Abstract 2539: Evaluation of Emergency Department Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients With and Without Blockage on Computed Tomography Angiography

• Published in: Stroke (1970) 2012-02, Vol.43 (suppl_1)
• Main Authors: Schrock, Jon W, Day, Robert, Morris, Peter, Reed, Steven, Ferguson, Robert, Hanna, Joseph
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0039-2499; 1524-4628
• DOI: 10.1161/str.43.suppl_1.A2539

Abstract only Background: CT angiography (CTA) provides early assessment of cerebral vasculature in ED patients presenting with Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS). Prior studies using 4 row detector CT scanners have suggested that results may be used to determine who receives thrombolytics (tPA). We sought to evaluate the rate of normal CTA and the use of tPA in AIS patients with and without blockages using modern CT technology. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all code stroke patients presenting to our ED over a 3 year period ending in February 2011. Inclusion criteria included an ED and neurology diagnosis of AIS with a CTA performed at presentation. All patients had a NIHSS score recorded at presentation and underwent imaging using a 64 row detector scanner (Phillips) with 50cc of non-ionic contrast. Demographic, imaging, and clinical data were collected. Modified Rankin Scores (mRS) were assigned at presentation and hospital discharge. Good clinical outcome was defined as a mRS of 0-2. Data are reported as frequencies and medians with interquartile ranges (IQR) as appropriate. Rates of tPA use were evaluated using χ 2 testing. Changes in mRS were evaluated with the paired t-test. Results: A total of 209 subjects met inclusion for analysis of which 104 (50%) were male and 116 (55%) had no blockage on CTA. The median NIHSS score and mortality rates were 14 (IQR 8-19), 14 (15%) with CTA blockage, and 4 (IQR 2-7), 3 (3%) for those without. The use of tPA occurred in 46(50%) with 29 patients receiving intra-arterial therapy, and 14 (12%) patients with and without blockage respectively. Post tPA bleeding occurred in 12 (13%) patients with blockage on CTA and in 0 patients without blockage. Use of tPA was significantly more frequent in patients with a blockage on CTA, P