Drive-the-doctor paradigm in acute ischaemic stroke for improving regional stroke care networks: a cost-effectiveness analysis

Background and objective
In a drive-the-doctor (DD) paradigm, an interventionalist travels from a comprehensive stroke centre (CSC) to primary stroke centres (PSCs) to perform endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for acute ischaemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (LVO). The DD paradigm may reduce time delays from onset to recanalisation. This study aimed to analyse the cost-effectiveness of the DD paradigm versus a drip-and-ship (DS) paradigm, where LVO patients are transferred from PSCs to a CSC for EVT in the northern Netherlands.

Design
Economic evaluation was performed using a simulation model combined with a decision tree and a Markov model.

Setting
Stroke centres in the northern Netherlands.

Participants
A hypothetical cohort of 100 000 LVO patients with an average age of 70 years.

Interventions
Two strategies were tested, including the DD paradigm with one upgraded PSC and the DD paradigm with two upgraded PSCs.

Main outcome measures
Total costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were measured over a 15-year time horizon from a Dutch healthcare provider perspective. An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of 50 000 was used as a willingness-to-pay threshold. One-way sensitivity, probabilistic sensitivity and scenario analyses (interventionalist transportation by car, ambulance and helicopter) were conducted to examine parameter uncertainty.

Results
The DD paradigm using car as a transport modality and two PSCs was the optimal strategy, resulting in the lowest ICER. This strategy provided an additional 0.13 QALYs at incremental costs of 2367, yielding an ICER of 18 306 compared with current practice. The DD paradigm with two PSCs reduced ICERs compared with the scenario with one PSC when varying transportation modalities (car, ambulance and helicopter). Probabilistic sensitivity analyses showed that the DD paradigm with two PSCs using car was preferred in 72% of 10 000 Monte Carlo simulations.

Conclusions
The DD paradigm appeared cost-effective for LVO patients and may be considered a promising evolution for a regional stroke network.

Leggi
Marzo 2025

FLAIR Vascular Hyperintensities as Imaging Biomarker in Pediatric Acute Ischemic Stroke

Stroke, Ahead of Print. BACKGROUND:Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery vascular hyperintensities (FVH) are high signal intensities on magnetic resonance imaging resulting from sluggish or stagnant flow through vessels. This investigation describes the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes associated with FVH in pediatric arterial ischemic stroke (AIS).METHODS:Retrospective review of children aged 29 days to 18 years in a single institution stroke registry from 2006 to 2022 with AIS. Magnetic resonance imaging were assessed for large vessel occlusion (LVO), FVH score, modified Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score, and AIS volume. The association between demographic and imaging factors with the presence of and high FVH burden was assessed using Fisher exact, Pearson χ2, or Kruskal-Wallis tests. Wilcoxon rank-sum test evaluated the association of FVH score with the presence of LVO and poor outcome. The relationship between FVH score and age, time to magnetic resonance imaging, stroke volume, modified Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score, Pediatric National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and Pediatric Stroke Outcome Measure score were assessed using Spearman correlation. A multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors of FVH.RESULTS:In total, 273 patients with AIS were screened, and 83 met the inclusion criteria. Patients were a median age of 11.6 years (range, 1 month–18 years) and 37% were female. FVH were present in 53% of the cohort. Median FVH score was 0 (interquartile range, 0–2) in those without LVO and 5.5 (interquartile range, 3–7) in those with LVO (P

Leggi
Marzo 2025

[Articles] Subphenotypes and the De Ritis ratio for mortality risk stratification in sepsis-associated acute liver injury: a retrospective cohort study

The De Ritis ratio serves as a valuable prognostic tool for 30-day mortality in SALI patients. Our findings indicate that patients with a ratio ≥1 face significantly worse outcomes, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. These results refine risk stratification in SALI subphenotypes, enhancing our understanding of its prognostic implications.

