Workflow patterns and potential for optimization in endovascular stroke treatment across the world: results from a multinational survey

TY - JOUR

T1 - Workflow patterns and potential for optimization in endovascular stroke treatment across the world: results from a multinational survey

AU - Ospel, Johanna Maria

AU - Almekhlafi, Mohammed A

AU - Menon, Bijoy K

AU - Kashani, Nima

AU - Chapot, René

AU - Fiehler, Jens

AU - Hassan, Ameer E

AU - Yavagal, Dileep

AU - Majoie, Charles B L M

AU - Jayaraman, Mahesh V

AU - Hill, Michael D

AU - Goyal, Mayank

N1 - © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

PY - 2020/12

Y1 - 2020/12

N2 - BACKGROUND: The benefit of endovascular treatment (EVT) is highly time-dependent, and treatment delays reduce patients' chances to achieve a good outcome. In this survey-based study, we aimed to evaluate current in-hospital EVT workflow characteristics across different countries and hospital settings, and to quantify the time-savings that could be achieved by optimizing particular workflow steps.METHODS: In a multinational survey, neurointerventionalists were asked to provide specific information about EVT workflows in their current working environment. Workflow characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics and stratified by country and physician characteristics, such as age, career stage, personal and institutional caseload.RESULTS: Among 248 respondents from 48 countries, pre-notification of the neurointerventional team was used in 70% of cases. The emergency department (ED) and CT scanner, and the CT scanner and neuroangiography suite, were on different floors in 23% and 38%, respectively. Redundant procedures in the ED were often routinely performed, such as chest x-rays (in 6%). General anesthesia was the most frequently used anesthesia protocol for EVT (42%), and an anesthesiologist was available in 82% for this purpose. 52% of the participants used a pre-prepared EVT kit.CONCLUSION: The current structure of EVT workflows offers possibilities for improvement. While some bottlenecks, such as the spatial department set-up, cannot easily be resolved, pre-notification tools and pre-prepared EVT kits are more straightforward to implement and could help to reduce treatment delays, and thereby improve patient outcomes.

AB - BACKGROUND: The benefit of endovascular treatment (EVT) is highly time-dependent, and treatment delays reduce patients' chances to achieve a good outcome. In this survey-based study, we aimed to evaluate current in-hospital EVT workflow characteristics across different countries and hospital settings, and to quantify the time-savings that could be achieved by optimizing particular workflow steps.METHODS: In a multinational survey, neurointerventionalists were asked to provide specific information about EVT workflows in their current working environment. Workflow characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics and stratified by country and physician characteristics, such as age, career stage, personal and institutional caseload.RESULTS: Among 248 respondents from 48 countries, pre-notification of the neurointerventional team was used in 70% of cases. The emergency department (ED) and CT scanner, and the CT scanner and neuroangiography suite, were on different floors in 23% and 38%, respectively. Redundant procedures in the ED were often routinely performed, such as chest x-rays (in 6%). General anesthesia was the most frequently used anesthesia protocol for EVT (42%), and an anesthesiologist was available in 82% for this purpose. 52% of the participants used a pre-prepared EVT kit.CONCLUSION: The current structure of EVT workflows offers possibilities for improvement. While some bottlenecks, such as the spatial department set-up, cannot easily be resolved, pre-notification tools and pre-prepared EVT kits are more straightforward to implement and could help to reduce treatment delays, and thereby improve patient outcomes.

U2 - 10.1136/neurintsurg-2020-015902

DO - 10.1136/neurintsurg-2020-015902

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 32253281

VL - 12

SP - 1194

EP - 1198

JO - J NEUROINTERV SURG

JF - J NEUROINTERV SURG

SN - 1759-8478

IS - 12

ER -