Objectives: In this 2-center study, we assessed the technical feasibility and reliability of a low cost, tablet-based mobile telestroke option for ambulance transport and hypothesized that the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) could be performed with similar reliability between remote and bedside examinations.Methods: We piloted our mobile telemedicine system in 2 geographic regions, central Virginia and the San Francisco Bay Area, utilizing commercial cellular networks for videoconferencing transmission. Standardized patients portrayed scripted stroke scenarios during ambulance transport and were evaluated by independent raters comparing bedside to remote mobile telestroke assessments. We used a mixed-effects regression model to determine intraclass correlation of the NIHSS between bedside and remote examinations (95% confidence interval).Results: We conducted 27 ambulance runs at both sites and successfully completed the NIHSS for all prehospital assessments without prohibitive technical interruption. The mean difference between bedside (face-to-face) and remote (video) NIHSS scores was 0.25 (1.00 to 20.50). Overall, correlation of the NIHSS between bedside and mobile telestroke assessments was 0.96 (0.92-0.98). In the mixed-effects regression model, there were no statistically significant differences accounting for method of evaluation or differences between sites.Conclusions: Utilizing a low-cost, tablet-based platform and commercial cellular networks, we can reliably perform prehospital neurologic assessments in both rural and urban settings. Further research is needed to establish the reliability and validity of prehospital mobile telestroke assessment in live patients presenting with acute neurologic symptoms. Neurology ® 2016;87:19-26 GLOSSARY AHA 5 American Heart Association; ASA 5 American Stroke Association; AV 5 audiovisual; BA 5 Bland-Altman; CI 5 confidence interval; EMS 5 emergency medical services; 4G 5 fourth generation; HRSA 5 Health Resources and Services Administration; iTREAT 5 Improving Treatment with Rapid Evaluation of Acute Stroke via Mobile Telemedicine; LTE 5 longterm evolution; NIHSS 5 NIH Stroke Scale; TJEMS 5 Thomas
POEMS or Crow-Fukase syndrome is a multisystemic, clinically malignant disorder of obscure etiology. Peripheral neuropathy and plasma cell dyscrasia are central features. The authors now report 7 Chinese patients with this syndrome in which PCD or paraproteinemia were absent in 6, and 2 had a lymph node histology resembling that of hyaline-vascular Castleman's disease. Immunological abnormalities consisted of either increased or decreased numbers of B- and T-cells in 2 cases, and an elevated OKT4/OKT8 ratio with paradoxical dissociation of the lymphocyte transformations to various concentrations and types of mitogens in 1 case. This suggests that the underlying abnormalities of POEMS syndrome are heterogeneous and that it may be an immunologically related syndrome of varying etiology.
Introduction: The AHA-ASA Target:Stroke Program calls for innovative approaches to prehospital stroke care. We previously showed that mobile videoconferencing during ambulance transport is technically feasible in a rural EMS setting using an iPad-based telemedicine system. We now hypothesize that this mobile telestroke system is clinically feasible as measured by agreement of the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) between face-to-face (FTF) and remote ambulance-based assessments (iTREAT). Methods: The iTREAT system comprises an Apple iPad® with retina display, high-speed 4G LTE modem, Cisco Jabber secure video conferencing application, mounting apparatus, and magnetic external antenna. We developed 4 unique stroke and 2 unique stroke-mimic scenarios to simulate prehospital stroke alerts. We recruited 3 standardized patients each assigned two scenarios, and randomly assigned each scenario to one of 6 major ambulance routes triaging to UVA Medical Center. To eliminate bias, we alternated the order of FTF and iTREAT evaluations. Statistical measures were inter- and intra-rater correlation coefficient for the NIHSS and audio/visual(AV) quality ratings on a 6-point scale (>4 indicating “good” or “excellent” connectivity). Results: For the 12 iTREAT and 10 FTF evaluations (two FTF missing data), intra-rater correlation of NIHSS scores was consistently >0.91 (mean=0.96). Inter-rater correlation for FTF evaluations was >0.89 (mean 0.96), and inter-rater correlation for iTREAT evaluations was >0.84 (mean=0.94). AV quality ratings during all iTREAT evaluations were deemed “good” or “excellent” (audio mean=5.3, median=5.5; video mean=4.67, median=4.5). Both NIHSS correlation and AV quality rating increased over the study period. Conclusion: In this pilot feasibility study, NIHSS scores obtained via ambulance using our iPad-based mobile telestroke system correlated well with in person assessments. These results support further research to determine feasibility and efficacy of this low-cost mobile telestroke system in prehospital stroke care.