Leggi
Marzo 2025

Physiotherapy and Optimised Enteral Nutrition In the post-acute phase of critical illness (PHOENIX): protocol for a mixed methods feasibility randomised controlled trial

Introduction
Each year in the UK, 140 000 patients are discharged from intensive care units (ICUs) to general hospital wards, almost all with complex rehabilitation needs. 84% of patients still require nutritional support and 98% are not physically independent. Despite this, many are discharged from ICU without a nutrition plan, and failure to recognise malnutrition is common. Consequently, malnutrition persists in the ward environment, leading to poor outcomes and acting as a barrier to successful physical rehabilitation. This transition from intensive care to the ward represents a key stage in the recovery journey, and a window for optimising physical independence prior to hospital discharge, decreasing the need for support in the community. However, uncertainty as to how best to provide ongoing rehabilitation which combines adequate nutrition and exercise on the general ward has driven widespread variation in practice.
We have previously shown the benefits of delivering a structured rehabilitation strategy in the ICU. However, the ward environment poses different challenges to the development of an integrated rehabilitation pathway. There is a need to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of structured rehabilitation strategies when delivered outside the ICU.

Methods and analysis
Physiotherapy and Optimised Enteral Nutrition In the post-acute phase of critical illness is a bi-centre, mixed methods feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT). 60 patients will be recruited from ICUs at two acute National Health Service Trusts and randomised on a 1:1 basis to receive either individualised physiotherapy and optimised nutrition post discharge from ICU (intervention) or standard care. The primary objective is to assess the acceptability of the intervention and feasibility of a future, multicentre RCT. The primary outcome measures, which will determine feasibility, are recruitment and retention rates, and intervention fidelity. Acceptability of the intervention will be evaluated through semistructured interviews of participants and staff. Secondary outcome measures include collecting baseline, clinical and outcome data to inform the power calculations of a future definitive trial.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval has been obtained through the Wales Research and Ethics Committee 2 (24/WA/0050). We aim to disseminate the findings through international conferences, international peer-reviewed journals and social media.

Trial registration number
NCT06159868. Prospectively registered on 28 November 2023.

Leggi
Marzo 2025

Incidence, management and outcomes of patients with acute chest pain presenting to the emergency departments in China: findings from a prospective multicentre registry

Objectives
Early evaluation and treatment of patients with acute chest pain pose a massive challenge to the emergency care system worldwide. This study aims to determine the current burden and early management of acute chest pain presenting to the emergency departments (EDs) in China.

Design
The Evaluation and Management of Patients with Acute ChesT pain study is a prospective, multicentre and provincially representative registry of acute chest pain patients in Chinese EDs.

Setting
A stratified random sampling design generated the province representative sample of 21 public hospitals with independent EDs in Shandong, China. Each participating site consecutively enrolled patients for at least 12 months from August 2015 to September 2017.

Participants
A total of 8349 adult patients presenting with acute chest pain or suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were included.

Primary outcome measures
The annual incidence of ED-assessed acute chest pain was estimated. The aetiology, process of care and 30-day major adverse cardiac events (MACE) of included patients were analysed.

Results
The estimated annual incidence of ED-assessed acute chest pain was 96.6 (95% CI 95.9 to 97.3) per 100 000 adults, significantly increasing with age. The mean age of included patients was 63.8 years, with 57.9% males. Prehospital delay was a median of 2.8 (IQR, 1.2–10.3) hours, with 17.9% transported by ambulance. About 75.6% of patients received their first ECG within 10 min. Cardiac troponin was tested in 54.2%, with high-sensitivity cardiac troponin in 24.5% and serial troponins in 5.1% during the ED stay. Most (74.0%) were admitted to the inpatient ward, with a median ED stay of 65.0 (IQR, 27.0–385.0) min. Within 30 days, 6.8% experienced MACE. Among included patients, 62.9% were diagnosed with ACS, with specific management varying by ST-segment elevation status.

Conclusions
China’s first regionally representative registry of acute chest pain revealed a lower incidence of ED-assessed cases but a higher proportion of high-risk patients compared with other countries. Gaps persist in aligning emergency management with guidelines. More programmes and policies are needed to enhance the quality of acute chest pain care in China.

Trial registration number
This study was registered at URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02536677).

