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Prehospital Imaging-Based Triage of Head Trauma with a Mobile Stroke Unit: First Evidence and Literature Review

journal contribution
posted on 2023-07-26, 13:53 authored by Lenka Schwindling, Andreas Ragoschke-Schumm, Michael Kettner, Stefan Helwig, Matthias Manitz, Safwan Roumia, Martin Lesmeister, Iris Q. Grunwald, Klaus Fassbender
BACKGROUND- An ambulance equipped with a computed tomography (CT) scanner, point-of-care laboratory, and telemedicine capabilities (Mobile Stroke Unit [MSU]) has been shown to enable delivery of thrombolysis to stroke patients at the emergency site, thereby significantly decreasing time to treatment. However, the MSU frequently assesses patients with cerebral disorders other than stroke. For some of these disorders, prehospital CT scanning may also be beneficial. METHODS- Our institution manages a program investigating prehospital stroke treatment of patients with neurological emergencies. We assessed a patient with head trauma for whom prehospital CT scanning and laboratory tests allowed cause-based triage to the most appropriate hospital. We examined implications of this case for clinical practice in light of a literature review. RESULTS- The MSU was dispatched to assess a 74-year-old woman with suspected head trauma or stroke, found lying on the floor with a left frontal laceration. Her Glasgow Coma Scale score was 13, apart from drowsiness she exhibited no neurologic deficit. A CT scan ruled out intracranial hemorrhage and skull fracture. On the basis of these prehospital diagnostic findings, the patient was taken to the nearest primary care hospital rather than to a trauma center with neurosurgery facilities. CONCLUSION- Patients with neurologic disorders other than stroke, such as traumatic brain injury, may also benefit from prehospital CT studies. This case report and the results of our analysis of the literature support the potential benefit of prehospital imaging in correctly triaging patients with suspected traumatic brain injury to the appropriate target hospital.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

26

Issue number

5

Page range

489-493

Publication title

Journal of Neuroimaging

ISSN

1552-6569

Publisher

Wiley

Language

  • other

Legacy posted date

2016-08-09

Legacy creation date

2016-08-08

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

ARCHIVED Faculty of Medical Science (until September 2018)

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