Screening with MRI for Accurate and Rapid Stroke Treatment: SMART.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of timely multimodal MRI screening before thrombolysis in acute stroke patients.

Methods

Quality improvement processes were initiated in 2013 to reduce door-to-needle (DTN) time at the 2 hospitals where the NIH stroke team provides clinical care. Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who received IV tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) ≤4.5 hours from last known normal were identified. Demographic and clinical characteristics and timing metrics were analyzed comparing the time periods before, during, and after the quality improvement processes.

Results

There were 157 patients treated with IV tPA for AIS during 2012-2013, of whom 135 (86%) were screened with MRI. DTN time was significantly reduced by

SUBMITTER: Shah S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4478034 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature