Assessment of remote ischemic conditioning delivery with optical sensor in acute ischemic stroke: Randomised clinical...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiovascular Research

Background:

• Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) involves limb pressure cuff inflations and deflations to induce ischemia-reperfusion cycles.
• Discomfort from RIC can reduce patient compliance; continuous monitoring may mitigate this.
• Tissue reflectance spectroscopy offers real-time assessment of blood concentration and oxygenation during RIC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of delivering RIC with a tissue reflectance sensor in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and small vessel disease.
• To evaluate the potential for improved patient compliance and individualized RIC delivery.
• To establish the safety and efficacy of this combined approach.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, single-center, randomized controlled trial involving 51 patients with AIS and small vessel disease.
• Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive RIC with a tissue reflectance sensor or a sham procedure.
• Feasibility was assessed by the ability to deliver RIC for 7 days or until discharge, with secondary outcomes including fidelity, completion rates, and clinical assessments at 90 days.

Main Results:

• The primary outcome is the feasibility of RIC delivery over 7 days or until discharge.
• Secondary outcomes include RIC delivery fidelity, completion rates, and clinical outcomes (modified Rankin Scale, recurrent stroke, cognitive assessment) at 90 days.
• The study aims to demonstrate that RIC with a tissue reflectance sensor is feasible in this patient population.

Conclusions:

• The integration of tissue reflectance sensors with RIC holds promise for enhancing treatment delivery and patient outcomes in AIS.
• This technology may enable personalized RIC protocols by monitoring physiological responses.
• Further research is warranted to confirm the clinical benefits of this approach.