A Multicentre Prospective Cohort Study to Identify High-Risk Transient Ischemic Attack/Minor Stroke Patients Benefitting from Echocardiography.

Background: We aimed to derive a clinical decision rule to identify patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke most likely to benefit from echocardiography.

Methods: This multicentre prospective cohort study enrolled adults diagnosed with TIA/minor stroke in the emergency department who underwent echocardiograms within 90 days, from 13 Canadian academic emergency departments from October 2006 to May 2017. Our outcome was clinically significant echocardiogram findings.

Derivation of a clinical prediction score for the diagnosis of clinically significant symptomatic carotid artery disease.

Objectives: Emergent vascular imaging identifies a subset of patients requiring immediate specialized care (i.e. carotid stenosis > 50%, dissection or free-floating thrombus).

Interhospital Transfer for Endovascular Stroke Treatment in Canada: Results From the OPTIMISE Registry.

Background: Interhospital transfer for patients with stroke due to large vessel occlusion for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has been associated with treatment delays.

Methods: We analyzed data from Optimizing Patient Treatment in Major Ischemic Stroke With EVT, a quality improvement registry to support EVT implementation in Canada. We assessed for unadjusted differences in baseline characteristics, time metrics, and procedural outcomes between patients with large vessel occlusion transferred for EVT and those directly admitted to an EVT-capable center.

Safety of acute internal carotid artery stenting during endovascular thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a retrospective analysis of the OPTIMISE registry.

Background: The optimal management of tandem carotid lesions during endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) remains uncertain. The safety and efficacy of acute carotid artery stenting (aCAS) are debated, including safety concerns such as procedural complications and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). We aimed to assess aCAS safety among EVT-treated patients using a large Canadian registry.

Evaluation of a prehospital endovascular therapy stroke bypass program.

Introduction: Prehospital stroke endovascular therapy bypass transports patients with suspected large vessel occlusion directly to an endovascular therapy capable center. Our objective was to determine if an endovascular therapy bypass protocol improved access to stroke treatments. Secondary objectives were to determine safety, effectiveness, and rate of subsequent interfacility transfers.