BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Helicopter transportation of patients with acute stroke who have received recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator is commonly considered the best option. We evaluated if transportation by helicopter can reduce complications and improve clinical outcomes in patients with acute stroke. METHODS: We conducted a review of consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke transferred to our hospital after intravenous thrombolysis initiated at a referral center. RESULTS: A total of 122 patient transportations were analyzed, 94 by air and 28 by ground. Time from activation of the transport system to arrival at our hospital was significantly shorter with air transportation (53 versus 68 minutes, P=0.04). Two complications were noted in the air group and no complications were noted in the ground group (P=1.0). All other outcome measures were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Air transfer of patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with thrombolysis does not seem to impart any benefit to patient outcomes when compared with ground transport. Therefore, ground transport should be considered for these patients unless they are being considered for emergency endovascular rescue therapy.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Helicopter transportation of patients with acute stroke who have received recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator is commonly considered the best option. We evaluated if transportation by helicopter can reduce complications and improve clinical outcomes in patients with acute stroke. METHODS: We conducted a review of consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke transferred to our hospital after intravenous thrombolysis initiated at a referral center. RESULTS: A total of 122 patient transportations were analyzed, 94 by air and 28 by ground. Time from activation of the transport system to arrival at our hospital was significantly shorter with air transportation (53 versus 68 minutes, P=0.04). Two complications were noted in the air group and no complications were noted in the ground group (P=1.0). All other outcome measures were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Air transfer of patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with thrombolysis does not seem to impart any benefit to patient outcomes when compared with ground transport. Therefore, ground transport should be considered for these patients unless they are being considered for emergency endovascular rescue therapy.
Authors: Eyad Almallouhi; Sami Al Kasab; Michael Nahhas; Jillian B Harvey; Juanita Caudill; Nancy Turner; Ellen Debenham; Dan-Victor Giurgiutiu; Enrique C Leira; Jeffrey A Switzer; Christine A Holmstedt Journal: Neurol Clin Pract Date: 2020-10
Authors: Nirav Dhanesha; Thomas Schnell; Salam Rahmatalla; Jonathan DeShaw; Daniel Thedens; Bradley M Parker; M Bridget Zimmerman; Andrew A Pieper; Anil K Chauhan; Enrique C Leira Journal: Stroke Date: 2020-05-13 Impact factor: 7.914
Authors: Amelia K Adcock; Joseph Minardi; Scott Findley; Deb Daniels; Michelle Large; Martha Power Journal: J Emerg Med Date: 2020-10-01 Impact factor: 1.484
Authors: Diarmuid Coughlan; Peter McMeekin; Darren Flynn; Gary A Ford; Hannah Lumley; David Burgess; Joyce Balami; Andrew Mawson; Dawn Craig; Stephen Rice; Phil White Journal: Emerg Med J Date: 2020-11-10 Impact factor: 2.740