DOOR-TO-NEEDLE TIME AND THE FACTORS IMPEDING THROMBOLYSIS OF ACUTE STROKE PATIENTS AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTER IN INDIA

2021 ◽  
pp. 10-12
Author(s):  
Darpan Sohni

Background: Intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke is time-sensitive with a narrow window period for treatment initiation. The recommended Door-to-needle (DTN) time of <60 minutes is seldom achieved in Indian centers. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the DTN time at our hospital and identify the factors that limit thrombolysis of acute stroke patients. Materials and Methods: All patients that presented with signs of stroke from September to December 2019 were studied. Patient's demographics, details of symptoms, time of symptom onset, and contraindications to thrombolysis were recorded. The Symptom-to-Door, Doorto-Physician, Door-to-Imaging and Door-to-Needle times were calculated from key temporal data. The factors that inuenced the DTN time were also recorded. Results: Out of the 241 patients that presented with symptoms of stroke, 43 (17.8%) were within the window period. Nine patients were thrombolysed and among these, one (11.1%) was started on rt-PA within 1 hour of arrival. The mean DTN time was 112 minutes (median - 102 minutes). Conclusion: The DTN time in this study was much higher than what is recommended. The major factors that impede thrombolysis are: ignorance among the public, lack of a proper triage system at various levels, and lack of a dedicated stroke protocol/team.

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 265-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sushma Gurav ◽  
Kapil G. Zirpe ◽  
R. S. Wadia ◽  
Manishprasad K. Pathak ◽  
Abhijeet M. Deshmukh ◽  
...  

Stroke ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy D Papesh ◽  
James Gebel

Background: The Cleveland Clinic Health System (CCHS) consists of a large tertiary care center and 10 regional hospitals. It is organized both clinically and administratively into multispecialty organ based Institutes rather than departments. The CCHS re-introduced a regional initiative to standardize stroke care in 2008. Medina Hospital is a 118-bed community hospital in rural North-eastern Ohio, where there is a high stroke burden and previously minimal IV tPA use. Medina Hospital joined the CCHS Stroke Network in November 2009. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that after joining the formally organized stroke CCHS system of care, the proportion of stroke patients receiving IV tPA and the timeliness of administration of acute thrombolytic therapy would both significantly increase. Methods: Data was analyzed from our prospective participation in the Get with the Guidelines-Stroke and the Ohio Coverdell Stroke Registries. Baseline data regarding quality, outcomes and stroke performance measures were reviewed. CCHS initially supported acute stroke care in early 2010 with a telemedicine cart and then introduced 24/7 emergency, on-site, CCHS neurologist, acute stroke call coverage in late 2010. Standardized CCHS stroke care pathways and order sets were also introduced in 2010. The proportion of stroke patients treated with IV tPA in 2010 and 2011 (post- joining CCHS) was compared to 2009 (2-sided Fisher’s exact test), and door-to-needle times were compared from 2010 to 2011 (unpaired t-test). Results: IV tPA treatment utilization increased from 0/69 patients (0%) in 2009 to 9/67 patients (11.8%) in 2010 [exact p=.0033] and 11/46 (19.3%) in the first 7 months of 2011 [exact p=.0001]. Door-to-needle times improved from a mean of 81.4 (95%CI 66.4 to 96.4) minutes in 2010 to 61.7 (95% CI 52.7 to 70.8) minutes in 2011 (p=.0158). Conclusions: Participation in an organized formal collaborative regional hospital stroke treatment network resulted in dramatic improvements from zero IV tPA utilization to greatly exceeding the national benchmark averages for both percentage treatment with IV tPA and door-to-needle time in a rural area where patients previously had minimal access to acute stroke expertise.


Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia M Zha ◽  
Bhargav Tippinayani ◽  
Jaskaren Randhawa ◽  
Nicole J Pariseau ◽  
Farhaan S Vahidy ◽  
...  

