Short door-in-door-out time of stroke patients in need of thrombectomy in a primary stroke centre

Abstract

COVID-19 epidemic has had a negative effect on the resources of emergency departments. While the number of acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients eligible for reperfusion therapies has decreased in the emergency departments (EDs), times to thrombolytic and endovascular treatments of AIS patients have become longer. In this paper, we report an ultra-fast diagnostic protocol in the settings of AIS in the ED of a primary stroke centre. Experiences using case studies of three patients have also been provided. Patients treated in accordance with the protocol received primary diagnoses and endovascular treatment with door-in-door-out times of 15 to 21 minutes.