Could The “Modified 8 D’s of Stroke Care” Improve Sex Disparities in Door-to-Needle Time in Acute Ischemic Stroke?

Background and objectiveDoor-to-needle (DTN) time is an important factor in stroke settings for which studies have reported delays in women, resulting in worse stroke outcomes. We aimed to evaluate whether our modified algorithm could reduce sex disparities, especially in DTN.MethodsThis longitudinal cohort study was conducted between September 1, 2019, and August 31, 2021, at a comprehensive stroke center. Previously we utilized the conventional “D’s of stoke care” for timely management. The “modified 8 D’s of stroke care” was designed by our team in September 2020. Patients were analyzed in two groups: group 1, before, and group 2, after employing the modified algorithm. Sex as the main variable of interest along with other selected covariates were regressed towards the DTN, using univariable and multivariable logistic regressions.ResultsWe enrolled 47 and 56 patients who received intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Although there was a significant difference in DTN≤ 1 hour in group 1 (36% of females vs. 52% of males, p= 0.019), it was not significantly different in group 2 anymore (48% of females vs. 48.4% of males, p= 0.97). Furthermore, regression analysis showed being female was a significant predictor of DTN> 1 hour in group 1 (aOR= 6.65, p= 0.02), while after the modified algorithm gender was not a predictor of delayed DTN anymore.ConclusionAlthough we have a long way to achieve performance measures in developed countries, we seem to have succeeded in reducing gender disparities in DTN using the modified algorithm.

Evaluasi Proyek Pembangunan Gedung Stroke Center (Paviliun Flamboyan) Menggunakan Metode Critical Path Method (CPM) Dan Crashing

Abstrak Kegiatan pembangunan proyek konstruksi sering terjadi keterlambatan. Pelaksanaan proyek konstruksi dibatasi oleh waktu dengan rencana biaya yang sudah ditentukan dalam perencanaan. Pengendalian yang tepat dapat mengurangi risiko terjadinya keterlambatan serta pembengkakan biaya. Salah satu proyek yang mengalami keterlambatan adalah pembangunan Gedung Stroke Center (Paviliun Flamboyan) RSUD Jombang. Faktor yang menjadi penyebab yaitu: (1) kurangnya kesiapan alat yang digunakan untuk mengakses ke tempat pembangunan, (2) posisi struktur tidak sesuai dengan perencanaan sehingga terjadi pembongkaran dan pengecoran ulang, (3) jalur mobilitas traffic alat berat yang sulit untuk mengakses ke tempat pembangunan sehingga berdampak terhadap pelaksanaan. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah (1) memperoleh informasi waktu pekerjaan pelaksanaan (2) mengetahui perbandingan biaya dan waktu adanya percepatan waktu pelaksanaan proyek. Metode yang dipakai adalah metode CPM (Critical Path Method) yang digunakan untuk menganalisis lintasan kritis yang fokus pada pekerjaan struktur beton dan menggunakan metode Crashing untuk mengetahui perbandingan biaya dan waktu akibat adanya percepatan (crashing). Hasil analisa pada penelitian ini diperoleh durasi pelaksanaan pekerjaan bangunan proyek secara normal. Dari analisa dengan alternatif penambahan tenaga kerja dan jam kerja (lembur) yaitu lebih hemat menggunakan alternatif jam kerja lembur dengan perbandingan sebesar 0.010%. Kata Kunci: Critical Path Method (CPM), Crashing, Waktu, Biaya.

Team Prenotification Reduces Procedure Times for Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Due to Large Vessel Occlusion Who Are Transferred for Endovascular Therapy

