Difficulties in the prehospital assessment of patients with TIA/stroke. (18th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Magnusson, Carl; Lövgren, Erik; Alfredsson, Josefine; Axelsson, Christer; Andersson Hagiwara, Magnus; Rosengren, Lars; Herlitz, Johan; Jood, Katarina
• Is Part Of: Acta neurologica Scandinavica. Volume 143:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 318
• Page End: 325
• Publication Date: 2020-11-18
• Subjects: assessment -- difficulties -- EMS -- prehospital -- stroke -- TIA; Neurology -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1111/ane.13369
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-6314

Abstract

Abstract : Background: In patients with TIA/stroke, early assessment is critical. Aim: To describe patients who were not directly transported to hospital by ambulance after prehospital assessment. Methods: Patients hospitalized with TIA/stroke in Gothenburg, Data were obtained from the EMS and hospital case record system. Results: There were 7, 812 patients with TIA/stroke, of which 4, 853 (62%) were candidates for EMS transport. Among them, 176 (3.6%) were not directly transported to hospital by ambulance. In 45% of them, delay from symptom onset to calling for EMS was ≤24 hours. On EMS arrival, common symptom was dizziness (28%), followed by weakness in arm or leg (21%), loss of sensibility (13%), speech disturbances (7%), and facial numbness (4%). The modified National Institute of Health Stroke Score (mNIHSS) was 0 in 80% and >1 in two per cent. The NIHSS at the emergency department was 1–4 in 39% and 5–15 in six per cent. The EMS clinician made the decision not to transport the patient to hospital by the EMS in 84%, the dispatcher in 12% and the patient or relatives in four per cent. Patients were involved in the decision in 51%. Final diagnosis was stroke in 74% and the proportion who were independent in normal daily activities at hospital discharge decreased by 15% compared with before event. Conclusion: About 3%–4% of patients with TIA/stroke were not directly transported to hospital by EMS after prehospital assessment. The most common symptom was dizziness. Decision‐support tools for EMS to identify time‐sensitive conditions are required.