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PubMed2005

Organizing regional networks to increase acute stroke intervention.

OBJECTIVES: Acute ischemic stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide and the leading cause of adult disability in the United States (US). Thrombolytic therapy was proved effective, and approved for use, in the US by the Food and Drug Administration in 1996, yet 8 years later just 3-4% of stroke victims in the US are treated with tissue plasminogen activator. In order to understand how this figure can be substantially improved, it is important to evaluate the available therapies and systems of care, delineate the critical steps and the existing barriers in the process for successful intervention, and thoroughly understand the key components in the highly successful interventional stroke programs, especially regionalization of care. METHODS: A review of the available literature was carried out and interventional stroke data from the Mid America Brain and Stroke Institute at Saint Luke's Hospital (SLH) in Kansas City, Missouri, was analysed. RESULTS: There are several treatment strategies available for acute stroke intervention and more are likely to be developed. There is increasing interest in organizing and standardizing care for stroke. The steps in the process for successful intervention are understood and progress is being made in several areas of the country, but challenges remain in public education, directing emergency transport to 'stroke ready' hospitals and linking stroke experts to primary care providers. The Kansas City regional network linking primary care hospitals to the stroke team at SLH has been highly successful in substantially increasing the number of patients receiving acute stroke intervention. DISCUSSION: The stage is set for many more stroke victims to receive acute interventional therapy. However, these patients must present to hospitals equipped and staffed to render this therapy. Most stroke victims will go or be taken to the closest medical facility. Organizing regional networks linking primary care hospitals and physicians to comprehensive stroke centers staffed, and capable of providing the entire spectrum of acute stroke intervention will be essential in substantially increasing the number of stroke victims who actually receive acute interventional therapy. This article summarizes the evolving solutions to this challenge with specific data from the successful regional network developed around the Mid America Brain and Stroke Institute at Saint Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

Embolectomy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Thrombolysis for acute stroke.

Thrombolysis for acute stroke is effective if administered according to the approved protocol. Since the initial report of success in 1995, a number of subsequent reports confirmed the safety and efficacy of this treatment. There is no particular subgroup of patients at increased likelihood of benefit or hemorrhage that can be identified at baseline. Unlike many expensive therapies, thrombolysis for acute stroke saves the health care system considerable long-term costs. The search for even safer and more effective thrombolytics continues.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score in acute stroke triage.

In the setting of acute stroke evaluation, CT is accessible, versatile, available, inexpensive, and, most importantly, fast. Its use extends beyond that of identifying intracranial hemorrhage. We have emphasized the importance of clinical assessment, supported by a systematic approach to unenhanced CT interpretation using the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score for determining the extent of early ischemic change. The use of CT bolus techniques (providing vascular CT angiography, CT angiography source images, and quantitative CT perfusion maps) can augment the clinical information obtained from unenhanced CT. CT is likely to remain the workhorse of acute stroke imaging for some time to come.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

Actual diagnostic approach to the acute stroke patient.

Since acute stroke is now considered a potentially treatable medical emergency, a rapid and correct diagnosis must be made. The first step is to exclude hemorrhage, then to visualize any early ischemic changes, demonstrate the presence of hypoperfusion and locate the presence of a vascular underlying pathology as well as elucidate the presence of a potential penumbra (tissue at risk). Thanks to improvements and advances in both MR and CT technology, this can now be done in a number of ways. At the moment, CT is the most widely available and fast method for obtaining imaging of the brain and neck vessels of patients presenting with acute stroke. MRI can provide more precise information, although it remains slightly more time-consuming, but is, however, the method of choice for follow-up imaging. The main point is to take the one-stop-shopping approach where imaging of the vessels and brain is done from the aortic arch to the circle of Willis in one single session in order to have all the necessary information in the acute phase.

Brain Ischemia↗
PubMed1978

Acute stroke.

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Acute Disease↗