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Background: Treatment with aspirin plus clopidogrel, dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), within 24 hours of high-risk transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke symptoms to eligible patients is recommended by national guidelines. Whether or not this treatment has been adopted by emergency medicine (EM) physicians is uncertain. Methods: We conducted an online survey of EM physicians in the United States. The survey consisted of 13 multiple choice questions regarding physician characteristics, practice settings, and usual approach to TIA and minor stroke treatment. We report participant characteristics and use chi-squared tests to compare between groups. Results: We included 162 participants in the final study analysis. 103 participants (64%) were in practice for >5 years and 96 (59%) were at nonacademic centers; all were EM board-certified or board-eligible. Only 9 (6%) participants reported that they would start DAPT for minor stroke and 8 (5%) reported that they would start DAPT after high-risk TIA. Aspirin alone was the selected treatment by 81 (50%) participants for minor stroke patients who presented within 24 hours of symptom onset and were not candidates for thrombolysis. For minor stroke, 69 (43%) participants indicated that they would defer medical management to consultants or another team. Similarly, 75 (46%) of participants chose aspirin alone to treat high-risk TIA; 74 (46%) reported they would defer medical management after TIA to consultants or another team. Conclusion: In a survey of EM physicians, we found that the reported rate of DAPT treatment for eligible patients with high-risk TIA and minor stroke was low.

Background In the post-Carotid Occlusion Surgery Study (COSS) era, multiple reviews suggested subset groups of patients as potential candidates for superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass. Among them are patients with recurrent strokes despite optimal medical therapy. There is a paucity of data on the outcome of bypass in these specific patients. Objective To examine the safety and efficacy of direct STA-MCA bypass in patients with nonmoyamoya, symptomatic steno-occlusive disease with impaired distal perfusion, who failed optimal medical management or endovascular treatment. Methods A retrospective review was performed to identify patients with cerebrovascular steno-occlusive disease who underwent bypass after symptomatic recurrent or rapidly progressive strokes, despite optimal conservative or endovascular treatment. Results A total of 8 patients (mean age 60 ± 6 yr) underwent direct or combined direct/indirect STA-MCA bypass between 2016 and 2019. All anastomoses were patent. One bypass carried slow flow. There were no procedure-related permanent deficits. One patient developed seizures which were controlled by medications. A total of 7 out of 8 patients were stable or improved clinically at last follow-up (mean 27.3 ± 13.8 mo) without recurrent strokes. One patient did not recover from their presenting stroke, experienced severe bilateral strokes 4 mo postoperatively, and subsequently expired. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) improved in 6 patients (75%), remained stable in 1 patient (12.5%), and deteriorated in 1 (12.5%). Good long-term functional outcome was achieved in 5 patients (63%, mRS ≤ 2). Conclusion Patients with symptomatic, hypoperfused steno-occlusive disease who fail optimal medical or endovascular treatment may benefit from cerebral revascularization. Direct or combined STA-MCA bypass was safe and provided favorable outcomes in this small series.

Objectives The occurrence of head computed tomography (HCT) at emergency department (ED) visit for non-specific neurological symptoms has been associated with increased subsequent stroke risk and may be a marker of diagnostic error. We evaluate whether HCT occurrence among ED headache patients is associated with increased subsequent cerebrovascular disease risk. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients with headache who were discharged home from the ED (ED treat-and-release visit) at one multicenter institution. Patients with headache were defined as those with primary ICD-9/10-CM discharge diagnoses codes for benign headache from 9/1/2013-9/1/2018. The primary outcome of cerebrovascular disease hospitalization was identified using ICD-9/10-CM codes and confirmed via chart review. We matched headache patients who had a HCT (exposed) to those who did not have a HCT (unexposed) in the ED in a one-to-one fashion using propensity score methods. Results Among the 28,121 adult patients with ED treat-and-release headache visit, 45.6% (n=12,811) underwent HCT. A total of 0.4% (n=111) had a cerebrovascular hospitalization within 365 days of index visit. Using propensity score matching, 80.4% (n=10,296) of exposed patients were matched to unexposed. Exposed patients had increased risk of cerebrovascular hospitalization at 365 days (RR: 1.65: 95% CI: 1.18–2.31) and 180 days (RR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.06–2.49); risk of cerebrovascular hospitalization was not increased at 90 or 30 days. Conclusions Having a HCT performed at ED treat-and-release headache visit is associated with increased risk of subsequent cerebrovascular disease. Future work to improve cerebrovascular disease prevention strategies in this subset of headache patients is warranted.

Background and Purpose— The first of the 2 NINDS (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) Study trials did not show a significant increase in early neurological improvement, defined as National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) improvement by ≥4, with alteplase treatment. We hypothesized that early neurological improvement defined as a percentage change in NIHSS (percent change NIHSS) at 24 hours is superior to other definitions in predicting 3-month functional outcomes and using this definition there would be treatment benefit of alteplase over placebo at 24 hours. Methods— We analyzed the NINDS rt-PA Stroke Study (Parts 1 and 2) trial data. Percent change NIHSS was defined as ([admission NIHSS score−24-hour NIHSS score]×100/admission NIHSS score] and delta NIHSS as (admission NIHSS score−24-hour NIHSS score). We compared early neurological improvement using these definitions between alteplase versus placebo patients. We also used receiver operating characteristic curve to determine the predictive association of early neurological improvement with excellent 3-month functional outcomes (Barthel Index score of 95–100 and modified Rankin Scale score of 0–1), good 3-month functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2), and 3-month infarct volume. Results— There was a significantly greater improvement in the 24-hour median percent change NIHSS among patients treated with alteplase compared with the placebo group (28% versus 15%; P =0.045) but not median delta NIHSS (3 versus 2; P =0.471). Receiver operating characteristic curve comparison showed that percent change NIHSS (ROC percent ) was better than delta NIHSS (ROC delta ) and admission NIHSS (ROC admission ) with regards to excellent 3-month Barthel Index (ROC percent , 0.83; ROC delta , 0.76; ROC admission , 0.75), excellent 3-month modified Rankin Scale (ROC percent , 0.83; ROC delta , 0.74; ROC admission , 0.78), and good 3-month modified Rankin Scale (ROC percent , 0.83; ROC delta , 0.76; ROC admission , 0.78). Conclusions— In the NINDS rt-PA trial, alteplase was associated with a significant percent change improvement in NIHSS at 24 hours. Percent change in NIHSS may be a better surrogate marker of thrombolytic activity and 3-month outcomes.

Background Patients who present emergently with focal neurological deficits concerning for acute ischemic stroke can be extremely challenging to diagnose and treat. Unnecessary administration of thrombolytics to potential stroke patients whose symptoms are not caused by an acute ischemic stroke—stroke mimics—may result in patient harm, although the overall risk of hemorrhagic complications among stroke mimics is low. Case Report We present a case of a stroke mimic patient with underlying psychiatric disease who was treated with intravenous alteplase on four separate occasions in four different emergency departments in the same city. Although he did not suffer hemorrhagic complications, this case highlights the importance of rapid exchange of health information across institutions to improve diagnostic quality and safety. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Increased awareness of stroke mimics by emergency physicians may improve diagnostic safety for a subset of high-risk patients. Establishing rapid cross-institutional communication pathways that are integrated into provider's workflows to convey essential patient health information has potential to improve stroke diagnostic decision-making and thus represents an important topic for health systems research in emergency medicine.

Background Accurate diagnosis of patients with transient or minor neurological events can be challenging. Recent studies suggest that advanced neuroimaging can improve diagnostic accuracy in low‐risk patients with transient or minor neurological symptoms, but a cost‐effective emergency department diagnostic evaluation strategy remains uncertain. Methods and Results We constructed a decision‐analytic model to evaluate 2 diagnostic evaluation strategies for patients with low‐risk transient or minor neurological symptoms: (1) obtain advanced neuroimaging (magnetic resonance imaging brain and magnetic resonance angiography head and neck) on every patient or (2) current emergency department standard‐of‐care clinical evaluation with basic neuroimaging. Main probability variables were: proportion of patients with true ischemic events, strategy specificity and sensitivity, and recurrent stroke rate. Direct healthcare costs were included. We calculated incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios, conducted sensitivity analyses, and evaluated various diagnostic test parameters primarily using a 1‐year time horizon. Cost‐effectiveness standards would be met if the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio was less than willingness to pay. We defined willingness to pay as $100 000 US dollars per quality‐adjusted life year. Our primary and sensitivity analyses found that the advanced neuroimaging strategy was more cost‐effective than emergency department standard of care. The incremental effectiveness of the advanced neuroimaging strategy was slightly less than the standard‐of‐care strategy, but the standard‐of‐care strategy was more costly. Potentially superior diagnostic approaches to the modeled advanced neuroimaging strategy would have to be >92% specific, >70% sensitive, and cost less than or equal to standard‐of‐care strategy’s cost. Conclusions Obtaining advanced neuroimaging on emergency department patient with low‐risk transient or minor neurological symptoms was the more cost‐effective strategy in our model.

