Mobile Stroke Unit Research Articles

RETRACTED: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Stroke Epidemiology and Clinical Stroke Practice in the US

IntroductionTo examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stroke, the number of stroke patients, time since last known well (LKW), morbidity, and mortality of stroke patients in Southwest Healthcare System (SHS), California (CA) and the United States (US) were analyzed during 2019 and compared to 2020. Our hypothesis is that there are regional differences in stroke outcome depending on location during the COVID-19 study period which influences stroke epidemiology and clinical stroke practice.MethodsThe American Heart Association's ‘Get with the Guidelines’ (GWTG) database was used to evaluate the following categories: code stroke, diagnosis of stroke upon discharge, inpatient mortality, modified Rankin Score (mRS) upon discharge (morbidity), and time since last known well (LKW). Stroke registry data from February through June 2019 and 2020 were collected for retrospective review.ResultsThe total number of strokes decreased in the US and CA, but increased in SHS during the COVID-19 study period. The US and SHS demonstrated no change in stroke mortality, but CA demonstrated a higher stroke mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was greater loss of independence with increased stroke morbidity in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a significant increase in time since LKW in the US and SHS, and an increase trend in time since LKW in CA during the COVID-19 study period.DiscussionTo understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stroke epidemiology, we propose that all stroke inpatients should receive a SARS-CoV-2 detection test and this result be entered into the GWTG database. We demonstrate that the regional distribution of stroke mortality in the US changed during the COVID-19 study period, with increased stroke mortality in CA. Stroke morbidity throughout the US was significantly worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. We propose methods to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical stroke practice such as the use of mobile stroke units, clinical trials using anti-inflammation drugs on SARS-CoV-2 positive stroke patients, and COVID stroke rehabilitation centers.

Effect of thrombolysis in a mobile stroke unit versus in hospital for patients with ischemic stroke: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Introduction:Ischemic stroke caused by arterial occlusion is the cause of most strokes. The focus of treatment is rapid reperfusion through intravenous thrombolysis and intravascular thrombectomy. Two acute stroke management including prehospital thrombolysis and in hospital have been widely used clinically to treat ischemic stroke with satisfied efficacy. However, there is no systematic review comparing the effectiveness of these 2 therapies. The aim of this study is to compare the effect of prehospital thrombolysis versus in hospital for patients with ischemic stroke.Methods and analysis:The following electronic databases will be searched: Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Biology Medicine disc (CBM), Wanfang Database, and Chinese Scientific Journal Database.The randomized controlled trials of prehospital thrombolysis versus in hospital for ischemic stroke will be searched in the databases from their inception to December 2020 by 2 researchers independently. Onset to therapy (OTT) duration and National Institute Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores will be assessed as the primary outcomes; safety assessment including intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and mortality will be assessed as the secondary outcomes. The Review Manager 5.3 will be used for meta-analysis and the evidence level will be assessed by using the method for Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and evaluation Continuous outcomes will be presented as the weighted mean difference or standardized mean difference with 95% confidence interval (CI), whereas dichotomous data will be expressed as relative risk with 95% CI. If heterogeneity existed (P < .05), the random effect model was used. Otherwise, we will use the fixed effect model for calculation.Ethics and dissemination:Ethical approval is not required because no primary data are collected. This review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.PROSPERO registration number:CRD42020200708

Probability assessment of intracerebral hemorrhage in prehospital emergency patients

