Long-term implementation of a prehospital severity scale for EMS triage of acute stroke: a real-world experience.

BACKGROUND: Data on the implementation of prehospital large vessel occlusion (LVO) scales to identify and triage patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the field are limited, with the majority of studies occurring outside the USA. OBJECTIVE: To report our long-term experience of a US countywide emergency medical services (EMS) acute stroke triage protocol using the Rapid Arterial oCclusion Evaluation (RACE) score. METHODS: Our prospective database was used to identify all consecutive patients triaged within Lucas County, Ohio by the EMS with (1) a RACE score ≥5, taken directly to an endovascular capable center (ECC) as RACE-alerts (RA) and (2) a RACE score <5, taken to the nearest hospital as stroke-alerts (SA). Baseline demographics, RACE score, time metrics, final diagnosis, treatments, and clinical and angiographic outcomes were captured. The sensitivity and specificity for patients with a RACE score ≥5 with LVO, eligible for mechanical thrombectomy (MT), were calculated. RESULTS: Between July 2015 and June 2018, 492 RA and 1147 SA were triaged within our five-hospital network. Of the RA, 37% had AIS secondary to LVOs. Of the 492 RA and 1147 SA, 125 (25.4%) and 38 (3.3%), respectively, underwent MT (OR=9.9; 95% CI 6.8 to 14.6; p<0.0001). Median times from onset-to-ECC arrival (74 vs 167 min, p=0.03) and dispatch-to-ECC arrival (31 vs 46 min, p=0.0002) were shorter in the RA-MT than in the SA-MT cohort. A RACE cut-off point ≥5 showed a sensitivity and specificity of 0.77 and 0.75 for detection of patients with LVO eligible for MT, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated the long-term feasibility of a countywide EMS-based prehospital triage protocol using the RACE Scale within our hospital network.

Stroke care: initial data from a county-based bypass protocol for patients with acute stroke.

BACKGROUND: Early identification and transfer of patients with acute stroke to a primary or comprehensive stroke center results in favorable outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To describe implementation and results of an emergency medical service (EMS)-driven stroke protocol in Lucas County, Ohio. METHOD: All county EMS personnel (N=464) underwent training in the Rapid Arterial oCclusion Evaluation (RACE) score. The RACE Alert (RA) protocol, whereby patients with stroke and a RACE score ≥5 were taken to a facility that offered advanced therapy, was implemented in July 2015. During the 6-month study period, 109 RAs were activated. Time efficiencies, diagnostic accuracy, and mechanical thrombectomy (MT) outcomes were compared with standard 'stroke-alert' (N=142) patients from the preceding 6 months. RESULTS: An increased treatment rate (25.6% vs 12.6%, p<0.05) and improved time efficiency (median door-to-CT 10 vs 28 min, p<0.05; door-to-needle 46 vs 75 min, p<0.05) of IV tissue plasminogen activator within the RA cohort was achieved. The rate of MT (20.1% vs 7.7%, p=0.06) increased and treatment times improved, including median arrival-to-puncture (68 vs 128 min, p=0.04) and arrival-to-recanalization times (101 vs 205 min, p=0.001) in favor of the RA cohort. A non-significant trend towards improved outcome (50% vs 36.4%, p=0.3) in the RA cohort was noted. The RA protocol also showed improved diagnostic specificity for ischemic stroke (52.3% vs 30.1%, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that EMS adaptation of the RA protocol within Lucas County is feasible and effective for early triage and treatment of patients with stroke. Using this protocol, we can significantly improve treatment times for both systemic thrombolysis and MT.

Use of respiratory impedance in prehospital care of hypotensive patients associated with hemorrhage and trauma: a case series.

BACKGROUND: The respiratory pump can be optimized to enhance circulation in patients with hypotension by having patients spontaneously breathe through a low level of inspiratory resistance. This can be achieved with an impedance threshold device (ITD) designed to provide 7 cm H2O resistance during spontaneous inspiration with minimal resistance during expiration. Little is known about the effects of harnessing this physiological concept to increase blood pressure (BP) in the prehospital setting of care for patients with hypotension caused by blood loss or trauma. In this case series, we report on the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of rapidly deploying the ITD by first responders to treat hypotension secondary to blood loss and trauma in the urban setting by emergency medical services personnel. METHODS: Hemodynamic data from hypotensive patients (pretreatment systolic BP [SBP] <100 mm Hg) from 3 U.S. cities where the ITD is deployed were evaluated. The primary end point was maximum change in SBP and diastolic BP (DBP) from before to during ITD use in patients with hypotension secondary to documented blood loss or trauma. Secondary end points were device tolerance, whether the patient felt "better," change in heart rate, O2 saturation, and adverse events. RESULTS: Of the 255 hypotensive patients treated, there were 26 categorized with blood loss and 13 with trauma. In this 39-patient subgroup, the SBP and DBP (mean ± SD) increased from 79 ± 14 mm Hg and 48 ± 12 mm Hg before ITD placement to 110 ± 17 mm Hg and 66 ± 14 mm Hg after ITD placement (p < 0.001). Breathing through the ITD resulted in no reported adverse events, was well tolerated, and resulted in feeling "better" in more than 85% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Use of an ITD by emergency medical services personnel on hypotensive spontaneously breathing patients secondary to blood loss and trauma increased SBP and DBP and was feasible, well tolerated, and not associated with adverse effects (e.g., increased bleeding).