Background: The clinical benefit from endovascular therapy (EVT) for patients with acute ischemic stroke is time-dependent. We tested the hypothesis that team prenotification results in faster procedure times prior to initiation of EVT.Methods: We analyzed data from our prospective database (01/2016–02/2018) including all patients with acute ischemic stroke who were evaluated for EVT at our comprehensive stroke center. We established a standardized algorithm (EVT-Call) in 06/2017 to prenotify team members (interventional neuroradiologist, neurologist, anesthesiologist, CT and angiography technicians) about patient transfer from remote hospitals for evaluation of EVT, and team members were present in the emergency department at the expected patient arrival time. We calculated door-to-image, image-to-groin and door-to-groin times for patients who were transferred to our center for evaluation of EVT, and analyzed changes before (–EVT-Call) and after (+EVT-Call) implementation of the EVT-Call.Results: Among 494 patients in our database, 328 patients were transferred from remote hospitals for evaluation of EVT (208 -EVT-Call and 120 +EVT-Call, median [IQR] age 75 years [65–81], NIHSS score 17 [12–22], 49.1% female). Of these, 177 patients (54%) underwent EVT after repeated imaging at our center (111/208 [53%) -EVT-Call, 66/120 [55%] +EVT-Call). Median (IQR) door-to-image time (18 min [14–22] vs. 10 min [7–13]; p < 0.001), image-to-groin time (54 min [43.5–69.25] vs. 47 min [38.3–58.75]; p = 0.042) and door-to-groin time (74 min [58–86.5] vs. 60 min [49.3–71]; p < 0.001) were reduced after implementation of the EVT-Call.Conclusions: Team prenotification results in faster patient assessment and initiation of EVT in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Its impact on functional outcome needs to be determined.

Erythrocyte Fraction in Thrombi Is Increased with Serum Iron by Influencing Fibrin Networks via Oxidative Stress

Objective. This study investigated whether the erythrocyte fraction in thrombi would be increased with serum iron via oxidative stress. Methods. This study retrospectively enrolled patients with acute ischemic stroke treated using endovascular treatment in a single stroke center from October to December 2019. We examined the relationship between serum iron and erythrocyte-rich thrombi and the correlation of serum iron and the erythrocyte fraction in thrombi using clinical samples. Experiments in vivo and in vitro were performed to investigate the influence of oxidative stress on the correlation between serum iron concentration and erythrocyte fraction in thrombi. Results. We found from the clinical samples that serum iron concentration was related to erythrocyte-rich thrombi and positively associated with the erythrocyte fraction in thrombi in vivo. Further, the tightness of the fibrin networks regulating the erythrocyte fraction in thrombi was increased with serum iron concentration in vivo. Additionally, the oxidative stress level was increased with serum iron concentration in vivo. Moreover, we found that the tightness of the fibrin networks increased with higher oxidative stress levels in vitro. Lastly, experiments in vivo with inhibiting oxidative stress showed that the erythrocyte fraction in thrombi and the tightness of fibrin networks significantly increased in the iron group than those in the iron with oxidative stress inhibitor group and control group. Conclusions. Oxidative stress played a role in the process that the erythrocyte fraction in thrombi was increased with serum iron by influencing fibrin networks.

CT Angiography Manual Multiplanar Vessel Diameter Measurement vs. Semiautomated Perpendicular Area Minimal Caliber Computation of Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis

Objective: To determine the diagnostic agreement of CT angiography (CTA) manual multiplanar reformatting (MPR) stenosis diameter measurement and semiautomated perpendicular stenosis area minimal caliber computation of extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis.Methods: We analyzed acute cerebral ischemia CTA at our tertiary stroke center in a 12-month period. Prospective NASCET-type stenosis grading for each ICA was independently performed using (1) MPR to manually determine diameters and (2) perpendicular stenosis area with minimal caliber semiautomated computation to grade luminal constriction. Corresponding to clinically relevant NASCET strata, results were grouped into severity ranges: normal, 1–49%, 50–69%, and 70–99%, and occlusion.Results: We included 647 ICA pairs from 330 patients (median age of 74 [66–80, IQR]; 38–92 years; 58% men; median NIHSS 4 [1–9, IQR]). MPR diameter and semiautomated caliber measurements resulted in stenosis grades of 0–49% in 143 vs. 93, 50–69% in 29 vs. 27, 70–99% in 6 vs. 14, and occlusion in 34 vs. 34 ICAs (p = 0.003), respectively. We found excellent reliability between repeated manual CTA assessments of one expert reader (ICC = 0.997; 95% CI, 0.993–0.999) and assessments of two expert readers (ICC = 0.972; 95% CI, 0.936–0.988). For the semiautomated vessel analysis software, both intrarater reliability and interrater reliability were similarly strong (ICC = 0.981; 95% CI, 0.952–0.992 and ICC = 0.745; 95% CI, 0.486–0.883, respectively). However, Bland–Altman analysis revealed a mean difference of 1.6% between the methods within disease range with wide 95% limits of agreement (−16.7–19.8%). This interval even increased with exclusively considered vessel pairs of stenosis ≥1% (mean 5.3%; −24.1–34.7%) or symptomatic stenosis ≥50% (mean 0.1%; −25.7–26.0%).Conclusion: Our findings suggest that MPR-based diameter measurement and the semiautomated perpendicular area minimal caliber computation methods cannot be used interchangeably for the quantification of ICA steno-occlusive disease.

