prediction scores resulted in better prediction of poor outcome after EVT for AIS compared to the prediction scores alone.

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Abstract WP294: In Search of Greater Efficiencies: Implementation of Computed Tomography Angiography in a Telestroke Network Improves Triage for Both Primary and Comprehensive Stroke Centers

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.51.suppl_1.wp294 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Andrew T Yu ◽

Robert W Regenhardt ◽

Cynthia Whitney ◽

Lee Schwamm ◽

Anand Viswanathan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Computed Tomography Angiography ◽

System Of Care ◽

Categorical Variables ◽

Continuous Variables ◽

Large Vessel Occlusion ◽

Vessel Occlusion ◽

Endovascular Thrombectomy ◽

The Impact ◽

Repeat Imaging

Introduction: Telestroke (TS) networks provide an important function in community hospitals by supporting thrombolytic use and screening for patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) who may be eligible for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). The expansion of treatment to 24 hours from last known well has dramatically increased the pool of patients to screen. Idealized triage processes within TS networks remain uncertain. We sought to characterize the impact of the implementation of a routine spoke hospital (SH) CTA protocol in our integrated TS network. Methods: We introduced protocol-driven CTA process at 25 SH in November 2017. We retrospectively identified patients who presented to a SH with an NIHSS ≥ 6 between 3/1/2016-3/1/2017 (pre-CTA) and 3/1/2018-3/1/2019 (post-CTA). We characterized baseline demographics, transfer patterns, and rates of CTA utilization, LVO, and EVT. Differences were assessed using Wilcoxon rank-sum for continuous variables and χ2 tests for categorical variables. Results: There were 167 patients pre-CTA and 207 post-CTA. The rate of CTA at SHs increased from 13% to 70% (p<0.001). Despite increased screening of patients >4.5 hr from last known well time, the rates of transfer out of SHs did not increase (56% vs 54%, p=0.83). The rate of transfer to our CSC for EVT increased non-significantly (26% vs 35%, p=0.12) but the proportion of patients transferred >4.5 hr increased ~5-fold (7% vs 34%, p<0.001) with a decrease in need for repeat imaging at our CSC (94% vs 66%, p<0.001). The overall rate of EVT performed on patients transferred for possible EVT more than doubled (22% to 47%, p=0.011). Conclusions: Implementation of a CTA protocol at SHs in our TS network was feasible, and effective in improving the efficiency of interhospital triage of candidates for EVT. In the era of late-window EVT, introducing CTA into PSC enhances the stroke system of care and keeps care local whenever possible. Replication of these findings in other TS networks is needed.

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Penumbra Consumption Rates Based on Time-to-Maximum Delay and Reperfusion Status: A Post Hoc Analysis of the DEFUSE 3 Trial

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.120.033806 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shadi Yaghi ◽

Eytan Raz ◽

Seena Dehkharghani ◽

Howard Riina ◽

Ryan McTaggart ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Infarct Volume ◽

Interquartile Range ◽

Large Vessel ◽

Large Vessel Occlusion ◽

Vessel Occlusion ◽

Endovascular Thrombectomy ◽

Post Hoc Analysis ◽

Consumption Rates ◽

Post Hoc

Background and Purpose: In patients with acute large vessel occlusion, the natural history of penumbral tissue based on perfusion time-to-maximum (T max ) delay is not well established in relation to late-window endovascular thrombectomy. In this study, we sought to evaluate penumbra consumption rates for T max delays in patients with large vessel occlusion evaluated between 6 and 16 hours from last known normal. Methods: This is a post hoc analysis of the DEFUSE 3 trial (The Endovascular Therapy Following Imaging Evaluation for Ischemic Stroke), which included patients with an acute ischemic stroke due to anterior circulation occlusion within 6 to 16 hours of last known normal. The primary outcome is percentage penumbra consumption, defined as (24-hour magnetic resonance imaging infarct volume–baseline core infarct volume)/(T max 6 or 10 s volume–baseline core volume). We stratified the cohort into 4 categories based on treatment modality and Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI score; untreated, TICI 0-2a, TICI 2b, and TICI3) and calculated penumbral consumption rates in each category. Results: We included 141 patients, among whom 68 were untreated. In the untreated versus TICI 3 patients, a median (interquartile range) of 53.7% (21.2%–87.7%) versus 5.3% (1.1%–14.6%) of penumbral tissue was consumed based on T max >6 s ( P <0.001). In the same comparison for T max >10 s, we saw a difference of 165.4% (interquartile range, 56.1%–479.8%) versus 25.7% (interquartile range, 3.2%–72.1%; P <0.001). Significant differences were not demonstrated between untreated and TICI 0-2a patients for penumbral consumption based on T max >6 s ( P =0.52) or T max >10 s ( P =0.92). Conclusions: Among extended window endovascular thrombectomy patients, T max >10-s mismatch volume may comprise large volumes of salvageable tissue, whereas nearly half the T max >6-s mismatch volume may remain viable in untreated patients at 24 hours.

