School of Medicine Publications and Presentations
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-12-2020
Abstract
Background: Early endovascular recanalization of occluded vessels in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a major contributor to good clinical outcome. We report the analysis of all AIS patients throughout a 6-year experience following the deployment of a quality initiative aiming at improving care, speed and maintaining quality for AIS treatment.
Methods: Using a prospectively collected endovascular database at a comprehensive stroke center between 2012 and 2017, workflow/outcomes were recorded. There were no exclusion criteria. During the first year, a quality program employing “digital-object” technology, staff education, and workflow improvement was implemented to reduce time-to-treatment. Using electronic recording, workflow times were collected for onset (TO), CT (TCT), door (TD), angiography-suite (TA), groin puncture (TG), DSA (TDSA), and recanalization (TR). Recanalization time (TG-TR) and workflow intervals were compared at Year 1 and 6.
Results: Analysis of 382 patients (aged 71.3 ± 12.9) undergoing mechanical thrombectomy for AIS (206 male and 176 female) was performed. Recanalization time was significantly reduced from 82min in 2012 to 34min by 2017 (IQR 52–117min and 23–49min), a 59% reduction (P < 0.001). Further, consistent year-over-year reductions in setup time (TA-TG) (44% improvement) and TCT to TA times were observed. During the same period, clinical outcome significantly improved year-over-year as measured with the modified Rankin Scale 0–2 (33, 37, 38, 41, 53, and 58%).
Conclusions: Significant improvements were observed following the deployment of a quality initiative enabling iterative evidence-based process improvements, thereby sustaining significant reductions in time-to-treat and improved clinical outcomes for AIS patients.
Recommended Citation
Hassan, A. E., Rabah, R. R., Preston, L., & Tekle, W. G. (2020). STEPS-T Program Improves Endovascular Treatment Outcomes of Acute Ischemic Stroke; A 6-Year Study. Frontiers in Neurology, 10, 1251. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2019.01251
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Publication Title
Frontiers in Neuroscience
DOI
10.3389/fneur.2019.01251
Academic Level
faculty
Mentor/PI Department
Neurology
Comments
Original published version available at https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2019.01251