Barriers to Optimal Acute Management of Stroke: Perspective of a Stroke Center in Mexico City

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We aimed to identify the main barriers to optimal acute management of stroke in a referral center.Methods: Demographic data was collected from patients assessed with acute stroke in the emergency department of the Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía (INNN) from January to June 2019. Additionally, a telephone interview was conducted with patients/primary caregiver to know which they considered the main reason for the delay in arrival at INNN since the onset of stroke.Results: 116 patients were assessed [age 65 ± 15 years, 67 (57.8%) men]. Patients consulted other facilities prior to arrival at INNN in 59 (50.9%) cases (range of hospitals visited 1–4), 83 (71.6%) arrived in a private car, with prenotification in only 4 (3.4%) of the total sample. The mean onset-to-door time was 17 h (45 min−10 days). Telephone interviews were done in 61 patients/primary caregivers, stating that they consider the multiple evaluations in other facilities [n = 26/61 (42.6%)] as the main reason for delay in arrival at the ED, followed by ignorance of stroke symptoms and treatment urgency [n = 21/61 (34.4%)].Conclusion: In this small, retrospective, single center study, the main prehospital barrier to optimal acute management of stroke in a developing country is multiple medical evaluations prior to the patient's transport to a specialized stroke hospital, who mostly arrived in a private car and without prenotification. These barriers can be overcome by strengthening public education and improving patient transfer networks and telemedicine.

Perceived Control and Cognitive Function Among Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients in China

This study explored an association between perceived control and cognitive function among 437 acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients in China. We collected data from one stroke center in each of the three cities (Shanghai, Nanjing, and Linyi) from June to December, 2020. Cognitive function was assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and perceived control was assessed by Perceived Control in Health Care Questionnaire at acute stage. Hierarchical linear regression was used. The average of perceived control and MoCA were 81.36±0.877 and 19.66±0.304, respectively. A number of 374 (85.6%) patients were in cognitive impairment and 63(14.4%) were cognitively normal. Perceived control was positively associated with cognitive function (β=0.103, p＜0.001). After controlling for stroke severity, age, gender and education, the association was still significant (β=0.041, p=0.014). These findings suggest that perceived control may be a potential target in cognitive interventions for AIS patients.

Post-stroke cognitive impairment: screening with MMSE and MoCA and predictors of their persistence after treatment at the Stroke Center