Background and Purpose: Randomized trials demonstrated the benefit of dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with minor ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack. We sought to determine whether the presence of carotid stenosis was associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke and whether the addition of clopidogrel to aspirin was associated with more benefit in patients with versus without carotid stenosis. Methods: This is a post-hoc analysis of the POINT trial (Platelet-Oriented Inhibition in New TIA and Minor Ischemic Stroke) that randomized patients with minor ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack within 12 hours from last known normal to receive either clopidogrel plus aspirin or aspirin alone. The primary predictor was the presence of ≥50% stenosis in either cervical internal carotid artery. The primary outcome was ischemic stroke. We built Cox regression models to determine the association between carotid stenosis and ischemic stroke and whether the effect of clopidogrel was modified by ≥50% carotid stenosis. Results: Among 4881 patients enrolled POINT, 3941 patients met the inclusion criteria. In adjusted models, ≥50% carotid stenosis was associated with ischemic stroke risk (hazard ratio, 2.45 [95% CI, 1.68–3.57], P P =0.014) versus those with ≥50% carotid stenosis (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.45–1.72], P =0.703), P value for interaction=0.573. Conclusions: The presence of carotid stenosis was associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke during follow-up. The effect of added clopidogrel was not significantly different in patients with versus without carotid stenosis. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT03354429.

Background: The combination of aspirin and clopidogrel for 90 days after minor stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) reduced the risk of recurrent stroke in the POINT trial. The risk reduction was greater in patients with infarct on CT or MRI compared to those without infarct. Objective: To investigate the effect of DAPT on minor stroke and TIA in the POINT trial based on (1) the presence or absence of infarct attributed to the index event (“index infarct”) and (2) whether the index event was classified as stroke or TIA. Design/Methods: Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they had an “index infarct” or not. Baseline demographics and clinical variables were compared between groups using standard statistical tests. We used univariate and multivariable cox-regression models to determine associations between presence of infarct on imaging and primary and secondary outcomes, and interaction analyses to determine whether the presence of “index infarct” modifies the effect of DAPT on study outcomes. We also explored whether the association of “index-infarct” with primary and secondary outcomes varied by index diagnosis (TIA vs. minor stroke). Results: Amongst 4881 enrolled in POINT, 4876 patients had data on whether there was an “index-infarct”; 1793 (36.8%) had “index-infarct”. In adjusted cox-regression analyses, the presence of “index infarct” was associated with the primary efficacy outcome (HR 3.02 95% CI 2.34-3.89, p < 0.01) and subsequent ischemic stroke (HR 3.10 95% CI 2.39-4.02, p < 0.01). The effect of DAPT vs. aspirin on primary efficacy outcome was more pronounced in patients with “index infarct” (HR 0.58 95% CI 0.43-0.79, p Conclusions: In the POINT trial, efficacy of DAPT was greater in patients with infarct on imaging attributed to the index event. Future work should focus on determining clinical factors associated with this group to help identify patients most likely to benefit from acute DAPT.

Background: Accurate diagnosis of patients with transient or minor neurological events is challenging with non-trivial rates of Emergency Department (ED) misdiagnosis reported. Recent studies suggest that advanced neuroimaging can improve diagnostic accuracy in presumed low-risk patients, but a cost-effective ED diagnostic evaluation strategy remains uncertain. We therefore evaluate two strategies designed to determine which patients with low-risk transient and minor neurological symptoms can be directly discharged from the ED. Methods: We constructed a decision-analytic model to evaluate two ED-based diagnostic evaluation strategies for patients with presumed low-risk transient or minor neurological symptoms: (1) obtain advanced neuroimaging (MRI brain and MRA head and neck) in the ED on every patient or (2) current ED standard of care of clinical evaluation and basic neuroimaging. The main probability variables were: proportion of patients with true ischemic events, specificity and sensitivity of each evaluation strategy, recurrent stroke rate, and direct healthcare costs. We calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) and performed threshold analyses to evaluate diagnostic test parameters. Cost-effectiveness was defined as willingness to pay (WTP) Results: Our primary and sensitivity analyses found that the advanced neuroimaging strategy more cost-effective than ED standard of care, the latter of which has an ICER exceeding the WTP threshold. The total cost of the advanced neuroimaging strategy was $3,210 with an effectiveness of 0.9397 whereas the total cost of the standard ED strategy was $4,338 with an effectiveness of 0.9399 in the primary model. Using threshold analyses, we found that potential superior diagnostic approaches to the advanced neuroimaging strategy would have to be >92% specific, >70% sensitive, and cost less than or equal to the standard of care strategy. Conclusion: In our decision-analytic model, obtaining advanced neuroimaging on all patients presenting with low-risk transient and minor neurological symptoms was the more cost-effective strategy as compared to current practice.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has helped many patients achieve functional independence. The effect of time-to-treatment based in specific epochs and as related to Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) has not been established. The goal of the study was to evaluate the association between last known normal (LKN)-to-puncture time and good functional outcome. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected acute ischemic stroke patients undergoing MT for large vessel occlusion. We used binary logistic regression models adjusted for age, Modified Treatment in Cerebral Ischemia score, initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and noncontrast CT ASPECTS to assess the association between LKN-to-puncture time and favorable outcome defined as Modified Rankin Score 0-2 on discharge. RESULTS Among 421 patients, 328 were included in analysis. Increased LKN-to-puncture time was associated with decreased probability of good functional outcome (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] ratio per 15-minute delay = .98; 95% confidence interval [CI], .97-.99; P = .001). This was especially true when LKN-puncture time was 0-6 hours (aOR per 15-minute delay = .94; 95% CI, .89-.99; P = .05) or ASPECTS 8-10 (aOR = .98; 95% CI, .97-.99; P = .002) as opposed to when LKN-puncture time was 6-24 hours (aOR per 15-minute delay = .99; 95% CI, .97-1.00; P = .16) and ASPECTS

OBJECTIVE The carotid web (CW) is an underrecognized source of cryptogenic, embolic stroke in patients younger than 55 years of age, with up to 37% of these patients found to have CW on angiography. Currently, there are little data detailing the best treatment practices to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke in these patients. The authors describe their institutional surgical experience with patients treated via carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for a symptomatic internal carotid artery web. METHODS A retrospective, observational cohort study was performed including all patients presenting to the authors’ institution with CW. All patients who were screened underwent either carotid artery stenting (CAS) or CEA after presentation with ischemic stroke from January 2019 to February 2020. From this sample, patients with suggestive radiological features and pathologically confirmed CW who underwent CEA were identified. Patient demographics, medical histories, radiological images, surgical results, and clinical outcomes were collected and described using descriptive statistics. RESULTS A total of 45 patients with symptomatic carotid lesions were treated at the authors’ institution during the time period. Twenty patients underwent CAS, 1 of them for a CW. Twenty-five patients were treated via CEA, and of these, 6 presented with ischemic strokes ipsilateral to CWs, including 3 patients who presented with recurrent strokes. The mean patient age was 55 ± 12.6 years and 5 of 6 were women. CT angiography or digital subtraction angiography demonstrated the presence of CWs ipsilateral to the stroke in all patients. All patients underwent resection of CWs using CEA. There were no permanent procedural complications and no patients had stroke recurrence following intervention at the latest follow-up (mean 6.1 ± 4 months). One patient developed mild tongue deviation most likely related to retraction, with complete recovery at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS CEA is a safe and feasible treatment for symptomatic carotid webs and should be considered a viable alternative to CAS in this patient population.

