ObjectiveAnticoagulation reversal, intensive blood pressure lowering, neurosurgery, and access to critical care might all be beneficial in acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We combined and implemented these as the “ABC” hyperacute care bundle and sought to determine whether the implementation was associated with lower case fatality.MethodsThe ABC bundle was implemented from June 1, 2015 to May 31, 2016. Key process targets were set, and a registry captured consecutive patients. We compared 30‐day case fatality before, during, and after bundle implementation with multivariate logistic regression and used mediation analysis to determine which care process measures mediated any association. Difference‐in‐difference analysis compared 30‐day case fatality with 32,295 patients with ICH from 214 other hospitals in England and Wales using Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme data.ResultsA total of 973 ICH patients were admitted in the study period. Compared to before implementation, the adjusted odds of death by 30 days were lower in the implementation period (odds ratio [OR] = 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.38–0.97, p = 0.03), and this was sustained after implementation (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.24–0.61, p < 0.0001). Implementation of the bundle was associated with a 10.8 percentage point (95% CI = −17.9 to −3.7, p = 0.003) reduction in 30‐day case fatality in difference‐in‐difference analysis. The total effect of the care bundle was mediated by a reduction in do‐not‐resuscitate orders within 24 hours (52.8%) and increased admission to critical care (11.1%).InterpretationImplementation of the ABC care bundle was significantly associated with lower 30‐day case fatality after ICH. ANN NEUROL 2019;86:495–503

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BackgroundIntracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) accounts for 10%–15% of strokes in the UK, but is responsible for half of all annual global stroke deaths. The ABC bundle for ICH was developed and implemented at Salford Royal Hospital, and was associated with a 44% reduction in 30-day case fatality. Implementation of the bundle was scaled out to the other hyperacute stroke units (HASUs) in the region from April 2017. A mixed methods evaluation was conducted alongside to investigate factors influencing implementation of the bundle across new settings, in order to provide lessons for future spread.MethodsA harmonised quality improvement registry at each HASU captured consecutive patients with spontaneous ICH from October 2016 to March 2018 to capture process and outcome measures for preimplementation (October 2016 to March 2017) and implementation (April 2017 to March 2018) time periods. Statistical analyses were performed to determine differences in process measures and outcomes before and during implementation. Multiple qualitative methods (interviews, non-participant observation and project document analysis) captured how the bundle was implemented across the HASUs.ResultsHASU1 significantly reduced median anticoagulant reversal door-to-needle time from 132 min (IQR: 117–342) preimplementation to 76 min (64–113.5) after implementation and intensive blood pressure lowering door to target time from 345 min (204–866) preimplementation to 84 min (60–117) after implementation. No statistically significant improvements in process targets were observed at HASU2. No significant change was seen in 30-day mortality at either HASU. Qualitative evaluation identified the importance of facilitation during implementation and identified how contextual changes over time impacted on implementation. This identified the need for continued implementation support.ConclusionThe findings show how the ABC bundle can be successfully implemented into new settings and how challenges can impede implementation. Findings have been used to develop an implementation strategy to support future roll out of the bundle outside the region.

s9-s12 STROKE on the day of admission than ischaemic strokes (odds ratio: 7.27, 95% CI: 6.31-8.37, p<0.001).2 However, there has been a growing interest in ICH in the stroke research community and findings from recent studies suggest that a more active approach to this patient group is now warranted. We will focus this review on evidence for key interventions in the hyperacute phase of ICH management, that is, the first 24 hours after symptom onset. Early neurological deteriorationIn ICH, a key pathophysiological difference from ischaemic stroke is the presence within the fixed volume of the cranium of a space-occupying lesion, initially composed of the haematoma and subsequently, an increasing volume of vasogenic oedema. 4Should the reserve of space within the cranium be exhausted (Monro-Kellie doctrine), intracranial pressure will begin to rise and fatal brain herniation syndromes may then occur. Baseline haematoma volume is an important predictor of survival and functional outcomes but subsequent early complications that increase intracranial pressure can cause early neurological deterioration in up to half of patients, depending on how it is defined and study duration. 5,6 Haematoma expansion (Fig 1 ) is a principal cause of deterioration in the first 24 hours after onset, with studies indicating that up to 30% of patients demonstrate significant haematoma expansion within hours of onset, which worsens prognosis. 7 Obstructive hydrocephalus may occur with occlusion of cerebrospinal fluid flow, either by occlusion of the ventricular system by intraventricular haemorrhage or extrinsic compression, especially at the third and fourth ventricles. Finally, for larger haematomas in the subacute phase, the addition of Intracerebral haemorrhage causes 1 in 10 strokes, but has the worst overall outcomes of all stroke subtypes. Baseline haematoma volume is a key prognostic factor and early complications -such as haematoma expansion, obstructive hydrocephalus and perihaematomal oedema -may worsen outcome. There is evidence that withdrawal of care may occur more often in intracerebral haemorrhage than ischaemic stroke independent of premorbid health and stroke severity. However, recent evidence shows that reversal of anticoagulants, intensive blood pressure lowering and surgery in carefully selected cases may improve outcomes. Ongoing research may also provide evidence for new medical treatments and minimally invasive approaches to surgery. Effective implementation of evidence-based care to intracerebral haemorrhage patients can be diffi cult but quality improvement methodology can help to achieve maximal benefi t.

Background: In Greater Manchester (GM), prehospital clinicians use the Face Arm Speech Test (FAST) to identify suspected stroke patients alongside pathway exclusions. Within the centralized stroke service, patients with a suspected stroke are taken directly to a Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (HASU), often bypassing their local emergency department (ED). However, many of these patients are experiencing an illness that looks like a stroke but is not a stroke. The data collected in the prehospital setting is rarely used in research yet could give valuable insights into the performance of the pathway.Aim: To evaluate the presenting symptoms and final diagnoses of prehospital suspected strokes and to evaluate the adherence of prehospital stroke pathway exclusions.Methods: We analyzed data from all patients brought in by ambulance and admitted on the stroke pathway between 01/09/15 and 28/02/17. Patient demographics and all data recorded in the prehospital setting were evaluated to identify differences in stroke, TIA, and mimic patients. Pathway adherence was assessed according to whether the patient was local or out-of-area (OOA) and bypassed their local ED.Results: A total of 4,216 suspected strokes were identified: 2,213 (52.5%) had a final diagnosis of stroke, 492 (11.7%) experienced a transient ischemic attack (TIA), and 1,511 (35.8%) were stroke mimics. There were 714 (16.9%) patients that were identified as having at least one pathway exclusion or were FAST negative, of which 270 (37.8%) experienced a stroke. The proportion of strokes was significantly lower in those with a pathway exclusion (41.8 vs. 53.5%; p &lt; 0.001) and the proportion of breaches tended to be comparable or higher in the local population.Discussion: There are high volumes of stroke mimics but identified differences indicate there is an opportunity to better utilize prehospital data. Ambulance clinicians were able to correctly overrule FAST negative results and the volume of these suggest that FAST alone may be too restrictive.