The Door to Needle Time Metric Can Be Achieved via Telestroke

The administration of intravenous (IV) alteplase to patients with stroke via telestroke (TS) can be safe and effective. It remains unclear how quickly IV alteplase occurs during TS evaluations. We sought to compare door to needle times (DNTs) between patients receiving IV alteplase who present directly to our comprehensive stroke center (CSC) and those presenting to community hospitals in our TS network. Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) who presented to emergency departments and received IV alteplase between August 2014 and June 2015 were identified at our CSC and TS network. Median DNTs with interquartile ranges were calculated in each cohort. During the study period, 117 patients with AIS (mean age 71 +/- 15 years, 47% women) receiving IV alteplase were included in the analysis (65 CSC and 52 TS). Median DNT at our CSC was significantly shorter compared to TS sites (CSC: 43 [35-55] minutes vs TS: 54 [41-71] minutes, P < .01). The proportion of patients receiving IV alteplase <= 60 minutes of presentation was significantly higher at our CSC compared to our TS network (CSC 84.6% vs TS 63.5%, P = .02). Differences in favorable discharge to home were not significant (CSC 60% vs TS 46%, P = .14). Guideline-recommended DNTs <= 60 minutes can be achieved in community hospitals with TS guidance. Initiatives are required to better resemble DNTs found at stroke centers.