Who is in the emergency room matters when we talk about door-to-needle time: a single-center experience

Abstract

Background The efficacy of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is time-dependent.

Objective To compare the door-to-needle (DTN) time of stroke neurologists (SNs) versus non-stroke neurologists (NSNs) and emergency room physicians (EPs). Additionally, we aimed to determine elements associated with DTN ≤ 20 minutes.

Methods Prospective study of patients with IVT treated at Clínica Alemana between June 2016 and September 2021.

Results A total of 301 patients underwent treatment for IVT. The mean DTN time was 43.3 ± 23.6 minutes. One hundred seventy-three (57.4%) patients were evaluated by SNs, 122 (40.5%) by NSNs, and 6 (2.1%) by EPs. The mean DTN times were 40.8 ± 23, 46 ± 24.7, and 58 ± 22.5 minutes, respectively. Door-to-needle time ≤ 20 minutes occurred more frequently when patients were treated by SNs compared to NSNs and EPs: 15%, 4%, and 0%, respectively (odds ratio [OR]: 4.3, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.66–11.5, p = 0.004). In univariate analysis DTN time ≤ 20 minutes was associated with treatment by a SN (p = 0.002), coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic period (p = 0.21), time to emergency room (ER) (p = 0.21), presence of diabetes (p = 0.142), hypercholesterolemia (p = 0.007), atrial fibrillation (p < 0.09), score on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (p = 0.001), lower systolic (p = 0.143) and diastolic (p = 0.21) blood pressures, the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS; p = 0.09), vessel occlusion (p = 0.05), use of tenecteplase (p = 0.18), thrombectomy (p = 0.13), and years of experience of the physician (p < 0.001). After multivariate analysis, being treated by a SN (OR: 3.95; 95%CI: 1.44–10.8; p = 0.007), NIHSS (OR: 1.07; 95%CI: 1.02–1.12; p < 0.002) and lower systolic blood pressure (OR: 0.98; 95%CI: 0.96–0.99; p < 0.003) remained significant.

Conclusion Treatment by a SN resulted in a higher probability of treating the patient in a DTN time within 20 minutes.

Resumen

Antecedentes La respuesta a la trombólisis intravenosa (TIV) es dependiente del tiempo.

Objectivo Comparar los tiempo puerta-aguja (TPAs) de neurólogos vasculares (NVs) contra los de neurólogos no vasculares (NNVs) y médicos emergencistas (MEs), y determinar los elementos asociados a un PTA ≤ 20 minutos.

Métodos Análisis observacional prospectivo de pacientes con TIV tratados en Clínica Alemana entre junio de 2016 y septiembre de 2021.

Resultados En total, 301 pacientes con TIV fueron tratados. El TPA promedio fue de 43,3 ± 23,6 minutos. Un total de 173 (57,4%) pacientes fueron evaluados por NVs, 122 (40,5%), por NNVs, y 6 (2,1%), por MEs; los TPAs promedios fueron de 40,8 ± 23; 46 ± 24,7 y 58 ± 22,5 minutos, respectivamente. Los TPAs ≤ 20 minutos fueron más frecuentes en pacientes tratados por NVs versus NNVs y MEs: 15%, 4% y 0%, respectivamente (odds ratio [OR]: 4,3; intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%]: 1,66–11,5; p = 0,004). El análisis univariado demostró que TPA ≤ 20 minutos se asoció con: tratamiento por NVs (p = 0,002), periodo de la pandemia de enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19; p = 0,21), tiempo a urgencia (p = 0,21), diabetes (p = 0,142), hipercolesterolemia (p = 0,007), fibrilación auricular (p < 0,09), puntaje en la National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] (p = 0,001), presión arterial sistólica (p = 0,143) y diastólica menores (p = 0,21), Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS ; p = 0,09), oclusión de vasos cerebrales (p =0,05), uso de tecneteplase (p = 0,18), trombectomía (p = 0,13) y años de experiencia del médico (p < 0,001). El análisis multivariado demostró que ser tratado por NVs (OR: 3,95; IC95%: 1,44–10,8; p = 0,007), el puntaje en la NIHSS (OR: 1,07; IC95%: 1,02–1,12; p < 0,002) y la presión arterial sistólica (OR: 0,98; IC95%: 0,96–0,99; p < 0,003) se asociaron a TPA ≤ 20 minutos.

Conclusión El tratamiento por NVs resultó en un TPA menor y en una mayor probabilidad de tratamiento ≤ 20 minutos.

Keywords

Stroke - Fibrin Clot Lysis Time - Thrombolytic Therapy

Palabras clave

Accidente Cerebrovascular - Tiempo de Lisis del Coágulo de Fibrina - Terapia Trombolítica

Authors' Contributions

AB, PL, VO, PM, EM, JCN: Conceptualization, data curation, investigation, and methodology. AB, GC: Formal analysis of data; AB, PL, EM, VO, PM, JC, GC: Writing – original draft, writing – review & editing.

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 16. November 2022

Angenommen: 15. März 2023

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
04. Juli 2023

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