[Epidemiology and management of stroke patients in emergency departments of the Centre region of France]

Factors associated with delayed revascularization in patients with ischemic stroke: a prospective study in one French region

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE

Optimizing the care pathway of stroke is crucial for the revascularization of ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVES

to identify factors associated with (1) a time interval over 4 h between the symptom onset and cerebral imaging in suspected stroke patients and (2) the absence of revascularization in patients with ischemic stroke.

DESIGN, SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS

Patients over 18 years old with a suspected stroke admitted in 22 emergency rooms or stroke units in one French region between 1 March 2019 and 30 April 2019 were prospectively included by filling a dedicated form.

OUTCOME MEASURES AND ANALYSIS

Factors associated with the previously mentioned outcome measures were identified using logistic regression models.

MAIN RESULTS

In total 991 patients were included; 537 patients (64% of 845 with available time intervals) were admitted more than 4 h after symptom onset. Three predictors were identified: not calling emergency medical services (EMS) [odds-ratio (OR) 5.2; 95% confidence interval (3.4-8.1)], a preexisting autonomy loss [2.0 (1.3-2.9)] and atypical clinical presentation [2.0 (1.3-3.1)]. A total of 385 patients had an ischemic stroke of whom 93 underwent a revascularization procedure (24%). The same three predictors were associated with the absence of revascularization procedure, added to an initial admission in a hospital without stroke unit [3.1 (1.1-8.6)].

CONCLUSION

This study shows that efforts to organize the care chain for stroke need to be intensified in the region to reduce treatment time intervals, which could include information campaigns focused on the impact of EMS call and the clinical presentation recognition.

Cannabis-related hospitalizations: unexpected serious events identified through hospital databases

AIMS

Cannabis is the most prevalent illicit drug used worldwide and can be responsible for serious health defects in users. However, the risk related to cannabis consumption is not well established. The present study aimed to assess cannabis-related adverse events leading to hospitalization, and to estimate the corresponding annual risk for consumers.

METHODS

Participants were patients admitted to the public hospitals in the Toulouse area (France) between January 2004 and December 2007 in relation to the use of cannabis. Reasons for admission and other occurring events were identified through hospital discharge summaries. We described all observed adverse events (AEs) and estimated their regional incidence on the basis of cannabis consumption data.

RESULTS

We included 200 patients, and identified a total of 619 adverse events (AEs), one of which was lethal. Psychiatric disorders involved 57.7% of patients and accounted for 18.2% of AEs. Most frequent outcomes were central and peripheral nervous system disorders (15.8% of AEs), acute intoxication (12.1%), respiratory system disorders (11.1%) and cardiovascular disorders (9.5%). We estimated that in 2007 the incidence of cannabis-related AEs in the Midi-Pyrenees region ranged from 1.2 per 1000 regular cannabis users (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7, 1.6) to 3.2 (95% CI 2.5, 3.9).

CONCLUSIONS

Cannabis use is associated with complications, considered to be serious since they lead to hospitalization. Beyond the well-known and widely investigated psychiatric events, serious cerebro and cardiovascular complications have been identified. These findings contribute to improve the knowledge of cannabis-related adverse events.

[Evaluation of care delivered to stroke patients in a French hospital.]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of care provided in a university hospital to stroke patients with the use of an evaluation of practice carried out by comparing results to the recommendations of the High Authority of Health (HAS). The study period covered two years (2005 and 2006). The study was retrospective based on patients' medical records (n=154), and it compared local medical practices to national guidelines. Significant gaps with the recommended practices were noted, in particular in the prescription of additional examinations and their delay in being carried out. There were also noticeable deficiencies in therapeutic care. Furthermore, there was a certain element of heterogeneity of care in the acute phase of stroke attack within the same hospital service. Establishment of a multidisciplinary medical team including at least two neurologists who are aware of and motivated by evaluation would be an opportunity for this hospital to improve services. In addition, the referral of stroke patients to a specialized service and the implementation of a standardized template card to collect clinical criteria are also proposed.

