title: Streamlined Hyperacute Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocol Identifies Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator-Eligible Stroke Patients When Clinical Impression Is Stroke Mimic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stroke mimics (SM) challenge the initial assessment of patients presenting with possible acute ischemic stroke (AIS). When SM is considered likely, intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) may be withheld, risking an opportunity to treat AIS. Although computed tomography is routinely used for tPA decision making, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may diagnose AIS when SM is favored but not certain. We hypothesized that a hyperacute MRI (hMRI) protocol would identify tPA-eligible AIS patients among those initially favored to have SM.
  
  
  METHODS
  A streamlined hMRI protocol was designed based on barriers to rapid patient transport, MRI acquisition, and post-MRI tPA delivery. Neurologists were trained to order hMRI when SM was favored and tPA was being withheld. The use of hMRI for tPA decision making, door-to-needle times, and outcomes were compared before hMRI implementation (pre-hMRI: August 1, 2011 to July 31, 2013) and after (post-hMRI, August 1, 2013, to January 15, 2015).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Post hMRI, 57 patients with suspected SM underwent hMRI (median MRI-order-to-start time, 29 minutes), of whom, 11 (19%) were diagnosed with AIS and 7 (12%) received tPA. Pre-hMRI, no tPA-treated patients were screened with hMRI. Post hMRI, 7 of 106 (6.6%) tPA-treated patients underwent hMRI to aid in decision making because of suspected SM (0% versus 6.6%; P=0.001). To ensure standard care was maintained after implementing the hMRI protocol, pre- versus post-hMRI tPA-treated cohorts were compared and did not differ: door-to-needle time (39 versus 37 minutes; P=0.63), symptomatic hemorrhage rate (4.5% versus 1.9%; P=0.32), and favorable discharge location (85% versus 89%; P=0.37).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A streamlined hMRI protocol permitted tPA administration to a small, but significant, subset of AIS patients initially considered to have SM.
authors.affiliation: From the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (M.S.G., K.D.V., T.B., C.P.D., J.-M.L.), Department of Neurology (R.W., C.P.D., J.-M.L., A.L.F.), Division of Emergency Medicine (L.H., P.P.), and Department of Neurological Surgery (C.P.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO; Department of Operational Excellence (B.G.H.) and Department of Emergency Services (J.W.), Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, MO; Department of Neuroradiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (N.K.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St Louis, MO (J.-M.L.).
authors.forename: Manu S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.affiliation: From the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (M.S.G., K.D.V., T.B., C.P.D., J.-M.L.), Department of Neurology (R.W., C.P.D., J.-M.L., A.L.F.), Division of Emergency Medicine (L.H., P.P.), and Department of Neurological Surgery (C.P.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO; Department of Operational Excellence (B.G.H.) and Department of Emergency Services (J.W.), Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, MO; Department of Neuroradiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (N.K.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St Louis, MO (J.-M.L.).
authors.forename: Brian G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Hoff
authors.affiliation: From the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (M.S.G., K.D.V., T.B., C.P.D., J.-M.L.), Department of Neurology (R.W., C.P.D., J.-M.L., A.L.F.), Division of Emergency Medicine (L.H., P.P.), and Department of Neurological Surgery (C.P.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO; Department of Operational Excellence (B.G.H.) and Department of Emergency Services (J.W.), Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, MO; Department of Neuroradiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (N.K.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St Louis, MO (J.-M.L.).
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: From the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (M.S.G., K.D.V., T.B., C.P.D., J.-M.L.), Department of Neurology (R.W., C.P.D., J.-M.L., A.L.F.), Division of Emergency Medicine (L.H., P.P.), and Department of Neurological Surgery (C.P.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO; Department of Operational Excellence (B.G.H.) and Department of Emergency Services (J.W.), Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, MO; Department of Neuroradiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (N.K.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St Louis, MO (J.-M.L.).
authors.forename: Naim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khoury
authors.affiliation: From the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (M.S.G., K.D.V., T.B., C.P.D., J.-M.L.), Department of Neurology (R.W., C.P.D., J.-M.L., A.L.F.), Division of Emergency Medicine (L.H., P.P.), and Department of Neurological Surgery (C.P.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO; Department of Operational Excellence (B.G.H.) and Department of Emergency Services (J.W.), Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, MO; Department of Neuroradiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (N.K.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St Louis, MO (J.-M.L.).