Introduction: Previous studies have shown an elevated risk of MI (MI) in patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease (sICAD), but the mediators of increased risk of MI or death in these patients remain uncertain. We aim to determine risk factors associated with MI or death in patients with symptomatic ICAD. Methods: Patients enrolled in SAMMPRIS had sICAD and were randomized to aggressive medical management (AMM) vs. stenting and AMM. The primary outcome of this post-hoc analysis is MI or vascular death within 2 years of follow-up. We excluded patients who were lost to follow up, had a stroke during follow up, had non-vascular death or death within 30 days of stenting. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups: those with vs. those without the primary outcome. We used binary logistic regression to determine predictors of incident MI or death within 2 years. Results: Of the 451 patients enrolled in SAMMPRIS, 350 patients met the inclusion criteria (reasons for exclusion: 4 deaths occurring within 30 days of stenting, 63 with ischemic stroke, 6 with symptomatic hemorrhage, 7 patients with non-cardiovascular death within 2 years, and 21 lost to follow up). At 2 years, 17 patients (4.9%) had MI/death; 10 patients had MI and 7 had cardiovascular deaths. In a multivariable model, factors associated with MI/death were: history of coronary artery disease (adjusted OR 3.19, 95% CI 1.14 - 8.93, p = 0.027) and systolic blood pressure (adjusted OR per 10 mm increase 1.20, 95% CI 0.98 - 1.44, p = 0.080). This risk was abut 24% with both predictors present and 2.8% with them absent (Figure). Conclusion: Higher systolic blood pressure and pre-existing cardiovascular disease were independently associated with incident MI or vascular death in patients with sICAD, despite medical management. Further studies are needed to confirm this association and test interventions to reduce this risk.

Introduction: Transient neurologic events have high rates of diagnostic uncertainty. Emergency department observation units (ED-OU) allow an accelerated diagnostic work up for suspected transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). However, clinical decision support regarding which patients to admit to these units is lacking. This study aimed to identify clinical features that differentiate true ischemic events from nonischemic transient neurological attacks (NI-TNA) among patients admitted to an ED-OU for suspected TIA. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on consecutive patients admitted to the ED-OU at a single academic center for suspected TIA. Demographics, vascular risk factors, presenting symptoms, and details of the clinical presentation were abstracted from chart review. Final discharge diagnosis was dichotomized to either ischemic event (TIA or minor stroke, TIAMS) or NI-TNA based on the treating vascular neurologist’s final diagnosis. Standard statistical tests were used for comparison testing between the two groups. Significantly different factors with p Results: Of 186 consecutive patients, 101 (54%) had a final diagnosis of NI-TNA and 85 (46%) of TIAMS. The median population ABCD2 score was 4 [IQR 3-4]. On univariate analysis, older age (63 vs. 70, p60min (57% vs. 40%, p=0.02) were associated with NI-TNA. On multivariable analysis, only symptom duration>60 minutes predicted NI-TNA (OR 0.39, p=0.04) and only history of AF (OR 2.53, p=0.03) predicted TIAMS. Facial weakness was strongly predictive of TIAMS (OR 3.22, p=0.05), but not significant. Conclusion: We identified two clinical features that distinguished TIAMS from NI-TNA among patients admitted to an ED-OU for suspected TIA.These may be helpful in emergency room triage of TIAMS. Data from ED-OU can be used to identify factors associated with cerebral ischemia and improve current care pathways for patients with suspected TIA, so diagnostic evaluation is received in the most appropriate setting.

Background and Purpose: The first of the 2 NINDS Stroke Study trials did not show a significant increase in early neurological improvement (ENI), defined as NIHSS improvement by ≥ 4, with alteplase treatment. We hypothesized that ENI defined as a percentage change in NIHSS (percent change NIHSS) at 24 hours is superior to other definitions in predicting 3-month functional outcomes and using this definition there would be treatment benefit of alteplase over placebo at 24 hours. Methods: We analyzed the NINDS rt-PA Stroke Study (Parts 1 and 2) trial data. Percent change NIHSS was defined as [(admission NIHSS score–24-hour NIHSS score)x100/admission NIHSS score] and delta NIHSS as (admission NIHSS score–24-hour NIHSS score). We compared ENI using these definitions between alteplase vs. placebo patients. We also used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to determine the predictive association of ENI with excellent 3-month functional outcomes [Barthel Index (BI) score 95 – 100 and modified Rankin scale (mRS) 0-1], good 3-month functional outcome (mRS 0-2) and 3-month infarct volume. Results: There was a significantly greater improvement in the 24-hour median percent change NIHSS among patients treated with alteplase compared to the placebo group (28% vs. 15%, p = 0.045) but not median delta NIHSS (3 vs. 2, p = 0.471). ROC curve comparison showed that percent change NIHSS (ROC percent ) was better than delta NIHSS (ROC delta ) and admission NIHSS (ROC admission ) with regards to excellent 3-month BI (ROC percent 0.83, ROC delta 0.76, ROS admission 0.75), excellent 3-month mRS (ROC percent 0.83, ROC delta 0.74, ROS admission 0.78), and good 3-month mRS (ROC percent 0.83, ROC delta 0.76, ROS admission 0.78). Percentage change had a stronger association with 90-day infarct volume than delta NIHSS score and both delta NIHSS and percent change in NIHSS were more pronounced with faster treatment times. Conclusion: In the NINDS rt-PA trial, alteplase was associated with a significant percent change improvement in NIHSS at 24 hours. Percent change in NIHSS may be a better surrogate marker of thrombolytic activity and 3-month outcomes.

Introduction: The insular cortex controls several aspects of vital function including autonomic regulation, and strokes affecting the insula have been associated with dysautonomia, cardiac dysfunction, and arrhythmias. Previous studies have shown an association between insular strokes, elevated troponin levels, and atrial fibrillation (AF). In this study, we aim to determine the association between cardiac biomarkers and insular involvement of the infarct and hypothesize that insular involvement implicates a cardioembolic source. Methods: We abstracted data from a prospective comprehensive stroke center registry of consecutive patients with a discharge diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke who underwent brain imaging (CT or MRI) and work up to determine stroke mechanism. Data included demographics, clinical baseline variables, laboratory tests (including admission troponin level), and transthoracic echocardiographic variables (regional wall motion abnormalities, ejection fraction, and left atrial volume index), and stroke subtype. Multivariable logistic regression models were built to determine associations between AF, and cardiac biomarkers and insular infarcts. Results: We identified 1224 patients who met the inclusion criteria; 397 (32.4%) had insular involvement of the infarct. In multivariable models, insular infarcts were associated with AF (adjusted OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.23-2.43, p = 0.001) and left atrial volume index (adjusted OR per standard deviation increase 1.30, 95% CI 1.13-1.49, p = 0.001). There was a trend for association between insular involvement and positive troponin level (adjusted OR 1.45 95% CI 0.91-2.33, p = 0.122) but not with regional wall motion abnormalities (adjusted OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.69-1.84, p = 0.627). Insular involvement was associated with cardioembolic stroke subtype (45.8% vs. 26.7%, p Conclusion: The insular cortex is commonly involved in patients with atrial fibrillation and/or atrial dilation and maybe a neuroimaging biomarker of cardioembolic stroke. Larger studies are needed to confirm this association and test anticoagulation therapy in patients with insular infarcts.

