Flying Intervention Team for Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke in Rural Areas

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of this study is to compare time delay and safety parameters of stroke patients initially admitted to a rural primary stroke center (PSC) who receive endovascular treatment (EVT) by a Flying Intervention Team with patients who receive EVT after secondary transfer to a comprehensive stroke center (CSC).

Detailed Description
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A novel health care concept was implemented in the telemedical stroke network TEMPiS (Telemedical Project for integrative Stroke Care) to reduce time delays to EVT in stroke patients with large vessel occlusion: After telemedicine-assisted identification of EVT candidates in a PSC, a Flying Intervention Team (neuroradiologist and angiography assistant) is flown from a CSC via helicopter to the PSC to perform EVT in the local angiography suite. Flying Intervention Team service runs from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Patients remain at local stroke unit for further treatment. Analysis will include time delay to EVT, recanalization, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, periprocedural complications, in-hospital complications, and mortality.

Official Title
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Flying Intervention Team for Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke in Rural Areas

Conditions
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Brain Infarction

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Endovascular treatment by Flying Intervention Team


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion criteria: Admission to participating primary stroke center (PSC) with acute symptoms of stroke Telemedicine-supported decision for endovascular treatment (EVT) Inclusion criteria for primary study population: Occlusion of M1, proximal M2, intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) or basilar artery Decision for EVT between 8 a.m. an 10 p.m. Time from symptom onset to EVT decision within treatment window (0-6 h for M1, M2 and ICA occlusions, 0-24 h for basilar artery occlusions, 0-24 for M1, M2 and ICA occlusions with suitable mismatch in perfusion imaging performed in PSC) Endovascular treatment in PSC by Flying Intervention Team or in comprehensive stroke center after secondary transfer Exclusion criteria for primary study population: Age > 85 years Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score (ASPECTS) < 6 Premorbid severe or moderately severe disability (modified Rankin Scale > 3) Premorbid serious or advanced illness with high mortality

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| EVT by Flying Intervention Team in primary stroke center<br>Patients with ischemic stroke and large vessel occlusion admitted to a primary stroke center, for whom a Flying Intervention Team is flown to the primary stroke center in order to perform endovascular treatment. | Other: Endovascular treatment by Flying Intervention Team<br>* After telemedicine-assisted decision for endovascular treatment, the Flying Intervention Team is transferred via helicopter to the primary stroke center and performs endovascular treatment in the local angiography suite.<br>|
| EVT after secondary transfer to comprehensive stroke center<br>Patients with ischemic stroke and large vessel occlusion admitted to a primary stroke center, who are transferred to a comprehensive stroke center for endovascular treatment. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time from decision for endovascular treatment to groin puncture | Time from telemedicine-assisted decision for endovascular treatment to initiation of endovascular treatment by groin puncture | day 1 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time from symptom onset to recanalization | Time from symptom onset to recanalization of previously occluded target artery by endovascular treatment | day 1 | 
| Other procedural times of hyperacute care | Other procedural times between symptom onset, admission to PSC, first imaging, decision for endovascular treatment, initiation of endovascular treatment and completion of endovascular treatment | day 1 | 
| Recanalization | Proportion of patients with antegrade reperfusion of more than half of the previously occluded target artery ischemic territory after endovascular treatment | day 1 | 
| Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage | Proportion of patients with symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage | 7 days | 
| In-hospital death or palliative care | In-hospital death or decision for palliative care | 7 days | 
| Periprocedural complications | Proportion of patients with periprocedural, endovascular treatment associated complications | day 1 | 
| In-hospital complications | Proportion of patients with other in-hospital complications | 7 days | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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endovascular treatment, stroke, large vessel occlusion, telemedicine, helicopter, thrombectomy, mobile interventionalist, flying intervention team