Stroke ems prehospital routing

BACKGROUND: Cold-water immersion is the gold standard for field treatment of an exertional heat stroke (EHS) casualty. Practical limitations may preclude this method and ice sheets (bed linens soaked in ice water) have emerged as a viable alternative. Laboratory studies suggest that this is an inferior method; however, the magnitude of hyperthermia is limited and may underestimate the cooling rate in EHS casualties. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine the prehospital core cooling rate, need for continued cooling on arrival to the emergency department, and mortality rate associated with ice sheet use...

BACKGROUND: There has been no comparison of the determinants of admission route between acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We examined whether factors associated with direct versus transferred-in admission to regional cardiocerebrovascular centers (RCVCs) differed between AIS and AMI. METHODS: Using a nationwide RCVC registry, we identified consecutive patients presenting with AMI and AIS between July 2016 and December 2018. We explored factors associated with direct admission to RCVCs in patients with AIS and AMI and examined whether those associations differed between AIS and AMI, including interaction terms between each factor and disease type in multivariable models...

BACKGROUND: Large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes are best treated with rapid endovascular therapy (EVT). There are two routes that LVO stroke patients can take to EVT therapy when transported by EMS: primary transport (ambulance transports directly to an endovascular stroke center (ESC) or secondary transport (EMS transports to a non-ESC then transfers for EVT). There is no clear evidence which path to care results in better functional outcomes for LVO stroke patients. To find this answer, an analysis of a large, real-world population of LVO stroke patients must be performed...

Background: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is the standard of care for acute ischemic stroke caused by large vessel occlusion, but is not available at all stroke centers. Transfers between hospitals lead to treatment delays. Transport directly to a facility capable of MT based on a prehospital stroke severity scale score has been recommended, if transportation time is less than 30 min. Aims: We hypothesized that an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) routing algorithm for stroke, using the Los Angeles Motor Scale (LAMS) in the field, would improve time from last known well to MT, without causing patients to miss the IV Thrombolysis (IVT) window...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Accurate prehospital diagnosis of stroke by emergency medical services (EMS) can increase treatments rates, mitigate disability, and reduce stroke deaths. We aimed to develop a model that utilizes natural language processing of EMS reports and machine learning to improve prehospital stroke identification. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of patients transported by the Chicago EMS to 17 regional primary and comprehensive stroke centers...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The existence of contraindications to intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is considered a criterion for direct transfer of patients with suspected acute stroke to thrombectomy-capable centers in the prehospital setting. Our aim was to assess the utility of this criterion in a setting where routing protocols are defined by the Madrid - Direct Referral to Endovascular Center (M-DIRECT) prehospital scale. METHODS: This was a post hoc analysis of the M-DIRECT study...

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that prehospital insertion of peripheral vascular access is highly variable. The aim of this study is to establish the proportion of peripheral vascular access placement and its use with regard to both the severity of cases and the main problem suspected by the paramedics involved. Over-triage was considered to have taken place where peripheral vascular access was placed but unused and these cases were specifically analysed in order to evaluate the possibility of improving current practice...

OBJECTIVE: Quantify prehospital time intervals, describe prehospital stroke management, and estimate potential time saved if certain procedures were performed en route to the emergency department (ED). METHODS: Acute ischemic stroke patients who arrived via emergency medical services (EMS) between 2012 and 2016 were identified. We determined the following prehospital time intervals: chute, response, on-scene, transport, and total prehospital times. Proportions of patients receiving the following were determined: Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS) assessment, prenotification, glucose assessment, vascular access, and 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG)...

BACKGROUND: A nationally recommended practice to accelerate thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke is to route emergency medical services (EMS)-transported stroke patients directly to the computed tomography (CT) scanner on arrival. We evaluated door-to-needle time with direct-to-CT routing versus emergency department (ED)-bed first routing. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis from a large regionalized stroke system. Paramedics utilize the modified Los Angeles Prehospital Stroke Screen and transport acute stroke patients to Approved Stroke Centers...

The effectiveness of thrombolysis or mechanical recanalization for acute stroke is higher, the sooner these therapies are started. Therefore, acute stroke patients need to be evaluated by qualified staff for these therapies as soon as possible. Lay persons need to identify the typical symptoms of stroke as an emergency and act accordingly by calling the emergency medical system (EMS). The EMS team reassesses the symptoms and prompts cerebral imaging. Cerebral imaging is performed ideally in hospitals with a stroke unit where subsequent (stroke) treatments occur...

