Dissemin is shutting down on January 1st, 2025

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American Heart Association, Stroke, 10(51), p. 2895-2900, 2020

DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.120.029222

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Effects of a Feedback-Demanding Stroke Clock on Acute Stroke Management

This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.
This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.

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Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Background and Purpose: This randomized study aimed to evaluate whether the use of a stroke clock demanding active feedback from the stroke physician accelerates acute stroke management. Methods: For this randomized controlled study, a large-display alarm clock was installed in the computed tomography room, where admission, diagnostic work-up, and intravenous thrombolysis occurred. Alarms were set at the following target times after admission: (1) 15 minutes (neurological examination completed); (2) 25 minutes (computed tomography scanning and international normalized ratio determination by point-of-care laboratory completed); and (3) 30 minutes (intravenous thrombolysis started). The responsible stroke physician had to actively provide feedback by pressing a buzzer button. The alarm could be avoided by pressing the button before time out. Times to therapy decision (primary end point, defined as the end of all diagnostic work-up required for decision for or against recanalizing treatment), neurological examination, imaging, point-of-care laboratory, needle, and groin puncture were assessed by a neutral observer. Functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale) was assessed at day 90. Results: Of 107 participants, 51 stroke clock patients exhibited better stroke-management metrics than 56 control patients. Times from door to (1) end of all indicated diagnostic work-up (treatment decision time; 16.73 versus 26.00 minutes, P <0.001), (2) end of neurological examination (7.28 versus 10.00 minutes, P <0.001), (3) end of computed tomography (11.17 versus 14.00 minutes, P =0.002), (4) end of computed tomography angiography (14.00 versus 17.17 minutes, P =0.001), (5) end of point-of-care laboratory testing (12.14 versus 20.00 minutes, P <0.001), and (6) needle times (18.83 versus 47.00 minutes, P =0.016) were improved. In contrast, door-to-groin puncture times and functional outcomes at day 90 were not significantly different. Conclusions: This study showed that the use of a stroke clock demanding active feedback significantly improves acute stroke-management metrics and, thus, represents a potential low-cost strategy for streamlining time-sensitive stroke treatment.