Two years of Finnish Telestroke: thrombolysis at spokes equal to that at the hub

Neurology. 2011 Mar 29;76(13):1145-52. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e318212a8d4. Epub 2011 Mar 2.

Abstract

Background: Official guidelines on stroke promote the use of telemedicine via bidirectional videoconferencing equipment, which provides a valid and reliable means of facilitating thrombolysis delivery to patients in distant or rural hospitals.

Methods: The present prospective cohort study describes the characteristics and 3-month outcome of the thrombolysis patients treated in 5 community hospitals served by the Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCH) in a telestroke network during 2007 to 2009. The characteristics and outcome of telestroke thrombolysis patients are compared with consecutive thrombolysis patients (n = 985) treated at HUCH.

Results: A total of 106 consecutive telestroke consultations in 2 years led to IV thrombolysis in 61 patients (57.5%). The median NIH Stroke Scale score was 10 (range 3-26), onset to treatment time 120 minutes (interquartile range [IQR] 49), length of consultation 25 minutes (IQR 18) if the consultation led to thrombolysis and 15 minutes (IQR 10) if not (p = 0.032). The rate of symptomatic intracranial bleedings was 6.7% (4/60) according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke definition. Half (28/57) of the thrombolysis patients with complete follow-up data had a favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] 0-2) and a third (17/57) had an excellent recovery (mRS 0-1). Thus the patients treated with thrombolysis based on teleconsultation had similar outcome with those treated at HUCH (mRS 0-2: 49.1% vs 58.1%, p = 0.214 and mRS 0-1: 17/57 [29.4%] vs 352/957 [36.8%], p = 0.289).

Conclusions: A special feature of the Finnish pilot is the high percentage of consultations leading to thrombolytic treatment with features and results very similar to on-site thrombolysis at the neurologic emergency room of HUCH.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cohort Studies
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Female
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Finland
  • Guidelines as Topic*
  • Hospitals, Community
  • Hospitals, Rural*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Stroke / drug therapy*
  • Stroke / physiopathology
  • Telemedicine / methods*
  • Thrombolytic Therapy / methods*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Videoconferencing*

Substances

  • Fibrinolytic Agents