Keywords:
CNS, Neuroradiology brain, Emergency, CT, MR-Diffusion/Perfusion, Ultrasound-Colour Doppler, Audit and standards, Diagnostic procedure, Acute, Ischaemia / Infarction
Authors:
O. Abdulla1, D. Waddington2, N. Russell2; 1Bangor/UK, 2Whitehaven /UK
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2013/C-0603
Methods and Materials
Case notes of patients presented with clinical symptoms and signs suggestive of TIA over a period of fifteen months where retrospectively identified and reviewed.
This included patients who have been referred electively by general practitioners to the nurse practitioner unit and those who have been admitted to the medical assessment unit (MAU) through accident and emergency department (A&E).
Patients were risk stratified into high risk (ABCD2≥4) and low risk (ABCD2<4).
Note review included age and sex of the patient,
whether MRI of the brain has been done within time (24 hours for ABCD2≥4,
and 7 days for ABCD2<4),
whether carotid duplex has been done within time (24 hours for ABCD2≥4,
and 7 days for ABCD2<4) and finally whether vascular referral has been done within time (48 hours for ABCD2≥4,
and 14 days for ABCD2<4) when indicated (stenosis of 50–99% using NASCET criteria,
or 70–99% using ECST criteria).