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Difficulties in the prehospital assessment of patients with TIA/stroke
Author(s) -
Magnusson Carl,
Lövgren Erik,
Alfredsson Josefine,
Axelsson Christer,
Andersson Hagiwara Magnus,
Rosengren Lars,
Herlitz Johan,
Jood Katarina
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/ane.13369
Subject(s) - medicine , stroke (engine) , emergency medicine , emergency medical services , emergency department , weakness , medical emergency , physical therapy , surgery , mechanical engineering , psychiatry , engineering
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.