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Mobile Interventional Stroke Teams Improve Outcomes in the Early Time Window for Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.121.034222 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jacob R. Morey ◽

Xiangnan Zhang ◽

Naoum Fares Marayati ◽

Stavros Matsoukas ◽

Emily Fiano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Scale Score ◽

Time Window ◽

Early Time ◽

National Institutes Of Health ◽

Large Vessel ◽

Late Time ◽

Modified Rankin Scale ◽

Large Vessel Occlusion ◽

Vessel Occlusion ◽

Endovascular Thrombectomy

Background and Purpose: Endovascular thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion stroke is a time-sensitive intervention. The use of a Mobile Interventional Stroke Team (MIST) traveling to Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Centers to perform endovascular thrombectomy has been shown to be significantly faster with improved discharge outcomes, as compared with the drip-and-ship (DS) model. The effect of the MIST model stratified by time of presentation has yet to be studied. We hypothesize that patients who present in the early window (last known well of ≤6 hours) will have better clinical outcomes in the MIST model. Methods: The NYC MIST Trial and a prospectively collected stroke database were assessed for patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy from January 2017 to February 2020. Patients presenting in early and late time windows were analyzed separately. The primary end point was the proportion with a good outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2) at 90 days. Secondary end points included discharge National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and modified Rankin Scale. Results: Among 561 cases, 226 patients fit inclusion criteria and were categorized into MIST and DS cohorts. Exclusion criteria included a baseline modified Rankin Scale score of >2, inpatient status, or fluctuating exams. In the early window, 54% (40/74) had a good 90-day outcome in the MIST model, as compared with 28% (24/86) in the DS model ( P <0.01). In the late window, outcomes were similar (35% versus 41%; P =0.77). The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at discharge was 5.0 and 12.0 in the early window ( P <0.01) and 5.0 and 11.0 in the late window ( P =0.11) in the MIST and DS models, respectively. The early window discharge modified Rankin Scale was significantly better in the MIST model ( P <0.01) and similar in the late window ( P =0.41). Conclusions: The MIST model in the early time window results in better 90-day outcomes compared with the DS model. This may be due to the MIST capturing high-risk fast progressors at an earlier time point. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT03048292.

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Stroke Care During the First and the Second Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Community Hospital

Frontiers in Neurology ◽

10.3389/fneur.2021.655434 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Piotr Sobolewski ◽

Wiktor Szczuchniak ◽

Danuta Grzesiak-Witek ◽

Jacek Wilczyński ◽

Karol Paciura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Retrospective Study ◽

Stroke Unit ◽

Community Hospital ◽

Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽

Stroke Care ◽

Large Vessel Occlusion ◽

Vessel Occlusion ◽

Endovascular Thrombectomy ◽

Staff Members ◽

Second Wave

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection may alter a stroke course; thus, we compared stroke course during subsequent pandemic waves in a stroke unit (SU) from a hospital located in a rural area.Methods: A retrospective study included all patients consecutively admitted to the SU between March 15 and May 31, 2020 (“first wave”), and between September 15 and November 30, 2020 (“second wave”). We compared demographic and clinical data, treatments, and outcomes of patients between the first and the second waves of the pandemic and between subjects with and without COVID-19.Results: During the “first wave,” 1.4% of 71 patients were hospitalized due to stroke/TIA, and 41.8% of 91 during the “second wave” were infected with SARS-CoV-2 (p < 0.001). During the “second wave,” more SU staff members were infected with COVID-19 than during the “first wave” (45.6 vs. 8.7%, p < 0.001). Nevertheless, more patients underwent intravenous thrombolysis (26.4 vs. 9.9%, p < 0.008) and endovascular thrombectomy (5.3 vs. 0.0%, p < 0.001) during the second than the first wave. Large vessel occlusion (LVO) (OR 8.74; 95% CI 1.60–47.82; p = 0.012) and higher 30-day mortality (OR 6.01; 95% CI 1.04–34.78; p = 0.045) were associated with patients infected with COVID-19. No differences regarding proportions between ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes and TIAs between both waves or subgroups with and without COVID-19 existed.Conclusion: Despite the greater COVID-19 infection rate among both SU patients and staff during the “second wave” of the pandemic, a higher percentage of reperfusion procedures has been performed then. COVID-19 infection was associated with a higher rate of the LVO and 30-day mortality.