Introduction: Emergency department observation units (ED-OU) allow patients with a suspected transient ischemic attack (TIA) an expedited workup without the need for a prolonged inpatient admission. Despite risk stratification scores and physician evaluation, however, the reliability in diagnosis of TIA remains poor, which may lead to unnecessary testing. This study aimed to identify and compare the diagnostic workup between patients with final diagnosis of true vascular events (TIA or minor stroke, TIAMS) versus nonischemic transient neurological attacks (NI-TNA) in suspected TIA patients admitted to an ED observation unit. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on consecutive patients who were admitted to an ED-OU at a single center for suspected TIA. All diagnostic testing obtained during observation stay was abstracted from chart review. Final discharge diagnosis was dichotomized to either TIAMS or NI-TNA. Standard statistical tests were used for comparison testing between the two groups with significance defined as p Results: Of 186 suspected TIA patients admitted to an ED-OU, median ABCD2 score was 4 [IQR 3-4]. Final diagnosis was TIAMS in 85 (46%) patients and NI-TNA in 101 (54%) patients. A total of 182 (98%) patients had non-contrast head CT (NCHCT); 160 (86%) brain MRI; 117 (63%) extracranial vessel imaging; 116 (62%) transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE); and 108 (58%) intracranial vessel imaging. Assessing diagnostic work-up by final diagnosis, TTE (78% vs 40%, p Conclusion: Extensive diagnostic testing is done on patients with suspected TIA admitted to ED-OU, with more studies acquired on patients with true ischemic events as compared to NI-TNA. As the use of ED-OUs increases, refinement of current diagnostic testing algorithms to reduce workup for cerebrovascular disease among patients with NI-TIA and among different ischemic stroke subtypes is warranted.

Background and purpose Patients who present emergently with acute neurological signs and symptoms represent unique diagnostic challenges for clinicians. We sought to characterize the reliability of physician diagnosis in differentiating aborted or imaging-negative acute ischemic stroke from stroke mimic. Methods We constructed 10 case-vignettes of patients treated with thrombolysis with subsequent clinical improvement who lacked radiographic evidence of infarction. Using an online survey, we asked physicians to select a most likely final diagnosis after reading each case-vignette. Inter-rater agreement was evaluated using percent agreement and κ statistic for multiple raters with 95% confidence intervals reported. Results Sixty-five physicians participated in the survey. Most participants were in practice for ≥5 years and over half were vascular neurologists. Physicians agreed on the most likely final diagnosis 71% of the time, κ of 0.21 (95% confidence interval, 0.06-0.54). Percent agreement was similar across participant practice locations, years of experience, subspecialty training, and personal experience with thrombolysis. Conclusions We found modest agreement among surveyed physicians in distinguishing ischemic stroke syndromes from stroke mimics in patients without radiographic evidence of infarction and clinical improvement after thrombolysis. Methods to improve diagnostic consensus after thrombolysis are needed to assure acute ischemic stroke patients and stroke mimics are treated safely and accurately.

Background Large vessel disease stroke subtype carries the highest risk of early recurrent stroke. In this study we aim to look at the association between impaired perfusion and early stroke recurrence in patients with intracranial atherosclerotic disease or total cervical carotid occlusion. Methods This is a retrospective study from a comprehensive stroke center where we included consecutive patients 18 years or older with intracranial atherosclerotic disease or total cervical carotid occlusion admitted with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke within 24 h from symptom onset with National Institute Health Stroke Scale max > 6 s mismatch volume (penumbra volume–infarct volume) of 15 ml or more. The outcome was recurrent cerebrovascular events at 90 days defined as worsening or new neurological symptoms in the absence of a nonvascular cause attributable to the decline, or new infarct or infarct extension in the territory of the affected artery. We used Cox proportional hazards models to determine the association between impaired perfusion and recurrent cerebrovascular events. Results Sixty-two patients met our inclusion criteria; mean age 66.4 ± 13.1 years, 64.5% male (40/62) and 50.0% (31/62) with intracranial atherosclerotic disease. When compared to patients with favorable perfusion pattern, patients with unfavorable perfusion pattern were more likely to have recurrent cerebrovascular events (55.6% (10/18) versus 9.1% (4/44), p Conclusion Perfusion mismatch predicts recurrent cerebrovascular events in patients with ischemic stroke due to intracranial atherosclerotic disease or total cervical carotid occlusion. Studies are needed to determine the utility of revascularization strategies in this patient population.

Background and Purpose: Early neurologic improvement (ENI) in patients treated with alteplase has been shown to correlate with functional outcome. However, the definition of ENI remains controversial and has varied across studies. We hypothesized that ENI defined as a percentage change in the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (percent change NIHSS score) at 24-hours would better correlate with favorable outcomes at 3 months than ENI defined as the change in NIHSS score (delta NIHSS score) at 24 hours. Methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected single-center quality improvement data was performed of all acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with alteplase. We examined delta NIHSS score and percent change NIHSS score in unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models as predictors of a favorable outcome at 3 months (defined as mRS 0-1). Results: Among 586 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 194 (33.1%) had a favorable outcome at 3 months. In fully adjusted models, both delta NIHSS score (OR per point decrease 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-1.36) and percent change NIHSS score (OR per 10 percent decrease 1.17; 95% CI 1.12-1.22) were associated with favorable functional outcome at 3 months. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve comparison showed that the area under the ROC curve for percent change NIHSS score (.755) was greater than delta NIHSS score (.613) or admission NIHSS (.694). Conclusions: Percentage change in NIHSS score may be a better surrogate marker of ENI and functional outcome in AIS patients after receiving acute thrombolytic therapy. More studies are needed to confirm our findings.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is evidence suggesting that Los Angeles Motor Scale (LAMS) ≥ 4 predicts large vessel occlusion (LVO). We aim to determine whether atrial fibrillation (AF) can improve the ability of LAMS in predicting LVO. METHODS We included consecutive patients with a discharge diagnosis of ischemic stroke admitted within 24 hours from last known normal time who underwent emergent vascular imaging using a computerized tomography angiography (CTA) of the head and neck. LVO was defined as intracranial internal carotid artery, proximal middle cerebral artery (M1 or proximal M2 segment), or basilar occlusion. LAMS was determined in the emergency department upon arrival. Univariate and multivariable models were performed to identify predictors of LVO and to determine whether AF improves the ability of LAMS to predict LVO. RESULTS Among 1,234 patients admitted with ischemic stroke, 862 underwent emergent vascular imaging (69.8%) out of which 374 (43.4%) had evidence of LVO and 207 (24%) underwent mechanical thrombectomy. In multivariable models, predictors of LVO were LAMS (OR 1.42 per one point increase 95% CI 1.29-1.57) and AF (OR 1.95 95% CI 1.26-3.02, P < .001). We developed the LAMS-AF that includes the LAMS score and adds two points if AF is present. In this analysis, LAMS-AF (AUC .78) had improved prediction over LAMS (AUC .76) in predicting LVO and lead to reclassification of 8/68 patients (11.8%) with LAMS = 3 group into the high-risk LVO group. CONCLUSION In patients with LAMS = 3, using the LAMS-AF score may improve the ability of LAMS in predicting LVO. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Study objective Although most transient ischemic attack and minor stroke patients in US emergency departments (EDs) are admitted, experience in other countries suggests that timely outpatient evaluation of transient ischemic attack and minor stroke can be safe. We assess the feasibility and safety of a rapid outpatient stroke clinic for transient ischemic attack and minor stroke: Rapid Access Vascular Evaluation–Neurology (RAVEN). Methods Transient ischemic attack and minor stroke patients presenting to the ED with a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 5 or less and nondisabling deficit were assessed for potential discharge to RAVEN with a protocol incorporating social and medical criteria. Outpatient evaluation by a vascular neurologist, including vessel imaging, was performed within 24 hours at the RAVEN clinic. Participants were evaluated for compliance with clinic attendance and 90-day recurrent transient ischemic attack and minor stroke and hospitalization rates. Results Between December 2016 and June 2018, 162 transient ischemic attack and minor stroke patients were discharged to RAVEN. One hundred fifty-four patients (95.1%) appeared as scheduled and 101 (66%) had a final diagnosis of transient ischemic attack and minor stroke. Two patients (1.3%) required hospitalization (one for worsening symptoms and another for intracranial arterial stenosis caused by zoster) at RAVEN evaluation. Among the 101 patients with confirmed transient ischemic attack and minor stroke, 18 (19.1%) had returned to an ED or been admitted at 90 days. Five were noted to have had recurrent neurologic symptoms diagnosed as transient ischemic attack (4.9%), whereas one had a recurrent stroke (0.9%). No individuals with transient ischemic attack and minor stroke died, and none received thrombolytics or thrombectomy, during the interval period. These 90-day outcomes were similar to historical published data on transient ischemic attack and minor stroke. Conclusion Rapid outpatient management appears a feasible and safe strategy for transient ischemic attack and minor stroke patients evaluated in the ED, with recurrent stroke and transient ischemic attack rates comparable to historical published data.

