title: Analysis of the new code stroke protocol in Asturias after one year. Experience at one hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prehospital code stroke (CS) systems have been proved effective for improving access to specialised medical care in acute stroke cases. They also improve the prognosis of this disease, which is one of the leading causes of death and disability in our setting. The aim of this study is to analyse results one year after implementation of the new code stroke protocol at one hospital in Asturias.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively included patients who were admitted to our tertiary care centre as per the code stroke protocol for the period of one year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analysed 363 patients. Mean age was 69 years and 54% of the cases were men. During the same period in the previous year, there were 236 non-hospital CS activations. One hundred forty-seven recanalisation treatments were performed (66 fibrinolysis and 81 mechanical thrombectomies or combined treatments), representing a 25% increase with regard to the previous year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recent advances in the management of acute stroke call for coordinated code stroke protocols that are adapted to the needs of each specific region. This may result in an increased number of patients receiving early care, as well as revascularisation treatments.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias. Electronic address: c.garciacabo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García-Cabo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benavente
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martínez-Ramos
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias.
authors.forename: Á
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Pérez-Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Atención Médica Urgente, SESPA, Oviedo, Asturias.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trigo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calleja
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017131:Thrombectomy; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents
keywords: Code stroke; Código ictus; Emergency Medical Service; Escala prehospitalaria de Los Ángeles; Fibrinolysis; Fibrinólisis; Los Angeles stroke scale; Mechanical thrombectomy; NIHSS; National Institute of Health Stroke Scale; Servicio de Atención Médica Urgente; Trombectomía mecánica