Effectiveness of the Attendance of Special Stroke Team on Time Interval between Admission of Patients with Acute Stroke to the Emergency Department and Start of Thrombolytic Therapy

Acute stroke, just like heart attacks or trauma, is an emergency and should be treated urgently. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of attendance of special stroke team on time interval between admission of patients with acute stroke to the emergency department and the start of thrombolytic treatment (Door to Needle) in patients with acute stroke.

This cross-sectional analytical study was performed on 250 patients with acute stroke, in two groups of 125 cases. Demographic information (age, sex, comorbidity, history of previous stroke) and related information including way of transferring to the hospital, time to visit the emergency medicine specialist, performing brain CT scan, neurologist visit, transfer to the stroke ward, obtaining consent, and time of initiation of thrombolytic therapy were collected, using a self- made questionnaire. Data collection in the intervention group was performed by a special stroke team, and in the control group by emergency department personnel. Results were compared and analyzed with statistical software.

No statistically significant difference was found between demographics of patients in two groups. However, time to visit the emergency medicine specialist, performing brain CT scan, neurologist visit, transferring to the stroke ward, obtaining consent, and time interval of admission and initiation of thrombolytic therapy (door to needle) were statistically different (P = 0.000).

Findings indicate that attendance of Stroke special team in the emergency department, reduces the time interval between admission and initiation of thrombolytic treatment in patinets with acute stroke which reduce further complications and decrease the burden of disease.