Prise en charge des accidents vasculaires cérébraux au Sénégal

OBJECTIVES

Because of its acuteness and rapid progress to irreversible injury, stroke is a dramatically high priority medical emergency. The purpose of this prospective study was to ascertain the average time limit for primary management of stroke victims referred to the Senegalese national medical center considered as the final link within the country's healthcare organisation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We reviewed the files of 170 patients aged 25-90 (average 61+/-13 years). The sex ratio was 0.68. Seventy percent of the patients resided in the nation's capital, Dakar.

RESULTS

Most of the patients were referred to a medical center late. Admission was before the 6th hour for only one patient and none of the patients were admitted before the 3rd hour. Late treatment was related to the remoteness of medical centers. Among patients residing in Dakar, the first visit occurred between 6 and 24 hours for 30p.cent versus 7.8 p.cent for patients residing in rural areas of the country. Educational level and socio-economic status had no effect on late treatment. None of the patients were given prehospital care. Treatment was essentially symptomatic in patients with hemorrhagic stroke. Anticoagulants or anti-platelet agents were prescribed for patients with ischemic stroke. Only 29.4 p.cent of patients were given rehabilitation care. Mortality was 50.6 p.cent and the rate of dependency 41.7 p.cent.

CONCLUSION

In Senegal, stroke victims receive care too late. This situation arises because of insufficiency of human and material resources and inaccessibility to care centers.

Création d’une filière neuro-vasculaire régionale : évaluation de la prise en charge à 18 mois

INTRODUCTION

Our university hospital serves a population of 300 000 inhabitants. Stroke is the leading cause of admission in our department of neurology. In June 2003, when the Emergency Department (ED) was closed in our institution, was created an acute stroke network (ASN), comprising 2 beds of direct admission and thrombolysis in the intensive care unit, and 4 beds dedicated to stroke care in the department of neurology, in which standardized stroke care protocols were implemented.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in stroke care related to the creation of the ASN in terms of delays of arrival, imaging, use of intravenous (IV) thrombolysis, and outcome of patients. We conducted a prospective study during 18 months to evaluate characteristics of patients admitted with suspected stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in the newly created ASN and to assess conditions of treatment with IV thrombolysis in terms of safety and efficacy. We also compared the outcome data before and after the creation of the ASN.

METHODS

For each patient admitted in our hospital for suspected stroke or TIA, were prospectively collected clinical and outcome data (age, mode of transport, delay of arrival after the onset of symptoms (OS), treatment with IV thrombolysis, outcome and discharge). This study was conducted in the ED during six months in 2002, and in the ASN during 18 months, for all patients admitted for stroke.

RESULTS

Three hundred and sixty four patients were admitted in the ASN. Emergency medical services (EMS) were used in half of cases for transport, and median delay of admission after the OS was 2h and 52 min. Median delay of imaging was 1 h and 45 min. Seventeen patients (8.5 p. 100 of ischemic stroke patients) were treated with IV thrombolysis, with an initial good outcome in 9 patients, 7 with a dramatic recovery). The main reason for therapeutic abstention for untreated patients admitted in the first 3 hours was a mild deficit with a NIHSS<6. Compared with the previous management in the ED, patients in the ASN were younger, had more severe neurological symptoms, the EMS transport was the main mode of transport (versus used in 17 p. 100 of cases in 2002), and the delay of admission was significantly lower: 2 h 52 versus 5 h 10 (p<0.02). After adjustment on the main predictive factors, only patients with hemorrhagic strokes had a better outcome after the creation of the ASN.

CONCLUSIONS

Creation of an ASN was associated with a significant decrease of admission and imaging delays, due to a strong collaboration with EMS, and with a better outcome for hemorrhagic stroke patients. Treatment with intravenous thrombolysis in the first 3 hours could be used widely and was efficient and safe. However, the creation of dedicated stroke units for all stroke patients remains necessary to improve quality of care and outcome.