From the Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine, via MDLinx:
Methods
- Between September 2008 and November 2009, a subset of patients with presumed acute stroke in the pre–hospital setting were admitted by EMS staff directly to a stroke unit, bypassing the emergency department.
- A control group, matched for a number of background variables, was created.
Results
- In all, there were 53 patients in the direct admission group, and 49 patients in the control group.
- The median delay from calling for an ambulance until arrival at a stroke unit was 54minutes in the direct admission group and 289minutes in the control group (p<0.0001).
- In a comparison between the direct admission group and the control group, a final diagnosis of stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or the sequelae of prior stroke was found in 85 % versus 90 % (NS).
- Among stroke patients who lived at home prior to the event, the percentage of patients that were living at home after 3months was 71 % and 62 % respectively (NS).
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