Background Ischemic stroke is a time-sensitive disease, with improved outcomes associated with decreased time from onset to treatment. It was hypothesised that ambulance-based assessment of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) using a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant mobile platform immediately prior to arrival is feasible. Methods This is a proof-of-concept feasibility pilot study in two phases. The first phase consisted of an ambulance-equipped HIPAA-compliant video platform for remote NIHSS assessment of a simulated stroke patient...

BACKGROUND: The use of telemedicine in the diagnosis and treatment of acute stroke, or telestroke, is a well-accepted method of practice improving geographic disparities in timely access to neurological expertise. We propose that mobile telestroke assessment during ambulance transport is feasible using low-cost, widely available technology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We designed a platform including a tablet-based end point, high-speed modem with commercial wireless access, external antennae, and portable mounting apparatus...

INTRODUCTION: Comprehensive stroke systems of care include routing to the nearest designated stroke center hospital, bypassing non-designated hospitals. Routing protocols are implemented at the state or county level and vary in qualification criteria and determination of destination hospital. We surveyed all counties in the state of California for presence and characteristics of their prehospital stroke routing protocols. METHODS: Each county's local emergency medical services agency (LEMSA) was queried for the presence of a stroke routing protocol...

The stroke system of care is undergoing significant evolution. There are promising data to suggest that with new technologies and approaches, primary prevention and community education will become easier and more accessible, and will allow people to have greater participation in their own healthcare. The evidence-based primary and comprehensive stroke center concepts have been translated into robust, rapidly growing certification programs. The continued dissemination of improved EMS routing protocols allows for better allocation of patients to stroke centers, even as we confront the challenge of further improving prehospital recognition of stroke...

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Emergency medical services (EMS) protocols, which route patients with suspected stroke to stroke centers, rely on the use of accurate stroke screening criteria. Our goal is to conduct a statewide EMS agency evaluation of the accuracies of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS) and the Los Angeles Prehospital Stroke Screen (LAPSS) for identifying acute stroke patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in North Carolina by linking a statewide EMS database to a hospital database, using validated deterministic matching...

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study describes the characteristics of patients with an abnormal Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in the prehospital setting. METHODS: We reviewed existing prehospital care reports (PCRs) in the San Mateo County, California, emergency medical services (EMS) database from January 1 to December 31, 2007. Adults age 18 or greater with a documented GCS fit inclusion criteria. We excluded single and multisystem trauma patients, as well as patients in cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, or listed as deceased from the study...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a system of financial reward for emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who meet selected quality marker goals. METHODS: This project was reviewed by an institutional review board (IRB) and was found to be exempt from IRB review. Two operational and four clinical markers were targeted for improvement. Baseline performance measurements were retrospectively measured for the preceding year, and challenging but achievable goals for improvement were established...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Studies have demonstrated the importance of early stroke treatment. If a neuroprotective agent (NA) clinical trial is successful, the greatest benefit might be attained with early prehospital administration. This study determined the potential reduction in time to treatment of stroke patients when NAs were administered in the prehospital setting. METHODS: Twenty-three urban emergency medical services (EMS) agencies participated in this study...

Until recently, the prehospital and emergency department management of nonhemorrhagic stroke was largely supportive care. Studies now have demonstrated the potential of certain therapeutic interventions to reverse the debilitating consequences of such strokes. But despite the potential benefit, there exists a clear time dependency for such interventions, not only to ensure therapeutic efficacy, but also to diminish the likelihood of significant therapeutic complications. In turn, to optimize the chances of a better outcome for the patient with stroke, each community must establish and continue to refine a chain of recovery for stroke patients...

Until recently, the prehospital and ED management of nonhemorrhagic stroke was largely supportive care. Studies have now demonstrated the potential of certain therapeutic interventions to reverse the debilitating consequences of such strokes. The clinical benefit for such interventions and the risk of significant therapeutic complications are highly time-dependent. To optimize the chances of a better outcome for the patient with stroke, each community must establish and continue to refine a chain of recovery for stroke patients...