Abstract T MP84: Early Specialist Management of In-Hospital Stroke Patients

Background and Objectives: In-hospital stroke (IHS) is associated with high mortality and disability but management is delayed compared with out of hospital stroke presenting to emergency rooms. The hypothesis prior to data collection was that early referral and specialist management of IHS patients will be associated with lower mortality and better functional outcomes at 90 days. Methods: Pre-specified analysis of prospective registry data of consecutive hospitalised stroke patients between January 2009 and December 2010 fulfilling the criteria: 1) admission to hospital with a non-stroke diagnosis; 2) onset of new neurological deficits after admission; 3) CT/MRI confirmation of new ischaemic or haemorrhagic changes. Intervention: Early referral and specialist management of IHS within 3 hours of symptom onset versus late referral after 3 hours. Specialist management consisted of neurological assessment, thrombolysis if appropriate, vascular investigations, anti-thrombotic treatment and transfer to stroke ...