K K Lau1, E L Yu2, M F Lee1, S H Ho1, P M Ng1, C S Leung3. 1. Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Princess Margaret Hospital, Laichikok, Hong Kong. 2. Clinical Research Centre, Princess Margaret Hospital, Laichikok, Hong Kong. 3. Accident and Emergency Department, Princess Margaret Hospital, Laichikok, Hong Kong.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: For acute ischaemic stroke patients, treatment with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator within a 4.5-hour therapeutic window is essential. We aimed to assess the time delays experienced by stroke patients arriving at the emergency department and to compare ambulance users and non-ambulance users. METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study in a tertiary hospital in Hong Kong. All acute stroke patients attending the emergency department from January to June 2017 were recruited. Patients who were in hospital at the time of stroke onset and those who transferred from other hospitals were excluded. Three phases were compared between ambulance users and non-ambulance users: phase I, between stroke onset and calling for help; phase II, between calling for help and arriving at the emergency department; and phase III, between arriving and receiving medical assessment. RESULTS: Of 102 consecutive patients recruited, 48 (47%) patients arrived at the emergency department by ambulance. The percentage of stroke patients attending emergency department within the therapeutic window was significantly higher for ambulance users than for non-ambulance users (64.6% vs 29.6%; P<0.001). For phases I, II and III, the median times were significantly shorter for ambulance users (77.5, 32 and 8 min, respectively) than for non-ambulance users (720, 44.5 and 15 min, respectively; all P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Transport of patients to the emergency department by ambulance is important for timely and effective stroke treatment.
INTRODUCTION: For acute ischaemic strokepatients, treatment with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator within a 4.5-hour therapeutic window is essential. We aimed to assess the time delays experienced by strokepatients arriving at the emergency department and to compare ambulance users and non-ambulance users. METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study in a tertiary hospital in Hong Kong. All acute strokepatients attending the emergency department from January to June 2017 were recruited. Patients who were in hospital at the time of stroke onset and those who transferred from other hospitals were excluded. Three phases were compared between ambulance users and non-ambulance users: phase I, between stroke onset and calling for help; phase II, between calling for help and arriving at the emergency department; and phase III, between arriving and receiving medical assessment. RESULTS: Of 102 consecutive patients recruited, 48 (47%) patients arrived at the emergency department by ambulance. The percentage of strokepatients attending emergency department within the therapeutic window was significantly higher for ambulance users than for non-ambulance users (64.6% vs 29.6%; P<0.001). For phases I, II and III, the median times were significantly shorter for ambulance users (77.5, 32 and 8 min, respectively) than for non-ambulance users (720, 44.5 and 15 min, respectively; all P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Transport of patients to the emergency department by ambulance is important for timely and effective stroke treatment.
Authors: Francisco Martín-Rodríguez; Raúl López-Izquierdo; Juan F Delgado Benito; Ancor Sanz-García; Carlos Del Pozo Vegas; Miguel Ángel Castro Villamor; José Luis Martín-Conty; Guillermo J Ortega Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2020-04-18 Impact factor: 4.241