Stroke

Cardiovascular departments are playing a role in stroke interventions at numerous health systems, working as part of the stroke care team with neurologists, radiology and the emergency department. Stroke first has be be classified as ischemic or hemorrhagic. These have very different care pathways. Ischemic strokes are increasingly being treated with neurological-interventional therapy that includes catheter based mechanical thrombectomy to remove the clot. This is a more aggressive treatment compared to traditional IV administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) thrombolytic therapy to dissolve the clot. Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and  intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) brain bleeds can also be treated in some cases stent flow diverters and embolization coils. 

Ischemic stroke CT imaging. Images courtesy of RSNA

Stroke care still lags among certain Medicare populations

Despite increases of 250% for CTA and 428% for CTP, researchers observed lower rates of neuroimaging utilization among rural residents, older individuals (80 years and above), women and Black patients.

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Automated CT scoring system accurately predicts prognosis in stroke patients

The study used non-contrast CT and CT perfusion imaging to analyze agreement between an automated reader and human radiologists with differing experience levels.

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Risk of recurrent stroke 48% higher among young marijuana users

Marijuana use can be especially harmful to young adults with a history of stroke or TIA, researchers explained. 

Most Americans live within an hour of a stroke center

While 96% of the population is located within 60 minutes of an ED with any acute stroke expertise, many smaller, critical access hospitals in rural regions still are without these lifesaving services.

Stroke thrombectomy outcomes similar between radiologists, fellowship-trained neurointerventionalists

Increased volume has led to stress among endovascular stroke physicians, with some hospitals relying on interventional rads to relieve the strain. 

Monitoring high-risk patients for AFib fails to reduce stroke risk

"These findings might imply that not all AFib is worth screening for, and not all screen-detected AFib merits anticoagulation," researchers wrote. 

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Mobile stroke units improve patient outcomes, reduce risk of disability

Researchers tracked data from more than 1,000 patients who received care from 2014 to 2020. 

COVID-19 coronavirus burnout depression pandemic

‘Not just a respiratory illness’: New stroke data highlight the importance of COVID-19 vaccinations

COVID-19 carries a higher stroke risk than similar infectious conditions, the authors explained, making it especially important to seek out a vaccine as soon as possible.

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