Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Feb 2016
Proposal for a Vascular Computed Tomography-Based Grading System in Posterior Circulation Stroke: A Single-Center Experience.
The aim of this study is to investigate the role of a computed tomography angiography (CTA)-based approach in patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy for vertebrobasilar stroke treatment. ⋯ The pc-CTA seems to have prognostic value in patients with vertebrobasilar stroke undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. It may be used as an additional prognostic triage technique in this subgroup of stroke patients.
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Feb 2016
Improving Telestroke Treatment Times in an Expanding Network of Hospitals.
Like all medical innovations, telestroke must demonstrate successful outcomes to achieve sustained growth and acceptance. Asserting that telemedicine is faster, employs the latest technology, or promotes a better use of limited resources is laudable but insufficient. An analysis of stroke treatment within a telemedicine network in 2013 showed that tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) could be safely and reliably administered within a practice-based model of telestroke care. Since then, hospital volume and tPA administration within this network have tripled. We hypothesize that a practice-based model of telestroke can maintain positive outcomes in the face of rapid growth. ⋯ This study shows that a practice-based telemedicine system can produce meaningful improvement in markers of telestroke efficiency in the face of rapid growth of a telestroke network.