The ABC/2 method of volume estimation on CT perfusion is a reliable and efficient approach to determine infarct and penumbra volumes. The 1-CBV/MTT × 100% formula produces a mismatch percentage assisting providers in communicating the proportion of salvageable brain and guides therapy in the setting of patients with unclear time of onset with potentially salvageable tissue who can undergo mechanical retrieval or intraarterial thrombolytics.
Introduction Teleneurocritical care (TNCC) provides virtual care for hospitals who do not have continuous neurointensivist coverage. It is not known if TNCC is cost effective nor which variables impact the total billed charges per patient encounter. We characterize cost, defined by charge characteristics of TNCC compared to in-person neurocritical care (NCC), for patients with acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke requiring ICU care. Methods We performed a retrospective review from 2018 to 2021 of prospectively collected multinstitutional databases from a large, integrated, not-for-profit health system with an in-person NCC and spoke TNCC sites. The primary outcome was the total billable charge per TNCC patient with acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke compared to in-person NCC. Secondary outcomes were functional outcome, transfer rate, and length of stay (LOS). Results A total of 1779 patients met inclusion criteria, 1062 at the hub in-person NCC hospital and 717 at spoke TNCC hospitals. Total billed patient charges of TNCC were similar to in-person NCC (median 104% of the cost per in-person NCC patient, 95% CI: 99%–108%). From 2018 to 2021, the charge difference between TNCC and NCC was not different ( r2 = 0.71, p = 0.16). Both age and length stay were independently predictive of charges: for every year older the charge increased by US $6.3, and every day greater LOS the charge increased by $2084.3 ( p < 0.001, both). TNCC transfer rates were low, and TNCC had shorter LOS and greater favorable functional outcome. Discussion TNCC was associated with similar patient financial charges as compared to in-person NCC. Standardization of care and the integrated hub-spoke value-focused operational procedures of TNCC may be applicable to other healthcare systems, however, further prospective study is needed.
Introduction: The hyperdense MCA sign has been used as a marker of an underlying large vessel occlusion (LVO)/thrombus in the non-contrast head CT of acute stroke patients. However, due its low sensitivity, it has not been used routinely for definitive diagnosis of LVO. Furthermore, clinicians also have the ability to obtain further imaging with CT angiography to better visualize the vessels in most patients. However, this further imaging can take on average up to an additional 30 minutes due to delays in acquisition, patient cooperation, processing and image transmission time. We wanted to look for a simple sign on the early imaging (non-contrast HCT) to determine if we could activate the neuro interventional suite faster. Hypothesis: When present, the hyperdense MCA sign can accurately predict presence of a LVO and identify patients eligible for endovascular therapy sooner than vessel imaging. Methods: We retrospectively looked at all initial non-contrast head CTs for all consecutive stroke patients presenting to our facility in 2017 (n=86), with a last known well time (LKW) < 6 hours and NIHSS > 4, for the presence of a hyperdense MCA sign. We then reviewed subsequent imaging (CTA) to determine if LVO was actually present. Results: The hyperdense MCA sign was present in 17 (out of 86) cases, all of which had an LVO on CTA. The positive predictive value (PPV) was 100% indicating that there was a high probability that subjects with a positive hyperdense MCA sign will have a LVO. There were 12 cases with an LVO on CTA did not have a hyperdense MCA sign showing a sensitivity of 58.6%, thus the absence of a hyperdense MCA sign does not exclude LVO. Conclusion: Quick delivery of appropriate treatments for acute stroke patients have been linked to better outcomes. Given our analysis of cases with NIHSS > 4 and LKW < 6 hours, it seems that presence of a hyperdense MCA sign on the initial non-contrast HCT leads to a high level of certainty that an LVO is present. Perhaps this sign, in combination of LKW and NIHSS, can be used to activate the neuro interventional team while additional imaging is being obtained.
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