Experience of the first year of the stroke unit at the Méderi University Hospital in Bogotá (Colombia)

Background and Aims: Stroke is among the top 3 of mortality in Colombia. The stroke centers and units trained to care for stroke in Colombia and LatinAmerica are essential for adequate health care. We describe our experience with intravenous or endovascular reperfusion.
Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study of the management of ischemic stroke admitted to the cerebral infarction unit who were candidates for reperfusion therapy with r-tPA and/or thrombectomy, describing the sociodemographic variables, the NIHSS scale, paraclinical, imaging, care times (from neurological deficit to door, door-CT/MRI, door-needle, and door-groin), stroke etiology, rehabilitation, and outcomes quantified by NIHSS and Rankin (mRs) upon discharge.
Results: Between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023, 116 patients were taken to reperfusion therapies, mean age (72±13 years), NIHSS: 8 (IQ 5–17), ASPECT: 9 (IQ 9–10), SBP 144±25 mmHg, DBP 84±17 mmHg, glucose (mg/dl) 139.9 (IQ 119.27–182.86), LDL (mg/dl) 123.5 (IQ 67.5–158.6), in-hospital stroke was 8%. 75% private transportation and only 14% by EMS. Hypertension (76%), DM (54%), previous ischemic stroke (25%), AF (17%). Occlusion 13% MCA M1. 83 (72%) IV thrombolysis, 25 (21%) thrombectomies, and 8 (7%) IV/EV mixed therapies. The stroke deficit–door: 122±29 min, door–medical evaluation: 14±5.5 min, door-to-image (CT/MRI): 34±10 min, door-needle: 69±13 min, door-groin time: 158±86 min. Physical rehabilitation (99%) and dysphagia test (98%). 46% were cardioembolic, 35.4 with AF. At discharge NIHSS 2 (IQ 0 – 10), rankin 1 (IQ 0 – 3); 58.6% (mRs<2), 21.2% (mRs 3-5) and 14.2% mortality (mRs 6).
Conclusions: The creation of stroke units in Colombia helps to optimize care for patients with stroke.