Background: Animal models have demonstrated the deleterious contribution that immunocytes from the spleen exert on secondary brain injury after stroke. While previous work has demonstrated that there is splenic contraction (SC) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), no clinical studies have connected the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) with SC. We aim to associate SIRS and its individual components with SC in acute stroke Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of a previous prospective observational study where daily spleen sizes were evaluated in 178 acute stroke patients in a tertiary care center from 2010-2013. Spleen contraction was defined compared to previously established normograms of healthy volunteers from the same study. SIRS was defined as the presence of 2 or more of the following: body temperature <36 or >38C, heart rate >90 beats, respiratory rate >20, and serum white blood cell count >12,000 or <4000 mm3 in the absence of infection. SC was evaluated in patients at 24 and 72 hrs after AIS with SIRS as a primary outcome. Results: 91 patients had verified AIS without concurrent infection at admission and 70 of these patients remained inpatient at 72 hrs. SIRS was not associated with admission SC at 24hr and 72 hrs. Patients with SIRS at 24 and 72 hrs were more likely to have higher admission NIHSS. SIRS was associated with higher discharge mRS (OR 4.24, 95% CI 1.64-10.9, p=0.0028) and PEG placement (OR 3.70, 95% CI 0.95-15.11, p=0.05). 16 patients (22.9%) developed SIRS by 72hrs, only 5 of whom had SC initially. 28 patients (47%) had SIRS on admission that persisted, 12 of whom had SC. SC was not associated with SIRS at 72 hrs (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.35-2.79, p = 0.92). 14 patients (15%) developed infections while hospitalized, of which 85% had SIRS on admission. Conclusion: Based on our initial evaluation, SC detected within 24 hrs of stroke onset is not associated with SIRS suggesting that the relationship between the two may be more complicated in humans. Consistent with prior studies, however, SIRS is associated with worse outcome. Further studies and additional time points are necessary to further clarify the role of the spleen in the development of SIRS in stroke patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (02) ◽  
pp. 283-293
Author(s):  
Adabala Vijaya Durga ◽  
Sandhya Manorenj

ABSTRACT Background and Objective: Diet plays a crucial role in the occurrence of stroke. But very few studies have so far been conducted with focus on this aspect of acute stroke in India. The objective of the study was to identify the dietary pattern in patients with acute stroke in South India. Materials and Methods: Patients with first-ever acute stroke (ischemic and hemorrhagic) admitted between June 2017 and November 2017 were enrolled and compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Information was collected using a pro forma. Results: Out of 293 acute stroke patients, 150 were enrolled and compared with 150 controls. The mean age was 52.3 ± 12.6; years 112 (74.6%) patients were male. The majority of them were on traditional diet that included a daily intake of rice (98.6%) and pulses (40.6%). Hypertension (73.3%) was the major vascular risk factor for stroke (P < 0.0001). Significant differences were observed in risk factors such as diabetes (P < 0.0001), smoking (P = 0.0001), alcohol use (P = 0.0017), and heart disease (P = 0.0002), when stroke patients were compared with controls. Stroke patients reported a lower intake of green leafy vegetables (P = 0.0001; odds ratio [OR] 0.17), roots and tubers (P = 0.0016; OR 0.21), and fruits (P = 0.0022; OR 0.29). There was at the same time a higher intake of red meat products (P = 0.04; OR 2.41), organ meats (P = 0.0093; OR 4.35), fried snacks (P = 0.0038; OR 2.01), and pickles (P = 0.04; OR 1.81) although the data suggested lesser consumption of prawn and crab (P = 0.04; OR 0.55) and water (P = 0.0001 OR 4.59) among stroke patients. Higher consumption of fruit juices (P = 0.0008) and junk foods (P = 0.03) was observed in young stroke patients (age ≤45 years) whereas the intake of chicken (P = 0.03) and alcohol (P = 0.0001) was observed to be more among men than among women. Conclusion: Majority of stroke-afflicted patients in South India consume white rice and dal. There is lower intake of water, green leafy vegetables, and fruits and higher consumption of red meat, organ meat, and pickles among stroke patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahesh P. Kate ◽  
Thomas Jeerakathil ◽  
Brian H. Buck ◽  
Khurshid Khan ◽  
Ali Zohair Nomani ◽  
...  