Introduction: Intracranial (IA) and aortic aneurysms (AA) share genetic and environmental risks. In a retrospective review of clinical data, we identified those presenting with IA (+/- subarachnoid hemorrhage), who also had abdominal or thoracic imaging. Method: In the University of Virginia (UVA) Clinical Data Repository we searched for patients with IA by ICD-9 diagnosis codes and CPT treatment codes. We used three strategies to identify those with aortic imaging: 1) ICD-9 diagnosis codes for AA, 2) CPT and billing codes for abdominal or thoracic imaging (aortogram, ultrasound, angiography, magnetic resonance, and computerized tomography), and 3) CPT and billing codes for AA treatment (endovascular, stent, graft, wrap, or screening). We reviewed all charts to identify those with confirmed IA and imaging. We performed a multivariable logistic regression analysis accounting for sex, age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking status, and IA size, multiplicity, and location to look for associations with AA. Results: Among individuals seen at UVA hospital from 2004 to 2015, we identified 13245 cases with a possible IA, of whom 1017 potential aortic imaging. Our review of charts revealed that 720 did not having an IA. Of the remaining 287 cases, 51 lacked appropriate aortic imaging. We recorded information from the remaining 236 cases - 94/236 (39.8%) had an AA identified. In our multivariable analysis, only female sex was significantly associated with a co-prevalent AA (Odds Ratio: 0.20, 95% confidence interval 0.09 - 0.45). In the table, we provide descriptive statistics for those with and without AA as well as the subsets with thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Conclusion: The co-prevalence of AA in a clinical population known to have IA and with aortic imaging was 39.8%. Men had higher risk for AA. This indicates a shared risk for aneurismal disease in the aorta and brain warranting prospective investigation on the mechanisms of risk.
Introduction: Intracranial aneurysm (IA), abdominal aortic aneurysms, thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissection share genetic and environmental risks. In a retrospective clinical record review, we characterized a population presenting with aortic aneurysm (AA) and subsequently had intracranial vascular imaging (magnetic resonance (MRA), computerized tomography (CTA), or digital subtraction (DSA) angiography). Method: Using the University of Virginia Clinical Data Repository, we searched for patients with a diagnosis of any AA by ICD-9 codes for 2004-2014. We used 3 search strategies to identify individuals with intracranial vascular imaging: 1) CPT codes for MRA, CTA or DSA, 2) their billing codes, and 3) presence of vascular anatomic terms in radiology reports. We then undertook a chart review to confirm intracranial imaging and identify those with a IA. We readjudicated 10% of cases. Results: We identified 5500 cases of AA and 550 cases with evidence of potential intracranial vascular imaging. We report data on 338 of these 550 cases. The available demographic data of the 5500 AA cases and the subset reported were similar (Table). Of the 338 potential cases reviewed, 163 did not actually have intracranial imaging and we could not verify a diagnosis of in 56 case. A total of 212 remain to be reviewed. Of the 119 cases with a CTA, MRA or DSA performed, 23/119 (19.3%) had an IA identified. The descriptive statistics of the demographics and co-morbidities are presented in the table. Conclusion: We found a co-prevalence of 19.3% for IA in a clinical population presenting with AA and undergoing intracranial vascular imaging. These data, though limited, support a potential shared risk for aneurismal disease in the aorta and the brain and warrant further investigation with prospective screening and investigation of the mechanisms of shared risk.
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