BackgroundRouting of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) to the most appropriate hospital is challenging for emergency medical services particularly when specific treatment options are only provided by specialized hospitals and determination of the exact diagnosis is difficult. We aimed to develop a prehospital score – called prehospital-intracerebral hemorrhage score (ph-ICH score) – to assist in discriminating between both conditions.MethodsThe ph-ICH score was developed with data from patients treated aboard a mobile stroke unit in Berlin, Germany, between 2011 and 2013 (derivation cohort) and in 2018 (validation cohort). Diagnosis of ICH or AIS was established using clinical data and neuroradiological cerebral imaging. Diagnostic accuracy was measured with significance testing, Cohen’s d and receiver-operating-characteristics.ResultsWe analyzed 416 patients (32 ICH, 224 AIS, 41 transient ischemic attack, 119 stroke mimic) in the derivation cohort and 285 patients (33 ICH and 252 AIS) in the validation cohort. Systolic blood pressure, level of consciousness and severity of neurological deficits (i. e. certain items of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) were used to calculate the ph-ICH score that showed higher values in the ICH compared to the AIS group (derivation cohort: 1.8 ± 1.2 vs. 1.0 ± 0.9 points; validation cohort: 1.8 ± 0.9 vs. 0.8 ± 0.7 points; d = 0.9 and 1.4, both p < 0.01). Receiver-operating-characteristics showed fair and good accuracy with an area under the curve of 0.71 for the derivation and 0.81 for the validation cohort.ConclusionsThe ph-ICH score can assist medical personnel in the field to assess the likelihood of ICH and AIS in emergency patients.

Mobile stroke units for acute stroke care in the south of sweden

A Mobile stroke unit (MSU) is a type of ambulance deployed to promote the rapid delivery of stroke care. We present a computational study using a time to treatment estimation model to analyze the potential benefits of using MSUs in Sweden’s Southern Health Care Region (SHR). In particular, we developed two scenarios (MSU1 and MSU2) each including three MSUs, which we compared with a baseline scenario containing only regular ambulances. For each MSU scenario, we assessed how much the expected time to treatment is estimated to decrease for the whole region and each subregion of SHR, and how the population is expected to benefit from the deployment of MSUs. For example, the average time to treatment in SHR was decreased with 20,4 and 15,6 minutes, respectively, in the two MSU scenarios. Moreover, our computational results show that the locations of the MSUs significantly influence what benefits can be expected. While MSU1 is expected to improve the situation for a higher share of the population, MSU2 is expected to have a higher impact on the patients who currently have the longest time to treatment.

Retrospective Review and Proof of Concept of Asia’s First Mobile Stroke Unit Experience in Kovai Medical Center and Hospital

Background: We review our initial experience of India’s and Asia’s first mobile stroke unit (MSU) following the completion of its first year of operation. We outline the clinical care pathway integrating the MSU services using a case example taking readers along our clinical care workflow while highlighting the challenges faced in organizing and optimizing such services in India. Methods: Retrospective review of data collected for all patients from March 2018 to February 2019 transported and treated within the MSU during the first year of its operation. Recent case example is reviewed highlighting complete comprehensive acute clinical care pathway from prehospital MSU services to advanced endovascular treatment with focus on challenges faced in developing nation for stroke care. Results: The MSU was dispatched and utilized for 14 patients with clinical symptoms of acute stroke. These patients were predominantly males (64%) with median age of 59 years. Ischemic stroke was seen in 7 patients, hemorrhagic in 6, and 1 patient was classified as stroke mimic. Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator was administered to 3 patients within MSU. Most of the patients’ treatment was initiated within 2 h of symptom onset and with the median time of patient contact (rendezvous) following stroke being 55 mins. Conclusion: Retrospective review of Asia’s first MSU reveals its proof of concept in India. Although the number of patients availing treatment in MSU is low as compared to elsewhere in the world, increased public awareness with active government support including subsidizing treatment costs could accelerate development of optimal prehospital acute stroke care policy in India.

Novel Tool of Acute Stroke Assessment in Mobile Stroke Unit

Novel Tool of Acute Stroke Assessment in Mobile Stroke Unit

Mobile Stroke Unit versus Standard Medical Care in the Management of patients with Acute Stroke

Online date: November 16, 2020 This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model)

Quantifying the Impact of Acute Stroke System of Care Transfer Protocols on Patient Outcomes.

