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Open Access 02-11-2022 | Stroke | Original Article

Feasibility, Safety, and Technical Success of the Flying Intervention Team in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Comparison of Interventions in Different Primary Stroke Centers with those in a Comprehensive Stroke Center

Authors: Alexander Kettner, Felix Schlachetzki, Tobias Boeckh-Behrens, Claus Zimmer, Silke Wunderlich, Frank Kraus, Roman Ludwig Haberl, Gordian Jan Hubert, Sandra Boy, Julia Henninger, Benjamin Friedrich, Christian Maegerlein

Published in: Clinical Neuroradiology | Issue 2/2023

Abstract

Background

Prompt endovascular care of patients with ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (LVO) remains a major challenge in rural regions as primary stroke centers (PSC) usually cannot provide neuro-interventional services. Objective The core content of the Flying Intervention Team (FIT) project is to perform thrombectomy on-site at a local PSC after the neuro-interventionalist has been transported via helicopter to the target hospital. An important and so far unanswered question is whether mechanical thrombectomy can be performed as safely and successfully on-site as in a specialized comprehensive stroke center (CSC).

Methods

Comparison of 100 FIT thrombectomies on site in 14 different PSCs with 128 control thrombectomies at 1 CSC (79 drip-and-ship, 49 mothership) performed by a single interventionalist with respect to technical-procedural success parameters, procedural times, and complications.

Results

There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of technical success (95.0% successful interventions in FIT group vs. 94.5% in control group, p = 0.60) and complications (3% major complications in FIT vs. 1.6% in control group, p = 0.47). Regarding time from onset to groin puncture, there was no difference between FIT and the entire control group (182 vs. 183 min, p = 0.28), but a trend in favor of FIT compared with the drip-and-ship control subgroup (182 vs. 210 min, p = 0.096).

Conclusions

Airborne neuro-interventional thrombectomy service is a feasible approach for rural regions. If performed by experienced neuro-interventionalists, technical success and complication rates are comparable to treatment in a specialized neuro-interventional department.

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Title: Feasibility, Safety, and Technical Success of the Flying Intervention Team in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Comparison of Interventions in Different Primary Stroke Centers with those in a Comprehensive Stroke Center
Authors: Alexander Kettner
Felix Schlachetzki
Tobias Boeckh-Behrens
Claus Zimmer
Silke Wunderlich
Frank Kraus
Roman Ludwig Haberl
Gordian Jan Hubert
Sandra Boy
Julia Henninger
Benjamin Friedrich
Christian Maegerlein
Publication date: 02-11-2022
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Stroke
Thrombectomy
Published in: Clinical Neuroradiology / Issue 2/2023
Print ISSN: 1869-1439
Electronic ISSN: 1869-1447
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-022-01220-8

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Feasibility, Safety, and Technical Success of the Flying Intervention Team in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Comparison of Interventions in Different Primary Stroke Centers with those in a Comprehensive Stroke Center

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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