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wiesehan
authors.affiliation: From the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (M.S.G., K.D.V., T.B., C.P.D., J.-M.L.), Department of Neurology (R.W., C.P.D., J.-M.L., A.L.F.), Division of Emergency Medicine (L.H., P.P.), and Department of Neurological Surgery (C.P.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO; Department of Operational Excellence (B.G.H.) and Department of Emergency Services (J.W.), Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, MO; Department of Neuroradiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (N.K.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St Louis, MO (J.-M.L.).
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heitsch
authors.affiliation: From the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (M.S.G., K.D.V., T.B., C.P.D., J.-M.L.), Department of Neurology (R.W., C.P.D., J.-M.L., A.L.F.), Division of Emergency Medicine (L.H., P.P.), and Department of Neurological Surgery (C.P.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO; Department of Operational Excellence (B.G.H.) and Department of Emergency Services (J.W.), Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, MO; Department of Neuroradiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (N.K.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St Louis, MO (J.-M.L.).
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panagos
authors.affiliation: From the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (M.S.G., K.D.V., T.B., C.P.D., J.-M.L.), Department of Neurology (R.W., C.P.D., J.-M.L., A.L.F.), Division of Emergency Medicine (L.H., P.P.), and Department of Neurological Surgery (C.P.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO; Department of Operational Excellence (B.G.H.) and Department of Emergency Services (J.W.), Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, MO; Department of Neuroradiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (N.K.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St Louis, MO (J.-M.L.).
authors.forename: Katie D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Vo
authors.affiliation: From the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (M.S.G., K.D.V., T.B., C.P.D., J.-M.L.), Department of Neurology (R.W., C.P.D., J.-M.L., A.L.F.), Division of Emergency Medicine (L.H., P.P.), and Department of Neurological Surgery (C.P.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO; Department of Operational Excellence (B.G.H.) and Department of Emergency Services (J.W.), Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, MO; Department of Neuroradiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (N.K.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St Louis, MO (J.-M.L.).
authors.forename: Tammie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Benzinger
authors.affiliation: From the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (M.S.G., K.D.V., T.B., C.P.D., J.-M.L.), Department of Neurology (R.W., C.P.D., J.-M.L., A.L.F.), Division of Emergency Medicine (L.H., P.P.), and Department of Neurological Surgery (C.P.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO; Department of Operational Excellence (B.G.H.) and Department of Emergency Services (J.W.), Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, MO; Department of Neuroradiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (N.K.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St Louis, MO (J.-M.L.).
authors.forename: Colin P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Derdeyn
authors.affiliation: From the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (M.S.G., K.D.V., T.B., C.P.D., J.-M.L.), Department of Neurology (R.W., C.P.D., J.-M.L., A.L.F.), Division of Emergency Medicine (L.H., P.P.), and Department of Neurological Surgery (C.P.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO; Department of Operational Excellence (B.G.H.) and Department of Emergency Services (J.W.), Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, MO; Department of Neuroradiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (N.K.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St Louis, MO (J.-M.L.).
authors.forename: Jin-Moo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: From the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (M.S.G., K.D.V., T.B., C.P.D., J.-M.L.), Department of Neurology (R.W., C.P.D., J.-M.L., A.L.F.), Division of Emergency Medicine (L.H., P.P.), and Department of Neurological Surgery (C.P.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO; Department of Operational Excellence (B.G.H.) and Department of Emergency Services (J.W.), Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, MO; Department of Neuroradiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (N.K.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St Louis, MO (J.-M.L.). forda@neuro.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Andria L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ford
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator
keywords: magnetic resonance imaging; stroke; therapy; thrombolytic; tissue-type plasminogen activator