We quantify the impact of implementing a stroke system of care requiring transport of individuals believed to have stroke to a primary stroke center, in rural and urban settings, based on time from symptom recognition to treatment, probability of receiving treatment within 3 hours of stroke onset, and probability of overcrowding. We use Indiana as an example. We used discrete-event simulation to estimate outcomes for 2 scenarios: stroke system of care with enabling technology (mobile stroke unit, stroke team expansion) and stroke system of care with no enabling technology, as compared with the status quo. We considered patient flow from symptom recognition to treatment. Patient locations and stroke events were generated for the 92 Indiana counties in Indiana, subdivided into 1009 locations. We considered time from emergency medical service (EMS) arrival at onset to treatment, probability of tissue plasminogen activator administered within 3 h of onset, and percentage of patients admitted beyond the occupancy level at the comprehensive stroke center. Results varied by urbanicity. Under no enabling technology, having a stroke system of care improved outcomes for individuals in urban and suburban settings. However, in rural settings, the implementation of stroke system of care guidelines decreased the average rate of treatment within 3 h of stroke onset and increased the EMS arrival to treatment times compared with sending the individual to the closest provider. Enabling technologies improved outcomes regardless of setting. Geographic disparities tend to increase the number of transfers, decrease the rate of treatment within 3 h of onset, and increase transit time. This could be overcome through federal and state initiatives to reduce quality gaps in stroke care in rural settings and promote care with dedicated stroke wards.

Mobile Stroke Unit in the UK Healthcare System: Avoidance of Unnecessary Accident and Emergency Admissions

Background: Acute stroke patients are usually transported to the nearest hospital regardless of their required level of care. This can lead to increased pressure on emergency departments and treatment delay. Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the benefit of a mobile stroke unit (MSU) in the UK National Health Service (NHS) for reduction of hospital admissions. Methods: Prospective cohort audit observation with dispatch of the MSU in the East of England Ambulance Service area in Southend-on-Sea was conducted. Emergency patients categorized as code stroke and headache were included from June 5, 2018, to December 18, 2018. Rate of avoided admission to the accident and emergency (A&E) department, rate of admission directly to target ward, and stroke management metrics were assessed. Results: In 116 MSU-treated patients, the following diagnoses were made: acute stroke, n = 33 (28.4%); transient ischaemic attacks, n = 13 (11.2%); stroke mimics, n = 32 (27.6%); and other conditions, n = 38 (32.8%). Pre-hospital thrombolysis was administered to 8 of 28 (28.6%) ischaemic stroke patients. Pre-hospital diagnosis avoided hospital admission for 29 (25.0%) patients. As hospital treatment was indicated, 35 (30.2%) patients were directly triaged to the stroke unit, 1 patient (0.9%) even directly to the catheter laboratory. Thus, only 50 (43.1%) patients required transfer to the A&E department. Moreover, the MSU enabled thrombolysis with a median dispatch-to-needle time of 42 min (interquartile range, 40–60). Conclusion: This first deployment of an MSU in the UK NHS demonstrated improved triage decision-making for or against hospital admission and admission to the appropriate target ward, thereby reducing pressure on strained A&E departments.

Telestroke strategies to enhance acute stroke management in rural settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundThe potential of telestroke implementation in resource‐limited areas has yet to be systematically evaluated. This study aims to investigate the implementation of telestroke on acute stroke care in rural areas.MethodsEligible studies published up to November 2019 were included in this study. Randomized trials were further evaluated for risk of bias with Cochrane RoB 2, while nonrandomized studies with ROBINS‐I tool. Random effects model was utilized to estimate effect sizes, and the certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tool.ResultsThe search yielded 19 studies involving a total of 28,496 subjects, comprising of prehospital and in‐hospital telestroke interventions in the form of mobile stroke units and hub‐and‐spoke hospitals network, respectively. Telestroke successfully increased the proportion of patients treated ≤3 hr (OR 2.15; 95% CI 1.37–3.40; I 2 = 0%) and better three‐month functional outcome (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.01–1.63; I 2 = 44%) without increasing symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage rate (OR 1.27; 0.65–2.49; I 2 = 0%). Furthermore, telestroke was also associated with shorter onset‐to‐treatment time (mean difference −27.97 min; 95% CI −35.51, −20.42; I 2 = 63%) and lower in‐hospital mortality rate (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.52–0.87; I 2 = 0%). GRADE assessments yielded low‐to‐moderate certainty of body evidences.ConclusionTelestroke implementation in rural areas was associated with better clinical outcomes as compared to usual care. Its integration in both prehospital and in‐hospital settings could help optimize emergency stroke approach. Further studies with higher‐level evidence are needed to confirm these findings.

