The Prehospital Selection of Acute Stroke Patients

February 18, 2019 updated by: University Hospital Ostrava

Validation of Prehospital Stroke Scale (FAST PLUS TEST) to Predict Patients With Large Arterial Vessel Intracranial Occlusion.

The aim of this study is to develop and validate a simple prehospital stroke scale, which would predict the presence of large vessel occlusion (LVO) in patients with acute stroke. This study prospectively evaluates the predictive value of a new simple pre-hospital scale (FAST PLUS test) for the presence of large vessel occlusion in anterior intracranial circulation. The FAST PLUS test consists of two parts: the first is the well-known FAST test, which is employed in all possible cases of stroke occurrence. This test consists of the following items: Speech (scored 0-1), Facial palsy (0-1), any failure of Arm motor function (0-1), and Time (0-1). The second part of FAST PLUS test evaluates only the presence of severe arm or leg motor deficit (scored 0-1) and unilateral occurrence of its motor function deficit (scored 0-1).

The FAST PLUS test will be used prospectively at the place of stroke onset by trained medical emergency technicians. The first objective of study is to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and the positive and negative predictive value of the test which relate to the presence of occlusion of intracranial artery (intracranial carotid artery, T occlusion and occlusion of Middle Cerebral artery segment M1 and M2). CT angiography can only diagnose the LVO.

The second objective of this study is to assess inter-rater variability among stroke specialists and emergency technicians, concerning the presence of severe motor arm or leg deficit.

The third objective : After implementation of the FAST TEST to clinical practice, we aim to achieve the acceleration of transport time in FAST PLUS positive patients via direct transport to Comprehensive Stroke Center to mechanical thrombectomy.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The effective treatment of acute ischemic stroke is limited to administration of intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator within the first 4.5 hours from symptoms onset or endovascular thrombectomy up to 6(8) hours from the symptoms onset. Intravenous thrombolysis can be administered in the nearest Primary Stroke Centers (PSC).

In the case of large vessel occlusion, the endovascular therapy (mechanical thrombectomy) is utilized. Mechanical thrombectomy is offered only in Comprehensive Stroke Centers (CSC), due to the necessary presence of the special endovascular team during the procedure.

Practically, there are two options to transport patients for endovascular treatment. If the first one is used, then all suspected stroke patients are transported to primary stroke centers only. Then, rapid examinations are provided and, if the patient is determined to be having a stroke, the administration of intravenous thrombolysis occurs. Patients with diagnosis of stroke and large vessel occlusion are consequently transported to Comprehensive Stroke Center in order to receive mechanical thrombectomy. This first choice accelerates thrombolysis administration but delays endovascular procedures.

The second option entails selection of patients with suspected LVO stroke on site of stroke onset, and such patients are directly transported to Comprehensive Stroke Centers. The second choice accelerates endovascular procedures, but may delay intravenous thrombolysis. The disadvantage of this might be the overloading of the CSC with misdiagnosed patients (stroke mimics or non LVO stroke patients).

We can identify suspected stroke patients pre-hospitably with relative accuracy. The FAST test is a very simple and highly specific tool to identify stroke patients.* It consists of four items Face, Arm, Speech, and Time. Unfortunately, the FAST test is not able to evaluate the severity of the stroke, which is probably linked to the occlusion of large artery.

The only one test (RACE test) was prospectively studied to evaluate its sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of large vessel occlusion.

In the hospital (stroke centre), we recognize the stroke severity according to NIHS scale, but both these scales are not suitable for emergency service for its difficulty.

Therefore, we desined a very simple new test - FAST PLUS test for the identification of the severe stroke patients on site, immediately at the onset of stroke. FAST PLUS test consists of two parts: the first one is the well-known FAST test which selects all suspected stroke patients and consists of the following evaluations: Speech (scored 0-1), Facial palsy (0-1), any failure of Arm motor function (0-1), time (0-1). The time means the speed of onset of symptoms during 30 minutes. The second part of the FAST PLUS test evaluates only the presence of severe arm or leg motor deficit (scored 0-1) and the unilateral occurrence of this motor function deficit (scored 0-1). (Figure one) The working hypothesis: We assume that the patients with clinically severe stroke and positive FAST PLUS test have a high probability of the presence of large cerebral vessel occlusion.

The aims of study:

A) The validation of the new pre-hospital test - FAST PLUS - to identify the stroke patients with LVO. The objective of our study is to evaluate the predictive value of the FAST PLUS test in the detection of patients with acute stroke and large vessel occlusion (LVO) when it is used by medical emergency technicians during the pre-hospital phase.