AbstractMobile Stroke Unit (MSU) expedites the delivery of intravenous thrombolysis in acute stroke patients. We further evaluated the functional outcome of patients shipped to a tertiary care centre or repatriated to local hospitals after triage by MSU in acute stroke syndrome in rural northern Alberta. Consecutive patients with suspected acute stroke syndrome were included. On the basis of neurology consultation and, Computed Tomography findings, patients, who were thrombolysed or needed advanced care were transported to the Comprehensive stroke center (CSC) (Triage to CSC group). Other patients were repatriated to local hospital care (Triage to LHC group). A total of 156 patients were assessed in MSU, 73 (46.8%) were female and the mean age was 66.6 ± 15 years. One hundred and eight (69.2%) patients, including 41 (26.3%) treated with thrombolysis were transported to the CSC (Triage to CSC group) and 48 (30.8%) were repatriated to local hospital care. The diagnosis made in MSU and final diagnosis were matching in 88% (95) and 91.7% (44, p = 0.39) in Triage to CSC and Triage to LHC groups respectively. Prehospital triage by MSU of acute stroke syndrome can reliably repatriate patients to the home hospital. The proposed model has the potential to triage patients according to their medical needs by enabling treatment in home hospitals whenever reasonable.


2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Edmiaston ◽  
Lisa Tabor Connor ◽  
Lynda Loehr ◽  
Abdullah Nassief

Background Although many dysphagia screening tools exist, none has high sensitivity and reliability or can be administered quickly with minimal training. Objective To design and validate a swallowing screening tool to be used by health care professionals who are not speech language pathologists to identify dysphagia and aspiration risk in acute stroke patients. Methods In a prospective study of 300 patients admitted to the stroke service at an urban tertiary care hospital, interrater and test-retest reliabilities of a new tool (the Acute Stroke Dysphagia Screen) were established. The tool was administered by nursing staff when patients were admitted to the stroke unit. A speech language pathologist blinded to the results with the new tool administered the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability, a clinical bedside evaluation, with dysphagia operationally defined by a score less than 178. Results The mean time from admission to screening with the new tool was 8 hours. The mean time between administration of the new tool and the clinical bedside evaluation was 32 hours. For the new tool, interrater reliability was 93.6% and test-retest reliability was 92.5%. The new tool had a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 74% for detecting dysphagia and a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 68% for detecting aspiration risk. Conclusions The Acute Stroke Dysphagia Screen is an easily administered and reliable tool that has sufficient sensitivity to detect both dysphagia and aspiration risk in acute stroke patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jil Kauffmann ◽  
Daniel Grün ◽  
Umut Yilmaz ◽  
Gudrun Wagenpfeil ◽  
Klaus Faßbender ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Stroke is among the most common causes of death and disability worldwide. Despite the relevance of stroke-related disease burden, which is constantly increasing due to the demographic change in industrialized countries with an ageing population and consecutively an increase in age-associated diseases, there is sparse evidence concerning acute stroke treatment and treatment-related outcome in the elderly patient group. This retrospective study aimed at analysing patient characteristics, therapy-related complications and functional outcome in stroke patients aged 90 years or older who underwent acute stroke treatment (i.e. intravenous thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy, or both). Methods We identified files of all inpatient stays at the Department of Neurology at Saarland University Medical Center (tertiary care level with a comprehensive stroke unit) between June 2011 and December 2018 and filtered for subjects aged 90 years or older at the time of admission. We reviewed patient files for demographic data, symptoms upon admission, (main) diagnoses, comorbidities, and administered therapies. For patients admitted due to acute stroke we reviewed files for therapy-related complications and functional outcome. We compared the modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores upon admission and at discharge for these patients. Results We identified 566 inpatient stays of subjects aged 90 years or older. Three hundred sixty-seven of the 566 patients (64.8%) were admitted and discharged due to symptoms indicative of stroke. Two hundred eleven patients received a diagnosis of ischaemic stroke. These 211 patients were analysed subsequently. Sixty-four patients qualified for acute stroke treatment (intravenous thrombolysis n = 22, mechanical thrombectomy n = 26, intravenous thrombolysis followed by mechanical thrombectomy n = 16) and showed a significant improvement in their functional status as measured by change in mRS score (admission vs. discharge, p 0.001) with 7 (10.9%) observed potentially therapy-related complications (relevant drop in haemoglobin n = 2, subarachnoidal haemorrhage n = 1, cerebral haemorrhage n = 3, extracranial bleeding n = 1). One intravenous thrombolysis was stopped because of an uncontrollable hypertensive crisis. Patients who did not qualify for these treatments (including those declining acute treatment) did not show a change of their functional status between admission and discharge (p 0.064). Conclusion Our data indicate that acute stroke treatment is effective and safe in the oldest old. Age alone is no criterion to withhold an acute intervention even in oldest old stroke patients.