The impact of the implementation of a mobile stroke unit on a stroke cohort

BackgroundMobile stroke units (MSUs), specialized ambulances with a built-in computed tomography (CT) scanner and telemedicine connected stroke team, have been on the rise in recent years largely due to the ‘time is brain’ concept. We aim to report our initial experience since establishing our MSU, the first unit in the Tri-state area, and assess its impact on the stroke standards of care timeline. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of all MSU dispatched cases from August 2019 to March 2020. ResultsOf 195 MSU responses, 101 were treated and transported by the MSU. The mean time (hr:mm) of dispatch to scene arrival was 0:07+0:03, scene arrival to CT start was 0:10+0:03, CT start to teleneuro start was 0:05+0:03, teleneuro start to scene departure was 0:06+0:05, scene departure to hospital arrival was 0:12+0:06, and hospital arrival to arterial puncture was 2:59+1:01. The mean time of dispatch to arterial puncture was 3:34+1:02. The mean teleneuro consult duration was 0:04+0:02. The mean time of last know well (LKW) to tPA administration was 1:28+0:48 with 4 (57.1 %) patients receiving tPA within 60 min of LKW and 5 (71.4 %) patients receiving tPA within 90 min. The mean time of dispatch to tPA was 0:37+0:09 and scene arrival to tPA administration was 0:28+0:07. ConclusionMSUs may expedite each step along the stroke standards of care. In theory, this should drastically improve functional outcomes. However, the impact on functional outcomes or reductions in stroke-related morbidity is still unknown.

Retrospective collection of 90-day modified Rankin Scale is accurate.

The 90-day modified Rankin Scale is a widely used outcome after stroke but is sometimes hard to ascertain due to loss to follow-up. Missing outcomes can result in biased and/or inefficient estimates in clinical trials. The aim of this study is to assess the validity of acquiring the 90-day modified Rankin Scale at a later point of time when the patient has been lost at 90 days to impute the missing value. Participants who had prospectively completed a 90-day modified Rankin Scale questionnaire on their own in the Benefits of Stroke Treatment Using a Mobile Stroke Unit study were randomly interviewed to recall the 90-day modified Rankin Scale at 6, 9, or 12 months after hospital discharge over the phone. Concordance between the two scores was assessed using kappa and weighted kappa statistics. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with inconsistent reporting of the 90-day modified Rankin Scale. Substantial agreement was observed between in-the-moment and retrospective 90-day modified Rankin Scale recalled at 6, 9, or 12 months (weighted kappa = 0.93, 95% confidence interval: 0.89-0.98; weighted kappa = 0.93, 95% confidence interval: 0.85-1.00 and weighted kappa = 0.89, 95% confidence interval: 0.82-0.95, respectively). Retrospective recall of 90-day modified Rankin Scale at a later time point is a valid means to impute missing data in stroke clinical trials.