Objective — to analyze the results of screening for post‑stroke cognitive impairment (PCI) in patients with cerebral stroke (CS) admitted to the Stroke Center (SC) in different disease phases, and to determine independent predictors of the PCI persistence at discharge. Methods and subjects. 399 patients were enrolled, including 242 (60.7 %) men and 157 (39.3 %) women with the median age was 66.2 years (IQR 58.5 — 76.3). IS was diagnosed in 331 (82.9 %), and ICH in 68 (17.1 %) patients. Among patients with IS, 137 (41.4 %) had an atherothrombotic subtype, 152 (46.0 %) had a cardioembolic subtype, 21 (6.3 %) had a lacunar subtype, another 21 (6.3 %) had another or unknown cause of stroke. Patients were screened for PCI using the Mini‑Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) on admission and at discharge. Participants with MMSE score of 0 — 24 or a MoCA score of 0 — 25 were considered having PCI. Upon admission, all patients were assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Bartel Index, and Modified Rankine Scale (mRS). The method of constructing and analyzing logistic regression models was used to determine independent predictors of the preservation of PCI at discharge. The analysis was carried out using the MedCalc v. 19.1. Results. The baseline NIHSS score ranged from 0 to 39 (median 11, IQR 6 — 18). The majority (64.2 %) of the subjects were hospitalized within the first 30 days from the CS onset. The MMSE score on admission ranged from 0 to 30 (median 20, IQR 2 — 27), and in 179 (44.9 %) of the patients the initial score was 0 to 17 (severe PCI), whereas in 61 (15 3 %) of the participants it was 18 to 24 (moderately severe PCI) and only 159 (39.8 %) persons scored 25 to 30 (no PCI). The baseline MoCA score ranged from 0 to 30 (median 15, IQR 1 — 24), and 356 (89.2 %) patients were shown to have PCI (score 0 to 25). According to screening with MMSE at discharge, 125 (31.4 %) patients had severe PCI, and 67 (16.8 %) had moderately severe PCI. The MoCA assessment before discharge indicated PCI in 324 (81.2 %) patients. According to both MMSE and MoCA, the rate of PCI on admission was significantly higher than at discharge (p < 0.001). Among the 240 patients who had PCI according to MMSE score, 239 (99.6 %) had PCI according to the MoCA score. However, among 159 patients who screened negative for PCI with MMSE at admission, 117 (73.6 %) screened positive with MoCA. Screening results using both MMSE and MoCA were not significantly associated with affected hemisphere. ICH was associated with lower (p < 0.0001) MMSE and MoCA scores compared with IS. Predictors of PCI according to MMSE score at discharge were a longer time interval from CS onset to SC admission, and a lower baseline MMSE score. However, with MoCA, the predictors were AT subtype IS, lesions in the distribution of the right or both middle cerebral arteries, older patient age, and a lower baseline MoCA score. Conclusions. In patients with MI, a high rate of PCI was documented on admission, but was significantly lower at discharge. In patients with established PCI, according to MMSE score, the use of MoCA for screening seems useless, however, screening with MoCA identified PCI in 3/4 in patients with a normal MMSE score. The independent predictors of scores on these two scales, indicating PCI, were significantly different, so they should not be considered interchangeable.

Prognostic value of glucose fluctuation in patients undergoing thrombolysis or thrombectomy due to acute ischemic stroke

Background Hyperglycemia during acute ischemic stroke is associated with worse outcomes, and this glucose altitude may persist in the initial days. In this study, we investigate the effect of glucose fluctuations in the first 4 days in patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke and who underwent ivr-tPA ± interventional thrombectomy or only interventional thrombectomy on stroke prognosis. Study was designed bicentered retrospective case series. Patients older than 18 years were included and those suitable for acute treatment, treatment indications, contraindications, and treatment management of hyperglycemia were selected according to the 2018 American Stroke Association guidelines. The effect of fasting glucose values of patients in the first 4 days on admission and 24th hour NIHSS scores, duration of hospitalization, disability, mortality, and prognosis were analyzed. We aimed to demostred the effect of the first 4-day glucose values measured in patients treated in a stroke center on clinical prospect. Results One hundred and seventy-six patients were included in the study. Group 1 included 30 (17%) patients with severe clinical condition (NIHSS at admission ≥ 16), and Group 2 comprised 146 (83%) patients with moderate and mild clinical condition (NIHSS at admission < 16). The glucose values of Groups 1 and 2 were found as follows: day 1 (admission): 178.7 ± 10.3 mg/dl and 138.3 ± 54.9 mg/dl, day 2: 197.7 ± 99.8 mg/dl and 137.6 ± 51.8 mg/dl, day 3: 186.1 ± 97.6 mg/dl and 127.5 ± 50.0 mg/dl, and day 4: 169.2 ± 85.0 mg/dl and 126.7 ± 49.3 mg/dl (p < 0.05). Mortality risk of patients with glucose ≥ 200 mg/dl was 43.5% on day 1 (p > 0.05), 57.1% on day 2, 68.4% on day 3, and 76.5% on day 4 (p < 0.05). Conclusions The glucose level of patients in severe clinical condition peaked on the second day and that 4 days of resilient severe hyperglycemia is a negative risk factor for sequela and mortality.