Ana Barragán-Prieto

Background and Purpose: Emergency measures to treat patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and contain the outbreak is the main priority in each of our hospitals; however, these measures are likely to result in collateral damage among patients with other acute diseases. Here, we investigate whether the COVID-19 pandemic affects acute stroke care through interruptions in the stroke chain of survival. Methods: A descriptive analysis of acute stroke care activity before and after the COVID-19 outbreak is given for a stroke network in southern Europe. To quantify the impact of the pandemic, the number of stroke code activations, ambulance transfers, consultations through telestroke, stroke unit admissions, and reperfusion therapy times and rates are described in temporal relationship with the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the region. Results: Following confinement of the population, our stroke unit activity decreased sharply, with a 25% reduction in admitted cases (mean number of 58 cases every 15 days in previous months to 44 cases in the 15 days after the outbreak, P <0.001). Consultations to the telestroke network declined from 25 every 15 days before the outbreak to 7 after the outbreak ( P <0.001). The increasing trend in the prehospital diagnosis of stroke activated by 911 calls stopped abruptly in the region, regressing to 2019 levels. The mean number of stroke codes dispatched to hospitals decreased (78% versus 57%, P <0.001). Time of arrival from symptoms onset to stroke units was delayed >30 minutes, reperfusion therapy cases fell, and door-to-needle time started 16 minutes later than usual. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic is disruptive for acute stroke pathways. Bottlenecks in the access and delivery of patients to our secured stroke centers are among the main challenges. It is critical to encourage patients to continue seeking emergency care if experiencing acute stroke symptoms and to ensure that emergency professionals continue to use stroke code activation and telestroke networks.

Introduction: Acute ischemic stroke therapy has improved in recent decades, decreasing the rates of disability and death among stroke patients. Unfortunately, all health care systems have geographical disparities in infrastructure for stroke patients. A centralized telestroke network might be a low-cost strategy to reduce differences in terms of geographical barriers, equitable access, and quality monitoring across different hospitals. Aims: We aimed to quantify changes in stroke patients' geographic access to specialized evaluation by neurologists and to intravenous acute stroke reperfusion treatments following the rapid implementation of a centralized telestroke network in the large region of Andalusia (8.5 million inhabitants). Methods: We conducted an observational study using spatial and analytical methods to examine how a centralized telestroke network influences the quality and accessibility of stroke care for a large region. Results: In the pre-implementation period, 5,005,477 (59.72% of the Andalusian population) had access to specialized stroke care in less than 30 min. After the 5-month process of implementing the telestroke network, 7,832,988 (93.5%) inhabitants had an access time of less than 30 min, bridging the gap in acute stroke care in rural hospitals. Conclusions: A centralized telestroke network may be an efficient tool to reduce the differences in stroke care access and quality monitoring across different hospitals, especially in large regions with low population density.

AIMS: Carotid reocclusion (CRO) after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to tandem lesion (TL) or isolated internal carotid occlusion (ICO) is associated with worse clinical outcomes. Our aim was to analyze the predictors and clinical impact of CRO. METHODS: A retrospective single-center analysis of all patients with anterior circulation strokes who underwent MT prospectively included in a registry between 2017 and 2020 was performed. ICO and TL as stroke causes were included. Stent deployment was left to the discretion of the interventionist. All patients received at least intravenous aspirin during MT. CRO was assessed using ultrasound within the first 24 h after MT. Efficacy and safety of stenting were assessed. RESULTS: Among 1304 AIS cases, 218 (16.7%) were related to TL or ICO. Of them, 5% (n=11) were associated with internal CRO 24 h after the endovascular procedure. After adjusting per confounders, multivariate analysis showed that the independent variables associated with CRO were the TICI recanalization grade [TICI 2b-3; OR 0.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01-0.89, p=0.040], pial collateral circulation presence (OR 0.09, 95% CI 0.02-0.45, p=0.03), stent deployment during MT (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.03-0.84, p=0.030), and general anesthesia use (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.13-7.90, p=0.034). CRO showed a trend toward worst outcomes (modified Rankin scale 3-6) at 3 months (OR 3.4, 95% CI 0.96-12, p=0.057). After multivariate analysis, variables independently associated with worse outcomes at 90 days were intrastent platelet aggregation phenomena during endovascular therapy, admission National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, and age. Conversely, intravenous thrombolysis and TICI 2b-3 recanalization grade were identified as independent predictors of good outcomes at 90 days. CONCLUSIONS: CRO has a relevant clinical impact in our study, associating lower rates of good functional outcomes at 3 months. Independent factors of CRO were the recanalization degree, presence of pial collateral circulation, use of a stent as a protective factor, and use of general anesthesia during thrombectomy.