Implementation of multimodal computed tomography in a telestroke network : five-year experience

Carlos Garcia-Esperon, Frode Soderhjelm Dinkelspiel, Ferdi Miteff, Shyam Gangadharan, Tom Wellings, Bill O´Brien, James Evans, Tom Lillicrap, Jelle Demeestere, Andrew Bivard, Mark Parsons, Chris Levi, Neil James Spratt, Rachel Peake, James Hughes, Lisa Dark, Nick Ryan, Matt Shepherd, Osama Ali, James WillsFiona Minett, Jaclyn Birnie, Amanda Buzio, Iain Bruce, Alan Tankel, Kim Parrey, Matthew Kinchington, Elizabeth Pepper, Andre Loiselle, Sophie Waller, Alvin Chew, Michelle Russell, Angela Royan, Brett Roworth, Northern NSW Telestroke investigators for the Northern NSW Telestroke investigators

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Aims: Penumbral selection is best-evidence practice for thrombectomy in the 6-24 hour window. Moreover, it helps to identify the best responders to thrombolysis. Multimodal computed tomography (mCT) at the primary centre—including noncontrast CT, CT perfusion, and CT angiography—may enhance reperfusion therapy decision-making. We developed a network with five spoke primary stroke sites and assessed safety, feasibility, and influence of mCT in rural hospitals on decision-making for thrombolysis. Methods: Consecutive patients assessed via telemedicine from April 2013 to June 2018. Clinical outcomes were measured, and decision-making compared using theoretical models for reperfusion therapy applied without mCT guidance. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) was assessed according to Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke Thrombolysis Registry criteria. Results: A total of 334 patients were assessed, 240 received mCT, 58 were thrombolysed (24.2%). The mean age of thrombolysed patients was 70 years, median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was 10 (IQR 7-18) and 23 (39.7%) had a large vessel occlusion. 1.7% had sICH and 3.5% parenchymal hematoma. Three months poststroke, 55% were independent, compared with 70% in the non-thrombolysed group. Conclusion: Implementation of CTP in rural centers was feasible and led to high thrombolysis rates with low rates of sICH. © 2019 The Authors. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)367-373
Number of pages7
JournalCNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics
Volume26
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Open Access - Access Right Statement

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Implementation of multimodal computed tomography in a telestroke network : five-year experience'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this