Introduction: The timely evaluation of TIA and minor stroke (TIAMS) is important, but whether TIAMS patients with no debilitating deficits should be admitted or not remains unsettled. We piloted a clinical protocol to assess the feasibility and safety of discharging selected TIAMS patients without disabling deficits from the Emergency Department (ED) to a rapid outpatient stroke clinic: Rapid Access Vascular Evaluation-Neurology (RAVEN). Methods: RAVEN was created as a specialized outpatient neurology clinic for TIAMS patients discharged within 24 hours from the ED at an urban quaternary academic medical center. Patients were first screened in the ED by a neurologist and selected using a decision tool identifying presumed low-risk TIAMS seen in the ED. Criteria included medical (e.g. National Institute of Health Stroke Scale of 5 or less, no disabling deficit, no fluctuating or recurrent symptoms over past month, no thrombolytic agent given, negative CT for hemorrhagic stroke, no new onset atrial fibrillation, blood pressure not over 180/110), as well as social criteria (e.g. patient ability to follow-up within 24 hours). Doppler ultrasound to exclude intracranial and extracranial stenosis, along with neurology re-evaluation was performed as part of RAVEN follow-up. Sample population was evaluated for rates of noncompliance with post-ED follow-up and need for hospitalization from clinic. Final diagnosis was also tabulated. Results: Between December 2016 and June 2018, 162 TIAMS patients seen in the ED were recommended for RAVEN utilizing the decision tool. Of these patients, 153 (94.4%) were evaluated within 24 hours of ED discharge. Two patients (1.3%) who received outpatient evaluation required hospitalization; 101 (66%) of these patients had a final diagnosis of TIAMS. Other common diagnoses included peripheral neuropathy (15%), migraine (12.5%) and seizure/recrudescence (4%). Conclusions: Our pilot data suggests that for a subset of TIAMS patients, rapid outpatient evaluation may be a feasible and safe strategy for TIAMS management. Future work exploring such strategies may improve TIAMS outcomes, reduce ED and inpatient crowding, and offer reductions in healthcare costs associated with TIAMS care.

Introduction: Patients presenting to emergency departments (ED) with TIA and minor strokes (TIAMS) are often admitted for expedited evaluation, though outpatient care models have been proposed. We piloted a rapid outpatient evaluation protocol for patients presenting with TIAMS within 24 hours of ED discharge. We hypothesized that this approach would reduce hospital costs and length of stay (LOS). Methods: This analysis looked at patients presenting to our institution’s ED with TIAMS (NIHSS < 5) in calendar year 2017. We compared hospitalization LOS, costs and expected revenues between admitted patients and those referred for rapid outpatient evaluation. Patients eligible for outpatient evaluation were without disabling deficits, recurrent symptoms, new-onset atrial fibrillation, prior carotid imaging with >50% stenosis, and not receiving thrombolysis. Disabling deficits were defined as new gait impairments, significant motor weakness, hemianopia, dysphagia or severe aphasia. Cost data was obtained from our finance department and expected revenue was estimated using Medicare reimbursement data, assuming Medicare-Fee for Service as the primary payer for all patients. Results: We identified 92 patients referred to our rapid outpatient clinic and 90 admitted patients (mean NIHSS 0.8 vs 1.8 respectively). In comparison to patients who were admitted, patients referred to outpatient evaluation had shorter hospital stays, lower total hospitalization costs, and decreased net-losses after accounting for expected revenue (Table). Only one patient in the outpatient cohort was readmitted for further management. Overall, the one-year pilot cohort averted approximately 138 bed-days and $950,000 in hospitalization costs. Conclusions: For patients who presented to our ED with TIAMS without disabling deficits, rapid outpatient evaluation reduced hospital LOS and total costs. Further research is needed to incorporate costs to payers and patients.

Objective: To determine whether e-mail is a useful mechanism to provide prompt, case-specific data feedback and improve door-to-needle (DTN) time for acute ischemic stroke treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV-tPA) in the emergency department (ED) at a high-volume academic stroke center. Methods: We instituted a quality improvement project at Columbia University Medical Center where clinical details are shared via e-mail with the entire treatment team after every case of IV-tPA administration in the ED. Door-to-needle and component times were compared between the prefeedback (January 2013 to March 2015) and postfeedback intervention (April 2015 to June 2016) periods. Results: A total of 273 cases were included in this analysis, 102 (37%) in the postintervention period. Median door-to-stroke code activation (2 vs 0 minutes, P < .01), door-to-CT Scan (21 vs 18 minutes, P < .01), and DTN (54 vs 49 minutes, P = .17) times were shorter in the postintervention period, although the latter did not reach statistical significance. The proportion of cases with the fastest DTN (≤45 minutes) was higher in the postintervention period (29.2% vs 42.2%, P = .03). Conclusion: E-mail is a simple and effective tool to provide rapid feedback and promote interdisciplinary communication to improve acute stroke care in the ED.

BACKGROUND Prior studies have shown a correlation between the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and stroke volume on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI); data are more limited in patients with minor stroke. We sought to determine the association between DWI lesion(s) volume and the (1) total NIHSS score and (2) NIHSS component scores in patients with minor stroke. METHODS We included all patients with minor stroke (NIHSS 0-5) enrolled in the Stroke Warning Information and Faster Treatment study. We calculated lesion(s) volume (cm3 ) on the DWI sequence using Medical Image Processing, Analysis, and Visualization (MIPAV, NIH, Version 7.1.1). We used nonparametric tests to study the association between the primary outcome, DWI lesion(s) volume, and the predictors (NIHSS score and its components). RESULTS We identified 894 patients with a discharge diagnosis of minor stroke; 709 underwent magnetic resonance imaging and 510 were DWI positive. There was a graded relationship between the NIHSS score and median DWI lesion volume in cm3 : (NIHSS 0: 7.1, NIHSS 1: 8.0, NIHSS 2: 17.1, NIHSS 3: 11.6, NIHSS 4: 19.0, and NIHSS 5: 23.6, P < .01). The median lesion volume was significantly higher in patients with neglect (105.6 vs. 12.5, P = .025), language disorder (34.6 vs. 11.9, P < .001), and visual field impairment (185.6 vs. 11.6, P < .001). Other components of the NIHSS were not associated with lesion volume. CONCLUSION In patients with minor stroke, the nature of deficit when used with the NIHSS score can improve prediction of infarct volume. This may have clinical and therapeutic implications.

Study objectives To examine the association between markers of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume in an elderly, multiethnic, community-dwelling cohort. Methods This is a cross-sectional analysis from the Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project (WHICAP), a community-based epidemiological study of older adults. Structural magnetic resonance imaging was obtained starting in 2004; the Medical Outcomes Study-Sleep Scale (MOS-SS) was administered to participants starting in 2007. Linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between the two MOS-SS questions that measure respiratory dysfunction during sleep and quantified WMH volume among WHICAP participants with brain imaging. Results A total of 483 older adults had both structural magnetic resonance imaging and sleep assessment. Self-reported SDB was associated with WMH. After adjusting for demographic and vascular risk factors, WMH volumes were larger in individuals with frequent snoring (β = 2.113, P = 0.004) and among those who reported waking short of breath or with headache (β = 1.862, P = 0.048). Conclusions In community-dwelling older adults, self-reported measures of SDB are associated with larger WMH volumes. The cognitive effects of SDB that are increasingly being recognized may be mediated at the small vessel level.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Use of emergency medical services (EMS) is associated with decreased door-to-needle time in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Whether patient language affects EMS utilization and prenotification in AIS has been understudied. We sought to characterize EMS use and prenotification by patient language among intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV-tPA) tissue plasminogen (IV-tPA) treated patients at a single center with a large Spanish-speaking patient population. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who received IV-tPA in our emergency department between July 2011 and June 2016. Baseline characteristics, EMS use, and prenotification were compared between English- and Spanish-speaking patients. Logistic regression was used to measure the association between patient language and EMS use. RESULTS: Of 391 patients who received IV-tPA, 208 (53%) primarily spoke English and 174 (45%) primarily spoke Spanish. Demographic and clinical factors including National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) did not differ between language groups. Emergency medical services use was higher among Spanish-speaking patients (82% vs 70%; P < .01). Prenotification did not differ by language (61% vs 63%; P = .8). In a multivariable model adjusted for age, sex, and NIHSS, Spanish speakers remained more likely to use EMS (odds ratio: 1.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.1-3.0). CONCLUSION: Emergency medical services usage was higher in Spanish speakers compared to English speakers among AIS patients treated with IV-tPA; however, prenotification rates did not differ. Future studies should evaluate differences in EMS utilization according to primary language and ethnicity.