Author(s):  
Juha-Pekka Pienimäki ◽  
Jyrki Ollikainen ◽  
Niko Sillanpää ◽  
Sara Protto

Abstract Purpose Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is the first-line treatment in acute stroke patients presenting with large vessel occlusion (LVO). The efficacy of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) prior to MT is being contested. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of MT without IVT in patients with no contraindications to IVT presenting directly to a tertiary stroke center with acute anterior circulation LVO. Materials and Methods We collected the data of 106 acute stroke patients who underwent MT in a single high-volume stroke center. Patients with anterior circulation LVO eligible for IVT and directly admitted to our institution who subsequently underwent MT were included. We recorded baseline clinical, laboratory, procedural, and imaging variables and technical, imaging, and clinical outcomes. The effect of intravenous thrombolysis on 3-month clinical outcome (mRS) was analyzed with univariate tests and binary and ordinal logistic regression analysis. Results Fifty-eight out of the 106 patients received IVT + MT. These patients had 2.6-fold higher odds of poorer clinical outcome in mRS shift analysis (p = 0.01) compared to MT-only patients who had excellent 3-month clinical outcome (mRS 0–1) three times more often (p = 0.009). There were no significant differences between the groups in process times, mTICI, or number of hemorrhagic complications. A trend of less distal embolization and higher number of device passes was observed among the MT-only patients. Conclusions MT without prior IVT was associated with an improved overall three-month clinical outcome in acute anterior circulation LVO patients.


BMC Surgery ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Shabhay ◽  
Pius Horumpende ◽  
Zarina Shabhay ◽  
Andrew Mganga ◽  
Jeff Van Baal ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Diabetic foot ulcers complications are the major cause of non-traumatic major limb amputation. We aimed at assessing the clinical profiles of diabetic foot ulcer patients undergoing major limb amputation in the Surgical Department at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), a tertiary care hospital in North-eastern Tanzania. Methods A cross—sectional hospital-based study was conducted from September 2018 through March 2019. Demographic data were obtained from structured questionnaires. Diabetic foot ulcers were graded according to the Meggitt-Wagner classification system. Hemoglobin and random blood glucose levels data were retrieved from patients’ files. Results A total of 60 patients were recruited in the study. More than half (31/60; 51.67%) were amputated. Thirty-five (58.33%) were males. Fifty-nine (98.33%) had type II diabetes. Nearly two-thirds (34/60; 56.67%) had duration of diabetes for more than 5 years. The mean age was 60.06 ± 11.33 years (range 30–87). The mean haemoglobin level was 10.20 ± 2.73 g/dl and 9.84 ± 2.69 g/dl among amputees. Nearly two thirds (42/60; 70.00%) had a haemoglobin level below 12 g/dl, with more than a half (23/42; 54.76%) undergoing major limb amputation. Two thirds (23/31; 74.19%) of all patients who underwent major limb amputation had mean hemoglobin level below 12 g/dl. The mean Random Blood Glucose (MRBG) was 13.18 ± 6.17 mmol/L and 14.16 ± 6.10 mmol/L for amputees. Almost two thirds of the study population i.e., 42/60(70.00%) had poor glycemic control with random blood glucose level above 10.0 mmol/L. More than half 23/42 (54.76%) of the patients with poor glycemic control underwent some form of major limb amputation; which is nearly two thirds (23/31; 74.19%) of the total amputees. Twenty-eight (46.67%) had Meggitt-Wagner classification grade 3, of which nearly two thirds (17:60.71%) underwent major limb amputation. Conclusion In this study, the cohort of patients suffering from diabetic foot ulcers treated in a tertiary care center in north-eastern Tanzania, the likelihood of amputation significantly correlated with the initial grade of the Meggit-Wagner ulcer classification. High blood glucose levels and anaemia seem to be also important risk factors but correlation did not reveal statistical significance.


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