The Cost Effectiveness of Mobile Stroke Unit in the United States

Research ObjectiveIschemic stroke accounts for 87% of all strokes and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Timely administration of thrombolysis (rtPA) and proper supportive care are essential to recovery of IS patients. Recent data show that compared to standard ambulances, use of Mobile Stroke Units (MSUs)—ambulances equipped with telemedicine, a stroke care team, and radiologic assistance—significantly shorten the time to rtPA administration, potentially increasing likelihood of recovery. However, it is unknown whether these health benefits are substantial to offset the high incremental costs of operating and deploying MSUs. This study assessed the cost‐effectiveness care of ischemic stroke patients via MSUs compared to care via standard ambulances, using the U.S. health care sector’s perspective.Study DesignWe developed a Markov‐based decision‐tree model to track the annual transitions of individuals in a representative cohort of 1000 U.S. ischemic stroke patients across four health states (no disability, minor disability, major disability, and death), over a lifetime horizon and under two treatment scenarios: treatment via MSU vs treatment via standard ambulance. The model was parameterized using probabilities of stroke severity, likelihood of rtPA administration, and health state transition probabilities, as well as the total annual costs and disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with each health state. All parameter values were derived from the published literature. All costs were converted to year 2018 U.S. dollars. Total discounted costs, DALYs, incremental costs, DALYs averted, and incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) of care via MSU, relative to care standard ambulance, were calculated. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis with 1000 iterations of the model was conducted to account for uncertainty in the model’s parameter values.Population StudiedPopulation consisted of a representative cohort of 1000 ischemic stroke patients 18 years and older, living in the United States.Principal FindingsPreliminary base case results show that relative to care via standard ambulances, care via MSUs averted 651 discounted DALYs (87 406 vs 88 057 DALYs, respectively) at an additional discounted cost of $11 million ($195 million vs $184 million, respectively). Assuming an average U.S. willingness‐to‐pay threshold of $150 000 per DALY averted, our results demonstrate that treatment of ischemic stroke via MSU is highly cost‐effective compared to care via standard ambulance, resulting in $17 498 per DALY averted. The probability sensitivity analysis showed that the ICER was robust to uncertainty in parameter values, with 85% of simulated values being cost‐effective at the willingness‐to‐pay threshold of $150 000/DALY averted.ConclusionsResults suggest that from a U.S. health care sector’s perspective, care via MSU is a highly cost‐effective approach for improving health outcomes after ischemic stroke compared to care via standard ambulance.Implications for Policy or PracticeMobile Stroke Units can significantly reduce time from alarm to thrombolysis administration in ischemic stroke patients. Our preliminary findings support the adoption of care via MSU as a cost‐effective approach for improving health outcomes in ischemic stroke patients.

Rapid Decline in Telestroke Consults in the Setting of COVID-19.

Background and Purpose: As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to be a global pandemic, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that incidence of diseases that require emergent care, particularly myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke, has declined rapidly. The objective of this study is to quantify our experience of telestroke (TS) consults at a large tertiary comprehensive stroke center during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed TS consults of patients presenting to our neuroscience network. Those with a confirmed diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemia attack were included. Data were compared from April 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020, which include consults prepandemic and during the crisis. Results: A total of 1,982 TS consults were provided in 1 year. Prepandemic, the mean monthly consults were 148. In April 2020, only 59 patients were seen (49% decline). Mobile stroke unit consults decreased by 72% in the same month. The 30-day moving average of patients seen per day was between five and six prepandemic declined to between two and three in April, and then began to uptrend during May. The mean percentage of patients receiving intravenous tissue plasminogen activator was 16% from April 2019 to March 2020 and increased to 31% in April 2020. The mean percentage of patients receiving endovascular therapy was 10% from April 2019 to March 2020 and increased to 19% in April 2020. Conclusions: At our large tertiary comprehensive stroke center, we observed a significant and rapid decline in TS consults during the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot be certain of the reasons for the decline, but a fear of contracting coronavirus, social distancing, and isolation likely played a major role. Further research must be done to elucidate the etiology of this decline.

Prehospital stroke management in the thrombectomy era.

Acute stroke management has been revolutionised by evidence of the effectiveness of thrombectomy. Because time is brain in stroke care, the speed with which a patient with large vessel occlusion is transferred to a thrombectomy-capable centre determines outcome. Therefore, each link in the stroke rescue chain, starting with symptom onset and ending with recanalisation, should be streamlined. However, in contrast to inhospital delays, prehospital delays are unchanged despite substantial efforts in quality improvement. Furthermore, thrombectomy is offered by only a few, usually distant, specialised centres and not by the many other, usually nearer, hospitals. To take maximum advantage of the first so-called golden hours after stroke, and because of the difficulty of on-scene triage decision making with respect to the target hospital offering the required level of care, the focus of stroke research has shifted to the prehospital setting. Current research focuses on the effects of public education, implementation of protocols for emergency medical services for streamlining clinical investigations and accurate triage, use of preclinical scales for stroke recognition, and deployment of novel technical solutions such as smartphone applications, telemedicine, and mobile stroke units.

Essential Workflow and Performance Measures for Optimizing Acute Ischemic Stroke Treatment in India.

Essential Workflow and Performance Measures for Optimizing Acute Ischemic Stroke Treatment in India.

Leaving No Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke Behind: Reorganizing Stroke Systems of Care to Improve Timely Access to Endovascular Therapy.