The time-sensitive nature of acute ischemic stroke diagnosis and treatment with IV tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) presents a unique set of challenges for obtaining informed consent. Despite guideline recommendations that informed consent is indicated for thrombolysis,1 there is no accepted standardized consent process for thrombolytic administration and wide variability has been reported.2 Refusal of IV-tPA based on incorrect or incomplete understanding of its risks and benefits has the potential to affect morbidity after ischemic stroke, particularly for minority race/ethnic groups.3

Introduction: Neurology residents are often the first-line responders to emergency department (ED) stroke codes, however their role in initiating stroke systems changes is not well established. At a large, resource-limited public hospital, neurology residents developed a protocol for acute stroke codes focused on improved interdisciplinary communication. Methods: Process mapping was used to identify current state deficiencies. Poor communication between neurology residents and ED physicians, nurses, and radiology techs and role redundancy were identified as core deficiencies. Ideal and future state maps were used to create a stroke code workflow diagram (the “protocol”). Changes included assigning specific responsibilities to each team member, and forcing interdisciplinary communication at specific points in the process (i.e. ED physician calls tech when patient goes to CT). The protocol was implemented in May 2016. Median door-to-needle (DTN) times were compared in the pre-intervention (January 1, 2014 - April 30, 2016) and post-intervention (May 1, 2016 - June 15, 2017) periods using non-parametric tests. Resident satisfaction with communication during stroke codes was measured using pre- and post-intervention surveys; responses were compared with t-test. Results: A total of 66 patients received tPA, 20 (30%) in the post-intervention period. Baseline demographics and NIHSS did not differ in the pre- and post-intervention periods, however median DTN decreased (58 vs. 40 min, p=0.02) and proportion of DTN≤45 minutes doubled (30% vs. 60%, p=0.03) in the post-intervention period. Twenty-three residents (79%) completed pre-intervention surveys; 19 residents (64%) completed post-intervention surveys. Resident satisfaction was greater in the post-intervention period with respect to stroke team communication (2.8 vs. 3.6, p=0.01), understanding multidisciplinary roles (3.8 vs. 4.3, p=0.03), and interaction between team members (3.2 vs. 3.8, p=0.03) measured using a five-point scale (higher being better). Conclusion: In a resource-limited setting, neurology residents are capable of implementing acute stroke workflow changes using basic process improvement methods that have a measurable impact on DTN and resident satisfaction.

Importance: Large vessel disease (LVD) stroke subtype carries the highest risk of early recurrent stroke, reaching up to 30% in the first few days. Predictors of early recurrence have been previously described, but less is known regarding infarct expansion and other causes of neurological worsening. We aim to determine the association between impaired perfusion and neurological decline in patients with LVD subtype. Methods: This is a single center retrospective cohort study of all consecutive patients 18 years or older with LVD admitted with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke within 24 hours from symptom onset (12/1/2016 to 3/31/2017). Patients with 1) evidence of ≥ 50% stenosis of a large intra- or extracranial artery on computerized tomography angiography (CTA); 2) symptoms referable to the territory of the affected artery and NIHSS < 15 and 3) perfusion imaging data using the RAPID processing software were included. The primary predictor was unfavorable mismatch volume ≥15 mL, defined as perfusion deficit of Tmax > 6sec volume minus infarct volume similar to neuro-interventional trials. The outcome was recurrent cerebrovascular events (RCVE) at 90 days (adjudicated independently by two vascular neurologists) defined as a decline in neurologic function in the absence of a medical cause, or new infarct or infarct extension in the territory of the affected artery. We estimated the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for unfavorable perfusion imaging as predictor of RCVE using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Sixty-eight patients met our inclusion criteria (mean age 64.7 years; 61.8% male; 58.8% intracranial LVD). When compared to patients without RCVE, patients with RCVE were more likely to have unfavorable mismatch volume [71.4% vs. 14.8%, p Conclusion: Perfusion mismatch is associated with RCVE in patients with ischemic stroke due to LVD. Pursuit of more aggressive treatment and management strategies may be warranted in this population.

Background While transient ischemic attack and minor stroke (TIAMS) are common conditions evaluated in the emergency department (ED), there is controversy regarding the most effective and efficient strategies for managing them in the ED. Some patients are discharged after evaluation in the ED and cared for in the outpatient setting, while others remain in an observation unit without being admitted or discharged, and others experience prolonged and potentially costly inpatient admissions. Objective of the Review The goal of this clinical review was to summarize and present recommendations regarding the disposition of TIAMS patients in the ED (e.g., admission vs. discharge). Discussion An estimated 250,000 to 300,000 TIA events occur each year in the United States, with an estimated near-term risk of subsequent stroke ranging from 3.5% to 10% at 2 days, rising to 17% by 90 days. While popular and easy to use, reliance solely on risk-stratification tools, such as the ABCD2, should not be used to determine whether TIAMS patients can be discharged safely. Additional vascular imaging and advanced brain imaging may improve prediction of short-term neurologic risk. We also review various disposition strategies (e.g., inpatient vs. outpatient/ED observation units) with regard to their association with neurologic outcomes, such as 30-day or 90-day stroke recurrence or new stroke, in addition to other outcomes, such as hospital length of stay and health care costs. Conclusions Discharge from the ED for rapid outpatient follow-up may be a safe and effective strategy for some forms of minor stroke without disabling deficit and TIA patients after careful evaluation and initial ED workup. Future research on such strategies has the potential to improve neurologic and overall patient outcomes and reduce hospital costs and ED length of stay.

See related article, p 1715 Stroke neurologists are in high demand as increasing numbers of hospitals develop new or expand existing stroke programs. A growing number of recent neurology graduates are hired as neurohospitalists by hospital networks, with the goal of improving stroke care.1 Although stroke subspecialty training is not required to be a stroke director, it is highly valued; in a survey of academic neurology departments, 73% of respondents ranked clinical expertise in stroke as the most important requirement for a neurohospitalist.2 Charged with leading a stroke program, these early career physicians are expected not only to provide clinical stroke care but also to assume major administrative responsibilities. These may include guiding a community hospital (with or without an academic affiliation) to Primary Stroke Center status, expanding a larger hospital’s program to become Comprehensive Stroke Center certified, or simply maintaining the stringent quality measures required by the Joint Commission and other regulatory bodies.3 Stroke fellows typically train in large academic centers with established stroke programs, and recent graduates may encounter significant challenges when transitioning to a leadership role in a less developed program. Faced with a new set of colleagues, new systems of care, and often a new geographical location, newly minted stroke neurologists may initially feel overwhelmed. We outline 7 strategies that may prove …

Background and Purpose— Thrombolysis rates among minor stroke (MS) patients are increasing because of increased recognition of disability in this group and guideline changes regarding treatment indications. We examined the association of delays in door-to-needle (DTN) time with stroke severity. Methods— We performed a retrospective analysis of all stroke patients who received intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator in our emergency department between July 1, 2011, and February 29, 2016. Baseline characteristics and DTN were compared between MS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≤5) and nonminor strokes (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score >5). We applied causal inference methodology to estimate the magnitude and mechanisms of the causal effect of stroke severity on DTN. Results— Of 315 patients, 133 patients (42.2%) had National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≤5. Median DTN was longer in MS than nonminor strokes (58 versus 53 minutes; P =0.01); fewer MS patients had DTN ≤45 minutes (19.5% versus 32.4%; P =0.01). MS patients were less likely to use emergency medical services (EMS; 62.6% versus 89.6%, P P Conclusions— MS had longer DTN times, an effect partly explained by patterns of EMS prenotification. Interventions to improve EMS recognition of MS may accelerate care.

