Rural CT Examination and Thrombolytic Treatment for Stroke (RURALCT)

Vestre Viken Hospital Trust

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Stroke

Treatments: Diagnostic Test: Rural CT scanning

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03577847

REK 2017/102

Details and patient eligibility

About

To counteract long term sequelae from stroke, ultrarapid diagnosis and treatment, high quality multidiciplinary in-hospital care and optimal long term rehabilitation is required. In this study, the investigators are moving the essential first diagnosis and treatment out into the community close to where the patient live, thus shortening the all important time from debut of symptoms to thrombolytic treatment improving the prognosis of stroke patients.

Full description

Stroke is an acute, potentially mutilating disease. To counteract long term sequelae three factors are essential: Ultrarapid diagnosis and treatment, high quality multidiciplinary in-hospital care and optimal long term rehabilitation. Initial diagnosis and treatment has up to now been completed within the hospital domain. This study will change that: moving the essential first diagnosis and treatment out into the community close to where the patient lives thus shortening the all important time from debut of symptoms to thrombolytic treatment. We will operate a local computer tomography (CT) service in the hands of community based non-specialized health care personnel (MD and nurse) acting under direct telemetric guidance from on call hospital specialists. Thus, the investigators will show that by combining current technological advances in real time video communication with an acutely well functioning cooperation between the community and hospital health service personnel the prognosis of stroke patients is improved.

Enrollment: 200 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Patients over 18 years being investigated by CT within 24 hours for acute symptoms of stroke.
2. Fullfilling criteria for the diagnosis acute stroke as described by the Norwegian stroke registry.
3. Giving informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

1. Symptoms not due to ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke as adjudicated at discharge.
2. Not able to cooperate to 3 months follow up.
3. Not giving informed consent

Trial design

200 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Description:

Intervention group: Stroke patients investigated with rural CT scanning at HSS, Ål. Patients living in the municipalities of Hol, Ål, Gol, Hemsedal and Nes.

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Rural CT scanning

2

Description:

Control-group: Stroke patients with similar transportation time to hospital, but no access to rural CT scanning. Patients living in the municipalities of Nore- and Uvdal, Vang, Øystre and Vestre Slidre, Lesja, Vågå, Lom, Dovre, Skjåk and Sel.