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Comparing the Prognostic Impact of Age and Baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale in Acute Stroke due to Large Vessel Occlusion

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.120.032364 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Johanna Maria Ospel ◽

Scott Brown ◽

Manon Kappelhof ◽

Wim van Zwam ◽

Tudor Jovin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Effect Size ◽

Interquartile Range ◽

National Institutes Of Health ◽

Large Vessel ◽

Prognostic Impact ◽

Large Vessel Occlusion ◽

Vessel Occlusion ◽

Good Outcome ◽

The Impact ◽

Size Estimates

Background and Purpose: Little is known about the combined effect of age and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) in endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion, and it is not clear how the effects of baseline age and NIHSS on outcome compare to each other. The previously described Stroke Prognostication Using Age and NIHSS (SPAN) index adds up NIHSS and age to a 1:1 combined prognostic index. We added a weighting factor to the NIHSS/age SPAN index to compare the relative prognostic impact of NIHSS and age and assessed EVT effect based on weighted age and NIHSS. Methods: We performed adjusted logistic regression with good outcome (90-day modified Rankin Scale score 0–2) as primary outcome. From this model, the coefficients for NIHSS and age were obtained. The ratio between the NIHSS and age coefficients was calculated to determine a weighted SPAN index. We obtained adjusted effect size estimates for EVT in patient subgroups defined by weighted SPAN increments of 3, to evaluate potential changes in treatment effect. Results: We included 1750/1766 patients from the HERMES collaboration (Highly Effective Reperfusion Using Multiple Endovascular Devices) with available age and NIHSS data. Median NIHSS was 17 (interquartile range, 13–21), and median age was 68 (interquartile range, 57–76). Good outcome was achieved by 682/1743 (39%) patients. The NIHSS/age effect coefficient ratio was ([−0.0032]/[−0.111])=3.4, which was rounded to 3, resulting in a weighted SPAN index defined as ([3×NIHSS]+age). Cumulative EVT effect size estimates across weighted SPAN subgroups consistently favored EVT, with a number needed to treat ranging from 5.3 to 8.7. Conclusions: The impact on chance of good outcome of a 1-point increase in NIHSS roughly corresponded to a 3-year increase in patient age. EVT was beneficial across all weighted age/NIHSS subgroups.

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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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European Multicenter Study of ET-COVID-19

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.120.031514 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

pp. 31-39

Author(s):

Federico Cagnazzo ◽

Michel Piotin ◽

Simon Escalard ◽

Benjamin Maier ◽

Marc Ribo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Cerebral Infarction ◽

Lymphocyte Count ◽

Interquartile Range ◽

National Institutes Of Health ◽

Large Vessel ◽

Large Vessel Occlusion ◽

Vessel Occlusion ◽

Neurological Improvement ◽

Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage

Background and Purpose: Acute ischemic stroke and large vessel occlusion can be concurrent with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for large vessel occlusion in patients with COVID-19 are substantially unknown. Our aim was to study early outcomes after MT in patients with COVID-19. Methods: Multicenter, European, cohort study involving 34 stroke centers in France, Italy, Spain, and Belgium. Data were collected between March 1, 2020 and May 5, 2020. Consecutive laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases with large vessel occlusion, who were treated with MT, were included. Primary investigated outcome: 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes: early neurological improvement (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale improvement ≥8 points or 24 hours National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale 0–1), successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction grade ≥2b), and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Results: We evaluated 93 patients with COVID-19 with large vessel occlusion who underwent MT (median age, 71 years [interquartile range, 59–79]; 63 men [67.7%]). Median pretreatment National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score were 17 (interquartile range, 11–21) and 8 (interquartile range, 7–9), respectively. Anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke represented 93.5% of cases. The rate modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2b to 3 was 79.6% (74 patients [95% CI, 71.3–87.8]). Thirty-day mortality was 29% (27 patients [95% CI, 20–39.4]). Early neurological improvement was 19.5% (17 patients [95% CI, 11.8–29.5]), and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was 5.4% (5 patients [95% CI, 1.7–12.1]). Patients who died at 30 days exhibited significantly lower lymphocyte count, higher levels of aspartate, and LDH (lactate dehydrogenase). After adjustment for age, initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score, and successful reperfusion, these biological markers remained associated with increased odds of 30-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio of 2.70 [95% CI, 1.21–5.98] per SD-log decrease in lymphocyte count, 2.66 [95% CI, 1.22–5.77] per SD-log increase in aspartate, and 4.30 [95% CI, 1.43–12.91] per SD-log increase in LDH). Conclusions: The 29% rate of 30-day mortality after MT among patients with COVID-19 is not negligible. Abnormalities of lymphocyte count, LDH and aspartate may depict a patient’s profiles with poorer outcomes after MT. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT04406090.

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