Article Text
Abstract
Introduction Effective triage of patients with emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO) to endovascular therapy capable centers may decrease time to treatment and improve outcome for these patients. Here we performed a derivation study to evaluate the accuracy of a portable, non-invasive, and easy to use severe stroke detector.
Methods The volumetric impedance phase shift spectroscopy (VIPS) device was used to assign a bioimpedance asymmetry score to 248 subjects across three cohorts, including 41 subjects presenting as acute stroke codes at a major comprehensive stroke center (CSC), 79 healthy volunteers, and 128 patients presenting to CSCs with a wide variety of brain pathology including additional stroke codes. Diagnostic parameters were calculated for the ability of the device to discern (1) severe stroke from minor stroke and (2) severe stroke from all other subjects. Patients with intracranial hardware were excluded from the analysis.
Results The VIPS device was able to differentiate severe stroke from minor strokes with a sensitivity of 93% (95% CI 83 to 98), specificity of 92% (95% CI 75 to 99), and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.93 (95% CI 0.85 to 0.97). The device was able to differentiate severe stroke from all other subjects with a sensitivity of 93% (95% CI 83 to 98), specificity of 87% (95% CI 81 to 92), and an AUC of 0.95 (95% CI 0.89 to 0.96).
Conclusion The VIPS device is a portable, non-invasive, and easy to use tool that may aid in the detection of severe stroke, including ELVO, with a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 92% in this derivation study. This device has the potential to improve the triage of patients suffering severe stroke.
- device
- intervention
- stroke
- thrombectomy
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Footnotes
Contributors CPK, ASA, RDT, and AA participated in the study concept and design. CPK, ES, KS, and RDT participated in data collection. CPK, ASA, and AA contributed to data analysis and interpretation. CPK drafted the manuscript. KMF, ASA, and AA performed the critical revisions, and all authors provided final approval of the submitted manuscript and revisions.
Funding This study was funded by Cerebrotech Medical Systems.
Competing interests Adam Arthur has financial interest in Cerebrotech Medical Systems.
Patient consent Detail has been removed from this case description/these case descriptions to ensure anonymity. The editors and reviewers have seen the detailed information available and are satisfied that the information backs up the case the authors are making.
Ethics approval The study was approved by the institutional review board at each medical center.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.