Leggi
Marzo 2025

Physiotherapy and Optimised Enteral Nutrition In the post-acute phase of critical illness (PHOENIX): protocol for a mixed methods feasibility randomised controlled trial

Introduction
Each year in the UK, 140 000 patients are discharged from intensive care units (ICUs) to general hospital wards, almost all with complex rehabilitation needs. 84% of patients still require nutritional support and 98% are not physically independent. Despite this, many are discharged from ICU without a nutrition plan, and failure to recognise malnutrition is common. Consequently, malnutrition persists in the ward environment, leading to poor outcomes and acting as a barrier to successful physical rehabilitation. This transition from intensive care to the ward represents a key stage in the recovery journey, and a window for optimising physical independence prior to hospital discharge, decreasing the need for support in the community. However, uncertainty as to how best to provide ongoing rehabilitation which combines adequate nutrition and exercise on the general ward has driven widespread variation in practice.
We have previously shown the benefits of delivering a structured rehabilitation strategy in the ICU. However, the ward environment poses different challenges to the development of an integrated rehabilitation pathway. There is a need to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of structured rehabilitation strategies when delivered outside the ICU.

Methods and analysis
Physiotherapy and Optimised Enteral Nutrition In the post-acute phase of critical illness is a bi-centre, mixed methods feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT). 60 patients will be recruited from ICUs at two acute National Health Service Trusts and randomised on a 1:1 basis to receive either individualised physiotherapy and optimised nutrition post discharge from ICU (intervention) or standard care. The primary objective is to assess the acceptability of the intervention and feasibility of a future, multicentre RCT. The primary outcome measures, which will determine feasibility, are recruitment and retention rates, and intervention fidelity. Acceptability of the intervention will be evaluated through semistructured interviews of participants and staff. Secondary outcome measures include collecting baseline, clinical and outcome data to inform the power calculations of a future definitive trial.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval has been obtained through the Wales Research and Ethics Committee 2 (24/WA/0050). We aim to disseminate the findings through international conferences, international peer-reviewed journals and social media.

Trial registration number
NCT06159868. Prospectively registered on 28 November 2023.

Leggi
Marzo 2025

Incidence, management and outcomes of patients with acute chest pain presenting to the emergency departments in China: findings from a prospective multicentre registry

Objectives
Early evaluation and treatment of patients with acute chest pain pose a massive challenge to the emergency care system worldwide. This study aims to determine the current burden and early management of acute chest pain presenting to the emergency departments (EDs) in China.

Design
The Evaluation and Management of Patients with Acute ChesT pain study is a prospective, multicentre and provincially representative registry of acute chest pain patients in Chinese EDs.

Setting
A stratified random sampling design generated the province representative sample of 21 public hospitals with independent EDs in Shandong, China. Each participating site consecutively enrolled patients for at least 12 months from August 2015 to September 2017.

Participants
A total of 8349 adult patients presenting with acute chest pain or suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were included.

Primary outcome measures
The annual incidence of ED-assessed acute chest pain was estimated. The aetiology, process of care and 30-day major adverse cardiac events (MACE) of included patients were analysed.

Results
The estimated annual incidence of ED-assessed acute chest pain was 96.6 (95% CI 95.9 to 97.3) per 100 000 adults, significantly increasing with age. The mean age of included patients was 63.8 years, with 57.9% males. Prehospital delay was a median of 2.8 (IQR, 1.2–10.3) hours, with 17.9% transported by ambulance. About 75.6% of patients received their first ECG within 10 min. Cardiac troponin was tested in 54.2%, with high-sensitivity cardiac troponin in 24.5% and serial troponins in 5.1% during the ED stay. Most (74.0%) were admitted to the inpatient ward, with a median ED stay of 65.0 (IQR, 27.0–385.0) min. Within 30 days, 6.8% experienced MACE. Among included patients, 62.9% were diagnosed with ACS, with specific management varying by ST-segment elevation status.

Conclusions
China’s first regionally representative registry of acute chest pain revealed a lower incidence of ED-assessed cases but a higher proportion of high-risk patients compared with other countries. Gaps persist in aligning emergency management with guidelines. More programmes and policies are needed to enhance the quality of acute chest pain care in China.

Trial registration number
This study was registered at URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02536677).

