Effects of a Feedback-Demanding Stroke Clock on Acute Stroke Management: A Randomized Study

Mathias Fousse, Daniel Grün, Stefan A. Helwig, Silke Walter, Adam Bekhit, Stefan Wagenpfeil, Martin Lesmeister, Michael Kettner, Safwan Roumia, Ruben Mühl-Benninghaus, Andreas Simgen, Umut Yilmaz, Christian Ruckes, Kai Kronfeld, Monika Bachhuber, Iris Q. Grunwald, Thomas Bertsch, Wolfgang Reith, Klaus Fassbender (Lead / Corresponding author)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background and Purpose: This randomized study aimed to evaluate whether the use of a stroke clock demanding active feedback from the stroke physician accelerates acute stroke management.

Methods: For this randomized controlled study, a large-display alarm clock was installed in the computed tomography room, where admission, diagnostic work-up, and intravenous thrombolysis occurred. Alarms were set at the following target times after admission: (1) 15 minutes (neurological examination completed); (2) 25 minutes (computed tomography scanning and international normalized ratio determination by point-of-care laboratory completed); and (3) 30 minutes (intravenous thrombolysis started). The responsible stroke physician had to actively provide feedback by pressing a buzzer button. The alarm could be avoided by pressing the button before time out. Times to therapy decision (primary end point, defined as the end of all diagnostic work-up required for decision for or against recanalizing treatment), neurological examination, imaging, point-of-care laboratory, needle, and groin puncture were assessed by a neutral observer. Functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale) was assessed at day 90.

Results: Of 107 participants, 51 stroke clock patients exhibited better stroke-management metrics than 56 control patients. Times from door to (1) end of all indicated diagnostic work-up (treatment decision time; 16.73 versus 26.00 minutes, P<0.001), (2) end of neurological examination (7.28 versus 10.00 minutes, P<0.001), (3) end of computed tomography (11.17 versus 14.00 minutes, P=0.002), (4) end of computed tomography angiography (14.00 versus 17.17 minutes, P=0.001), (5) end of point-of-care laboratory testing (12.14 versus 20.00 minutes, P<0.001), and (6) needle times (18.83 versus 47.00 minutes, P=0.016) were improved. In contrast, door-to-groin puncture times and functional outcomes at day 90 were not significantly different.

Conclusions: This study showed that the use of a stroke clock demanding active feedback significantly improves acute stroke-management metrics and, thus, represents a potential low-cost strategy for streamlining time-sensitive stroke treatment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2895-2900
Number of pages6
JournalStroke
Volume51
Issue number10
Early online date24 Sept 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2020

Keywords

  • acute management
  • stroke
  • thrombectomy
  • thrombolysis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Advanced and Specialised Nursing

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