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Updated: Apr 13, 2026
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Optimized Management of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Published on: January 18, 2018
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Multidisciplinary protocol for rapid head computed tomography turnaround time in acute stroke patients
Eric M Bershad1, Chethan P Venkatasubba Rao1, Kevin Dat Vuong1
1Section of Vascular Neurology and Neurocritical Care, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
Summary
Implementing a structured protocol significantly reduced computed tomography (CT) head scan times for acute stroke patients, improving a critical step for thrombolysis eligibility. This protocol enhanced efficiency in stroke care.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Door-to-computed tomography (CT) head reporting time is critical for acute stroke thrombolysis eligibility.
- Detailed analysis of this process and its optimization has been limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a structured multidisciplinary protocol on head CT turnaround times in acute stroke patients.
- To assess the efficiency of a new protocol in a comprehensive stroke center.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of prospectively collected data.
- Utilized the Get-With-The-Guidelines database.
- Implemented and assessed a structured multidisciplinary protocol for head CT scans.
Main Results:
- Median CT turnaround time decreased from 27 minutes to 18 minutes after protocol implementation (P < .0001).
- Turnaround times were significantly lower for stroke patients compared to non-stroke patients (18 vs. 20 minutes, P < .0001).
Conclusions:
- A structured multidisciplinary protocol effectively reduces CT turnaround time for acute stroke evaluations.
- Further prospective studies are recommended to validate this protocol's effectiveness across different stroke centers.