Leggi
Marzo 2025

Poor clinical outcome despite successful recanalisation in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing direct percutaneous coronary intervention: a retrospective cohort study

Background
ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the preferred treatment, yet some patients experience major adverse cardiac events (MACE) within a year despite successful recanalisation. Identifying predictors of futile recanalisation—defined as achieving thrombolysis in myocardial infarction grade III flow after PPCI but still developing MACE—is essential for improving outcomes.

Research design and methods
This single-centre, retrospective study included patients with STEMI treated with PPCI from January 2019 to January 2023. The primary outcome was futile recanalisation. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and logistic regression were used to identify independent predictors of futile recanalisation.

Results
Of the 489 consecutive patients who achieved successful recanalisation, 20.9% met the criteria for futile recanalisation within 1 year. Multivariable analysis identified several independent predictors: heart rate at admission (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.71), reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.41), advanced left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.15), elevated cardiac troponin I (CTnI) levels (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.90), high Selvester QRS scores (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.13) and increased homocysteine (HCY) levels (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.77).

Conclusion
Despite successful recanalisation, certain factors—high admission heart rate, low LVEF, advanced left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, elevated CTnI levels, high Selvester QRS scores, and increased HCY levels—are associated with futile recanalisation in patients with STEMI. These findings highlight the need for targeted monitoring and management strategies to reduce long-term MACE risks in this population.

Leggi
Marzo 2025

Correction: Intra-arterial alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke after mechanical thrombectomy (PEARL): rationale and design of a multicentre, prospective, open-label, blinded-endpoint, randomised controlled trial

Yang X, He X, Pan D, et al. Intra-arterial alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke after mechanical thrombectomy (PEARL): rationale and design of a multicentre, prospective, open-label, blinded-endpoint, randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2024;14:e091059. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024091059
This article was previously published with an error.
Figure 1 has been updated. During the trial, some participating centres underwent official name changes. The figure now reflects the revised names while maintaining the original study site distribution. These changes neither affect the centres themselves or the conduct of the trial nor the study’s data and conclusions.

Leggi
Marzo 2025

Diffusion Imaging Protocol Heterogeneity Biases Ischemic Core Volume, Location, and Clinical Associations in Acute Stroke

Stroke, Volume 56, Issue 4, Page 915-925, April 1, 2025. BACKGROUND:Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging is essential for diagnosing ischemic stroke and identifying targets for emergency revascularization. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps derived from diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging are commonly used to locate the infarct core, but they are not strictly quantitative and can vary across platforms and sites due to technical factors. This retrospective study was conducted to examine how differences in ADC map generation, resulting from varied protocols across platforms and sites, affect the determination of infarct core size, location, and related clinical outcomes in acute stroke.METHODS:In this retrospective study, 726 patients with acute anterior circulation stroke from a cohort of 1210 unique visits to the Lausanne University Hospital between May 2018 and January 2021 were selected, excluding patients with poor quality imaging or no magnetic resonance imaging or clinical information available. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data were used to generate ADC maps as they would appear from different protocols: 2 simulated with low- and medium-angular resolution (4 and 12 diffusion gradient directions) and 1 with high-angular resolution (20 directions). Using DEFUSE criteria and image postprocessing, ischemic cores were localized; core volume, location, and associations to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and modified Rankin Scale scores were compared between the 2 imaging sequences.RESULTS:Significant differences were observed in the ADC distribution within white matter, particularly in the kurtosis and skewness, with the segmented infarct core volume being higher in protocols with reduced angular resolution compared with the 20-directions data (7.63 mL versus 3.78 mL). The volumetric differences persisted after correcting for age, sex, and type of intervention. Infarcted voxel’s locations varied significantly between the 2 protocols. This variability affected associations between infarct core volume and clinical scores, with lower associations observed for 4-direction data compared with 20-direction data for the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at admission and after 24 hours, and modified Rankin Scale after 3 months, further confirmed by multivariate regression.CONCLUSIONS:Imaging protocol heterogeneity leads to significant changes in the ADC distribution, ischemic core location, size, and association with clinical scores. Work is needed in standardizing imaging protocols to improve the reliability of ADC as an imaging biomarker in stroke management protocols to improve the reliability of ADC as an imaging biomarker in stroke management.

Leggi
Marzo 2025