Leaving No Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke Behind: Reorganizing Stroke Systems of Care to Improve Timely Access to Endovascular Therapy.

Economic evaluation of the Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit.

The Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) is the first Australian service to provide prehospital acute stroke treatment, including thrombolysis and facilitated triage for endovascular thrombectomy. To estimate the cost-effectiveness of the MSU during the first full year of operation compared with standard ambulance and hospital stroke care pathways (standard care). The costs and benefits of the Melbourne MSU were estimated using an economic simulation model. Operational costs and service utilization data were obtained from the MSU financial and patient tracking reports. The health benefits were estimated as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) avoided using local data on reperfusion therapy and estimates from the published literature on their effectiveness. Costs were presented in Australian dollars. The robustness of results was assessed using multivariable (model inputs varied simultaneously: 10,000 Monte Carlo iterations) and various one-way sensitivity analyses. In 2018, the MSU was dispatched to 1244 patients during 200 days of operation. Overall, 167 patients were diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke, and 58 received thrombolysis, endovascular thrombectomy, or both. We estimated 27.94 DALYs avoided with earlier access to endovascular thrombectomy (95% confidence interval (CI) 15.30 to 35.93) and 16.90 DALYs avoided with improvements in access to thrombolysis (95% CI 9.05 to 24.68). The MSU was estimated to cost an additional $30,982 per DALY avoided (95% CI $21,142 to $47,517) compared to standard care. There is evidence that the introduction of MSU is cost-effective when compared with standard care due to earlier provision of reperfusion therapies.

Mobile stroke unit versus standard medical care in the management of patients with acute stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mobile stroke units have recently been introduced in the care of patients suspected of having an acute stroke, leading to shortening in the time to thrombolytics. We aimed to compare the clinical effectiveness in terms of functional outcome and survival among patients treated in mobile stroke unit and/or conventional care. A systematic search of electronic databases, comparing the clinical outcomes among patients with acute stroke in the same study was conducted from 1990 to 2019. Pooled and subgroup analysis were performed using the random- and fixed-effect model based upon the I2 heterogeneity. A total of 21,297 patients from 11 publications (seven randomized controlled trials and four non-randomized controlled trials including prospective cohort studies) were retrieved. This included 6065 (n = 28.4%) of the patients treated in the mobile stroke unit and 71.6% (n = 15,232) of the patients managed in the conventional care. The mean age at clinical presentation (70.1 ± 14.5 vs. 71.05 ± 15.8) and National Institute Health Stroke Scale (9.8 ± 1.7 vs. 8.4 ± 1.5) was comparable (p > 0.05) in patients treated with mobile stroke unit and conventional care, respectively. The mean time-to-treatment window was significantly shorter among the patients treated in mobile stroke unit compared to conventional care (62.0 min vs. 75.0 min; p = 0.03, respectively). The pooled analysis of clinical outcome at day 7 indicated that patients treated in mobile stroke unit had 1.46-folds higher likelihood of better clinical outcome (modified Rankin scale 0-2) than those in the hospital (odds ratio: 1.46, 95% confidence interval: 1.306-2.03, p = 0.02). However, there was no significant difference in terms of mortality (odds ratio: 0.98, 95% confidence interval: 0.81-1.18, p = 0.80), stroke-related neurological deficits (odds ratio: 1.37, 95% confidence interval: 0.81-2.32, p = 0.24), and other serious adverse events (odds ratio: 0.69, 95% confidence interval: 0.39-1.20, p = 0.19) among patients treated in mobile stroke unit versus conventional care. Our results corroborate that patients treated in mobile stroke unit lead to short-term recovery following acute stroke without influencing the mortality rate. Further prospective studies are needed to validate our results.

Emerging therapies in acute ischemic stroke.

Thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy have revolutionized the care of patients with acute ischemic stroke. The number of patients who can benefit from these treatments continues to increase as new studies demonstrate that not just time since stroke onset but also collateral circulation influences outcome. Technologies such as telestroke, mobile stroke units, and artificial intelligence are playing an increasing role in identifying and treating stroke. Stroke-systems-of-care models continue to streamline the delivery of definitive revascularization in the age of mechanical thrombectomy.