Introduction: Delirium, a disorder of attention and arousal, poses a large public health burden. Inattention and fluctuating cognitive status, two primary delirium symptoms, also occur when specialized right brain systems are impaired. Although right hemisphere stroke may predispose to delirium, systematic assessment methods and management of these patients are not yet available. We sought to characterize the incidence of delirium in right hemisphere stroke patients and explore whether stroke localization was associated with delirium. Methods: We identified consecutive patients admitted to our stroke service with acute right hemisphere stroke over a 6-month period from our prospective stroke registry. We reviewed the medical record for core delirium symptoms: inattention, cognitive fluctuation, and either disorganized thinking, or altered level of consciousness. Delirium was assessed by systematically screening for trigger words. We compared baseline characteristics with Fisher’s exact and t-tests and assessed relation of stroke localization to delirium with logistic regression. Results: Of 105 patients with acute right hemisphere stroke, 27 (26%) had delirium. Delirium patients were older (mean age 78 vs. 68, p Conclusion: The high delirium incidence we found supports routine delirium screening in acute stroke patients. Stroke localization may be one factor to incorporate into screening tools. Studies to prospectively identify and treat delirium in both right and left hemisphere stroke patients are warranted.

Introduction: Use of emergency medical services (EMS) is associated with decreased door-to-needle time in acute ischemic stroke. While racial and ethnic disparities in EMS use are well documented, the role of patient language in EMS use has been understudied. We sought to characterize EMS use by patient language among IV-tPA treated patients at a single center with a large Spanish-speaking patient population. Methods: We identified all patients who received IV-tPA over five years (7/2011-6/2016) at an academic medical center in New York City. Primary language, EMS use, pre-notification, and patient demographics were recorded from the EMR. We compared baseline characteristics, EMS use, and stroke pre-notification between English and Spanish-speaking patients. Logistic regression was used to measure the association between primary patient language and EMS use, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Over the study period, 391 patients received IV-tPA; 208 (53%) primarily spoke English and 174 (45%) primarily spoke Spanish. Nine patients (2%) spoke other languages and were excluded. Mean age (66 vs. 69, p=0.09), male sex (43% vs. 33%, p=0.05) and median NIHSS (7 vs. 6, p=0.12) did not differ between English and Spanish-speaking patients. Of the 380 (97%) patients with EMS data, EMS use was higher among Spanish-speaking patients (69% vs. 80%, p Conclusion: Among patients treated with IV-tPA at an urban academic medical center, EMS usage was higher in Spanish-speakers compared to English-speakers. Although language is not an exact surrogate for ethnicity, these findings are in contrast to previously published work demonstrating low rates of EMS usage among Hispanics. Future studies should evaluate differences in EMS utilization according to primary language as well as ethnicity.

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a stroke risk factor and is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for cognitive impairment. Altered cerebral autoregulation may play a role in these relationships. We measured the association between OSA and two forms of cerebral autoregulation: (1) dynamic cerebral autoregulation (DCA), which plays a homeostatic role; and (2) vasomotor reactivity (VMR), which is a measure of cerebrovascular reserve. We hypothesized that both VMR and DCA would be impaired in subjects with OSA. Methods: We recruited subjects with untreated OSA. VMR and DCA were measured with continuous transcranial Doppler (TCD) of the middle cerebral arteries (MCA). DCA was measured with phase shift analysis where lower degrees of phase shift indicate greater impairment; values Results: Twelve subjects were enrolled; 11 had TCD data. Mean age was 53 (SD 11) and the majority had moderate to severe OSA (median AHI 27, IQR 16-37). Mean VMR (% change in MCA velocity) was 3.1 (SD 0.7); mean phase shift was 34 degrees (SD 15). There was a moderate association between AHI and phase shift (r=-0.40); the correlation with VMR was weaker (r=-0.25). The proportion of subjects with abnormal DCA was greater among those with moderate-severe OSA compared to those with mild OSA (66.7% vs. 0%, p=0.2). No enrolled subjects had abnormal VMR. Conclusion: Moderate to severe OSA is associated with abnormal dynamic cerebral autoregulation and normal vasomotor reactivity. The mechanism underlying this dissociation may involve OSA-mediated inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Further study may clarify how this dissociation relates to increased risk of cerebral ischemia among patients with OSA.

Background: Acute stroke is a time-sensitive condition in which rapid diagnosis must be made in order for thrombolytic treatment to be administered. A certain proportion of patients who receive thrombolysis will be found on further evaluation to have a diagnosis other than stroke, so-called “stroke mimics.” Little is known about the role of language discordance in the emergency department diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of all acute ischemic stroke patients who received IV tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in our emergency department between July 2011 and December 2015. Baseline characteristics, patient language, and final diagnosis were compared between encounters in which the treating neurologist and patient spoke the same language (concordant cases) and encounters in which they did not (discordant cases). Results: A total of 350 patients received IV tPA during the study period. English was the primary language for 52.6%, Spanish for 44.9%, and other languages for 2.6%; 60.3% of cases were classified as language concordant and 39.7% as discordant. We found no significant difference in the proportion of stroke mimics in the language concordant compared to discordant groups (16.6% vs 9.4%, p = 0.06). Similarly, the proportion of stroke mimics did not differ between English- and Spanish-speaking patients (15.8% vs 11.5%, p = 0.27). Conclusions: Language discordance was not associated with acute stroke misdiagnosis among patients treated with IV tPA. Prospective evaluation of communication during acute stroke encounters is needed to gain clarity on the role of language discordance in acute stroke misdiagnosis.

Prior studies have shown a correlation between the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and stroke volume on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI); data are more limited in patients with minor stroke. We sought to determine the association between DWI lesion(s) volume and the (1) total NIHSS score and (2) NIHSS component scores in patients with minor stroke.We included all patients with minor stroke (NIHSS 0-5) enrolled in the Stroke Warning Information and Faster Treatment study. We calculated lesion(s) volume (cmWe identified 894 patients with a discharge diagnosis of minor stroke; 709 underwent magnetic resonance imaging and 510 were DWI positive. There was a graded relationship between the NIHSS score and median DWI lesion volume in cmIn patients with minor stroke, the nature of deficit when used with the NIHSS score can improve prediction of infarct volume. This may have clinical and therapeutic implications.

Background and purpose: Reducing door-to-imaging (DIT) time is a major focus of acute stroke quality improvement initiatives to promote rapid thrombolysis. However, recent data suggest that the imaging-to-needle (ITN) time is a greater source of treatment delay. We hypothesized that language discordance between physician and patient would contribute to prolonged ITN time, as rapidly taking a history and confirming last known well require facile communication between physician and patient. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of all patients who received tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in our emergency department between July 2011 and December 2014. Baseline characteristics and relevant time intervals were compared between encounters where the treating neurologist and patient spoke the same language (concordant cases) and where they did not (discordant cases). Results: A total of 279 patients received tPA during the study period. English was the primary language for 51%, Spanish for 46%, and other languages for 3%; 59% of cases were classified as language concordant and 41% as discordant. We found no differences in median DIT (24 vs 25, P = .5), ITN time (33 vs 30, P = .3), or door-to-needle time (DTN; 58 vs 55, P = .1) between concordant and discordant groups. Similarly, among patients with the fastest and slowest ITN times, there were no differences. Conclusion: In a high-volume stroke center with a large proportion of Spanish speakers, language discordance was not associated with changes in DIT, ITN time, or DTN time.

