Screening Patients Admitted With Stroke or TIA for Carotid Stenosis by Pocked-Sized Ultrasound in Inexperienced Hands and With Novel Doppler Technology
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Ischemic Attack, Transient
- Sponsor
- Helse Nord-Trøndelag HF
- Enrollment
- 75
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- Proportion of patients without need for further diagnostic imaging
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 3 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
Among patients admitted with cerebral ischemia (stroke and transitory ischemic attack (TIA)) it is important to reveal the underlying cause of the disease. In special it is important to reveal if carotid artery stenosis is present as such a finding will directly influence on treatment and follow-up.
For the diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis due to atherosclerosis ultrasound examinations is the cornerstone, but computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging may be better in some cases. Development of high quality pocket-sized ultrasound scanners has allowed for semi quantitatively bed-side assessment of the carotid arteries and the heart.
The investigators aim to study the feasibility and reliability of bed-side assessment of the carotid arteries by pocket-sized ultrasound scanners in inexperienced hands and the clinical influence of this examination when performed by experienced users.
The investigators hypothesize that a significant proportion of this patient population can be clarified bed-side by junior doctors with no need of further imaging procedures for the assessment of the carotid arteries and the heart.
Detailed Description
Population: Approximately 100 patients admitted to the Department of Medicine, Levanger Hospital and Stroke Department, St. Olavs Hospital with history and findings suspicious of stroke/transitory ischemic attack (TIA). Informed consent mandatory. Exclusion criteria: CT angiography of carotid vessels performed after index event, unless all participating clinicians are fully blinded to the results. Hypotheses: The carotid arteries can be assessed bed-side by pocket-size ultrasound scanners with high feasibility and reliability by junior doctors with limited training. Bed-side assessment of the carotid arteries by pocket-size ultrasound scanners may reduce the need for more advanced (higher cost) imaging procedures. New high frame rate tracking doppler can increase accuracy and reproducability of stenosis grading. Methods: Pocket-size imaging device from GE Ultrasound, commercial available. Approved for clinical use. High-end carotid Doppler ultrasound by high-end equipment (GE Vivid 9) and computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging at the Department of Radiology, Levanger Hospital and St. Olavs Hospital Verasonics research scanner for high fram rate imaging
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Admitted to the Department of Medicine with history and findings suspicious of (transient) cerebrovascular ischemia and willing and able to give their informed written consent
Exclusion Criteria
- •Evaluation of carotid artery stenosis by imaging (CT, MRI or ultrasound) performed during the stay prior to inclusion.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Proportion of patients without need for further diagnostic imaging
Time Frame: The participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of approximately 4 days
Proportion of patients which is not in need of further imaging procedures of the carotid arteries after bed-side diagnostic ultrasound performed by junior doctors with with pocket-sized scanner
Secondary Outcomes
- Reliability of bed-side ultrasound examinations of the carotid arteries performed by junior doctors with pocket-sized scanners(The participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of approximately 4 days)
- Proportion of interpretable examinations with bed-side ultrasound examinations of the carotid arteries performed by junior doctors with pocket-sized scanners(The participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of approximately 4 days)
- Time use of junior doctors performing carotid ultrasound with pocket-sized scanners.(The participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of approximately 4 days)
- Accuracy of high frame rate tracking doppler compared to conventional doppler measurements and computed tomography for grading carotid stenosis.(The participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of approximately 4 days)