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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocol for Stroke Onset Time Estimation in Permanent Cerebral Ischemia
Published on: September 16, 2017
[Latent periods in attending patients with acute cerebrovascular disease. A multicenter study]
J Castillo1, A Dávalos, E Martínez-Vila
1Servicio de Neurología, Hospital General de Galicia-Clinico Universitario, Santiago de Compostela.
Insights
Timely medical attention is crucial for effective stroke treatment. This study reveals significant delays in stroke patient care, highlighting the need to reduce these latent periods for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- Effective stroke treatment requires immediate intervention upon symptom onset.
- Delays in medical care can significantly impact patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the current latent periods in medical attention for stroke patients.
- To identify specific delays in the stroke care pathway.
Main Methods:
- A study was conducted across 18 hospital neurology units.
- Time intervals were measured from stroke onset to initial medical attention, emergency department arrival, neurologist consultation, and hospital admission.
- Data from 794 stroke patients were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Average delays: 10.7 hours to first doctor, 14.1 hours to Emergency Department, 24.3 hours to neurologist, and 21.3 hours to hospital admission.
- Within the critical first six hours, only 68.7% saw a doctor, 58.2% reached the ED, 22.7% saw a neurologist, and 22.3% were admitted.
- The average time from ED arrival to neurologist consultation was 10.5 hours.
Conclusions:
- Significant latent periods exist in the stroke patient care pathway.
- Reducing these delays is essential for improving the effectiveness of stroke treatment.
Abstract:
Treatment of stroke is effective when given straight away at the onset of symptoms. Our objective was to find what the present latent periods in the medical attention of stroke patients are. A study was made in 18 hospital neurology units. The time elapsed between onset of the stroke and being attended by a doctor in the Hospital Emergency Department, by a neurologist and in being admitted to hospital was determined. 794 patients were studied. The average time lapse before attention by the first doctor was 10.7 (0.1-504) hours, in receiving attention in the Emergency Department 14.1 (0.1-505), in being attended by a neurologist 24.3 (0.2-510) hours and in being admitted to hospital 21.3 (0-511) hours. In the first six hours 68.7% of the patients were seen by the first doctor, 58.2% went to the Emergency Department, 22.7% were attended by a neurologist and 22.3% were admitted to a Neurology Unit. The average time between arrival at the Emergency Department and seeing a neurologist was 10.5 (0-67.5) hours. To improve the treatment of stroke, reduction of the latent periods is necessary.
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