Intro: Shorter door-to-needle time (DTN) is associated with better outcomes for ischemic stroke. National increases in tPA volumes are partially driven by treatment of larger numbers of minor strokes. However, it is not known whether treatment times differ in these patients. We sought to evaluate DTN and component times in minor strokes. Hypothesis: In minor strokes DTN is longer due to more diagnostic uncertainty Methods: We reviewed the record of all patients who received tPA in our ED from 7/2011-7/2015. Minor stroke was defined as NIHSS≤5. We compared demographics, EMS usage, pre-notification rates and DTN between minor strokes and all others. We also compared DTN component times, specifically neurologist-dependent times where diagnostic uncertainty may be apparent (stroke activation (SA)-to-tPA and imaging-to-tPA) and ED-dependent times which capture initial stroke recognition (door-to-SA and door-to-imaging). Means were compared via t test, medians via Mann Whitney U test, and dichotomous variables via chi square test. Results: Over this period 311 patients received tPA; 126 (41%) were minor strokes. There were no significant differences in language (48 vs 52% English-speaking, p=0.6) or sex (39 vs 34% male, p=0.3) for minor strokes compared to all others. Minor strokes were younger (62 vs 73 years, p We found longer DTN (61 vs 55 min, p=0.01) in minor strokes compared to all others. For DTN components, door-to-SA (5 vs 2 min, p Conclusion: We found longer DTN in minor strokes. The difference in door-to-stroke activation and door-to-imaging but not other component times suggests delayed recognition of minor strokes at ED presentation. Similarly, less frequent pre-notification points to poor recognition by EMS. Efforts are needed to improve minor stroke recognition by EMS and ED providers

Intro: While thrombolysis in stroke mimics (SM) is considered safe, recent data highlights the excess cost associated with treatment of these patients. Several studies have identified common demographic features of SM, however less is known about whether language barriers between patient and physician influence SM treatment rates. We sought to evaluate the role of physician-patient language discordance on the rate of SM treatment at a single center serving a large Spanish-speaking population. Hypothesis: Stroke mimic treatment rates are higher when there are language barriers between physician and patient due to greater diagnostic uncertainty Methods: We reviewed the electronic medical record (EMR) for all patients who received tPA in the ED from 7/2011 to 7/2015. Patient’s primary language was obtained from the EMR; language fluency of treating neurologists was obtained via questionnaire; final diagnosis (SM, imaging negative, imaging confirmed) was the attending physician’s impression at discharge. We compared baseline characteristics and SM rates between encounters where the treating neurologist and patient spoke the same language (concordant group) versus those where they did not (discordant group). Means were compared via t test, medians via Mann Whitney U test and dichotomized variables via chi square test. Results: During this period 311 patients received tPA. English was the primary language for 158 (51%), Spanish for 144 (46%), and other languages for 9 (3%); 183 (59%) encounters were classified as concordant and 128 (41%) as discordant. Final diagnosis was SM for 37 (12%); among those with a final diagnosis of stroke, 65 (24%) were imaging negative. There were no significant differences in mean age (67 vs. 70, p=0.1), male sex (38% vs. 32%, p=0.3), and median NIHSS (7 vs. 7, p=0.4) between concordant and discordant groups. We found higher rates of SM in the concordant group (16% vs. 6%, p=0.01). When imaging negative strokes were included with SM, these differences were no longer significant (33% vs. 32%, p=0.9). Conclusion: At our institution, language discordancy does not contribute to higher rates of SM treatment. Careful observation of how language discordant pairs communicate is needed to understand the role of interpreters in these findings

Background: There remains lack of consensus on who among minor stroke or transient ischemic attack (MS-TIA) patients constitutes a high-risk group that may be targeted by clinical trials to improve early recurrence risk. We aimed to determine predictors of early recurrent cerebrovascular endpoints (RCVE) among patients with MS-TIA. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from consecutive patients who presented to the emergency room of Columbia University between Jan 1 st 2010 - Dec 31 st 2014, with MS-TIA (NIHSS 0-3) diagnosed by a neurologist and within 12 hours from onset. The outcome (adjudicated by 3 stroke neurologists) was RCVE (neurological deterioration defined as worsening deficits not attributed to fever or other medical condition or recurrent ischemic stroke or TIA within hospitalization). Our primary predictor was large vessel disease (LVD) stroke subtype. Covariates included demographics, stroke risk factors, symptoms, and imaging parameters. We confirmed our findings in an independent cohort of consecutive MS-TIA patients (NIHSS 0-3) evaluated at Tulane University during the same time period. Results: The cohort at Columbia University Medical Center included 505 patients; mean length of hospital stay (LOS) 3.2 days, 31 had RCVE (6.1%). The Tulane cohort consisted of 753 patients (mean LOS 4.5 days), 40 had RCVE (5.3%); RCVE predictors on univariate and multivariate analyses in both cohorts were LVD subtype and to a lesser extent positive neuroimaging (Tables 1 and 2). There was an increase in percentage of patients with RCVE with both predictors combined as compared to separate use. When neither predictor was present, the rate of RCVE was very low (Figure). RCVE was associated with poor discharge outcome (mRS≥2). Conclusion: In patients with MS-TIA, LVD stroke subtype and perhaps positive neuroimaging predict RCVE in two independent cohorts.RCVE was associated with poor functional outcome. Prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Introduction: Shorter door-to-needle time (DNT) is associated with better outcomes in acute ischemic stroke. Reducing door-to-CT time is a major focus of national quality improvement initiatives designed to reduce DNT, however time from CT-to-tPA administration has received far less attention. Recent data suggests that the CT-to-tPA interval contributes to significant delays in DNT. We hypothesized that language barriers between patients and treating neurologists would lead to longer CT-to-tPA times at a single stroke center serving a large Spanish-speaking population. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical record (EMR) on all patients who received IV-tPA in the emergency department over 2.5 years (July 2011 to December 2013). Patient’s primary language was obtained from the EMR; language fluency of treating neurologists was self-reported via standardized questionnaire. We compared baseline characteristics and relevant time intervals between encounters where the treating neurologist and patient spoke the same language (concordant group) versus those where they spoke a different language (discordant group). Means were compared with t-tests, medians with Mann-Whitney U tests, and dichotomized variables with Fisher exact tests. Results: A total of 199 patients received IV-tPA during the study period. English was the primary language for 110, Spanish for 83, and other languages for 6; of these, 120 cases were classified as concordant and 79 as discordant. There were no significant differences in mean age (67 vs. 69, p=0.3), male sex (37.5% vs. 24.1%, p=0.06), and median NIHSS (7 vs. 6, p=0.9) between concordant and discordant groups. We found no differences between median onset-to-arrival (68 vs. 71, p=0.3), door-to-CT (25 vs. 25, p=0.8), CT-to-tPA (33 vs. 29, p=0.2) and DNT (61 vs. 60, p=0.3) in minutes. There was a trend towards a greater proportion of patients with CT-to-tPA time under 30 minutes in the discordant group (52% vs. 38%, p=0.08). Conclusion: At our institution, language discordancy did not contribute to delays in CT-to-tPA nor overall DNT. CT-to-tPA time represents a largely unexplored contributor to overall delays in DNT that warrants further investigation.

Neurological worsening and recurrent stroke contribute substantially to morbidity associated with transient ischemic attacks and strokes (TIA-S).To determine predictors of early recurrent cerebrovascular events (RCVEs) among patients with TIA-S and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores of 0 to 3.A retrospective cohort study was conducted at 2 tertiary care centers (Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, and Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana) between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2014. All patients with neurologist-diagnosed TIA-S with a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 0 to 3 who presented to the emergency department were included.The primary outcome (adjudicated by 3 vascular neurologists) was RCVE: neurological deterioration in the absence of a medical explanation or recurrent TIA-S during hospitalization.Of the 1258 total patients, 1187 had no RCVEs and 71 had RCVEs; of this group, 750 patients (63.2%) and 39 patients (54.9%), respectively, were aged 60 years or older. There were 505 patients with TIA-S at Columbia University; 31 (6.1%) had RCVEs (15 patients had neurological deterioration only, 11 had recurrent TIA-S only, and 5 had both). The validation cohort at Tulane University consisted of 753 patients; 40 (5.3%) had RCVEs (24 patients had neurological deterioration only and 16 had both). Predictors of RCVE in multivariate models in both cohorts were infarct on neuroimaging (computed tomographic scan or diffusion-weighted imaging sequences on magnetic resonance imaging) (Columbia University: not applicable and Tulane University: odds ratio, 1.75; 95% CI, 0.82-3.74; P = .15) and large-vessel disease etiology (Columbia University: odds ratio, 6.69; 95% CI, 3.10-14.50 and Tulane University: odds ratio, 8.13; 95% CI, 3.86-17.12; P .001). There was an increase in the percentage of patients with RCVEs when both predictors were present. When neither predictor was present, the rate of RCVE was extremely low (up to 2%). Patients with RCVEs were less likely to be discharged home in both cohorts.In patients with minor stroke, vessel imaging and perhaps neuroimaging parameters, but not clinical scores, were associated with RCVEs in 2 independent data sets. Prospective studies are needed to validate these predictors.