We presume that stroke severity, according to item 4 and 5 in NIHSS is linked to occlusion of ACM M1 or intracranial ICA. The FAST PLUS test consists of two parts (fig. 1), the first one is FAST test for identifying patients with stroke. The second part of test has three items, and evaluates the severity of hemiparesis and unilateral disabilities. The FAST PLUS test is positive when at least two items are positive in the first part (Time must be always positive + the presence of one of three symptoms at least) and all three items are positive in the second part.

B) The second aim of study is to determine the inter-rater variability between emergency technician and stroke specialist in evaluation NIHS scale, items 4 and 5 only. The agreement means the agreement in the severe hemiparesis evaluation between paramedics (FAST PLUS test positive) and stroke specialist examination(NIHSS 3 or 4 points in item 4,5 NIHSS) .

C) The third aim of study is to shorten the time between the onset of stroke to hospital entry or the time from the arriving of emergency service on site of stroke to hospital door after implementation of FAST PLUS test to the daily medical practice.

The first phase:

The creation of educational material for emergency technicians. The second phase: The education and testing of emergency technicians via e-learning and web seminars. The aim of the education is to learn whether the Emergency service is using the FAST PLUS test correctly.

We plan 6 months time period for the first and the second phase of study.

The third phase:

A/ to collect 400 FAST PLUS tests from the stroke patients up to 12 hours from the stroke onset to hospital arrival.

B/ to calculate the primary secondary and tertiary outcome measures of study

We plan 12 months time period for the third phase of study.

For statistical analysis, X software was used. Receiver operating curves and areas under receiver operating curve (c-statistics) were calculated as a measure of predictive ability for LVO of the FAST plus test. Ideal prediction produces a c-statistic of 1.00; precision no better than chance is associated with c-statistic of ≤0.50. Correlation between both scales (FAST test second part and NIHSS items 4 and 5) was analyzed with the nonparametric Spearman coefficient.

Cross tables for different cutoff values of the FAST plus test were used to evaluate sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive values, and overall accuracy for the presence of VO.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

400

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Czechia
    • Moravian-Silesian Region
      • Ostrava, Moravian-Silesian Region, Czechia, 70103
        • Ostrava University
      • Ostrava, Moravian-Silesian Region, Czechia, 70030
        • Emergency Medical Service Ostrava
      • Ostrava, Moravian-Silesian Region, Czechia, 70300
        • Agel Research and Training Institute, Ostrava Vitkovice Hospital, Czech Republic
      • Ostrava, Moravian-Silesian Region, Czechia, 728 80
        • Municipal Hospital Ostrava

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

Pre-hospital suspected stroke patients according to FAST PLUS test.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Acute ischemic stroke
  • FAST PLUS test evaluation performed by emergency technicians
  • CT,CT angiography evaluation performed up to 12 hours from stroke onset

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Non ischemic stroke etiology of acute neurological deficit
  • More than 12 hours from the symptoms onset

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Case-Only
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Stroke patients
Stroke patients who will undergo the FAST PLUS test within 12 hours from the stroke onset.
Diagnostic test: FAST PLUS test
FAST PLUS test consists of two parts: the first one is the standard FAST test, which evaluates Speech (0-1), Facial palsy (0-1), Arm motor function (0-1), Time (0-1). The second part of the FAST PLUS test evaluates only the presence of severe arm or leg motor deficit (0-1), and unilateral occurrence of this motor function deficit (0-1).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Sensitivity, specificity, positive, negative predictive value and accuracy
Time Frame: 21 months
Sensitivity, specificity, positive, negative predictive value of the test and overall accuracy with the presence of large vessel occlusion will be assessed. The presence of LVO will be diagnosed by CT Angiography only as soon as the patient enters the hospital.
21 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Inter-rater variability
Time Frame: 21 months
Inter-rater variability between emergency technicians and stroke specialist in stroke severity (hemiparesis) assessment.
21 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Time to hospital
Time Frame: 21 months
The time from the arriving of emergency service on site of stroke to door of hospital (comprehensive stroke center) after implementation of FAST PLUS test to the daily medical practice. We compare the time before and after the implementation of FAST PLUS test to daily clinical practice.
21 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University Hospital Ostrava

Collaborators

University of Ostrava
St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic
Agel Research and Training Institute
Emergency Medical Service Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
Municipal Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
Angels Initiative, European Stroke Organisation, Czech branch

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Michal Bar, Ass.Prof.,MD,PhD, University Hospital Ostrava

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 31, 2018

Study Completion (Actual)

October 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 1, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 1, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

March 7, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 19, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 18, 2019

Last Verified

February 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • FNO-NK-1

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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