More stroke patients are benefitting from life-changing treatment thanks to Brainomix’s e-Stroke artificial intelligence (AI) platform, according to a recent report from the Oxford Academic Health Science Network (AHSN).
Brainomix’s e-Stroke imaging technology uses AI to automatically process computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and alert doctors in real-time about those patients who would benefit most from mechanical thrombectomy treatments.
Prompt recognition of large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke and transfer to specialist centres for treatment is vital to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients. However, many stroke patients in the UK who could benefit from a thrombectomy do not receive one in a timely manner—or at all—due, in part, to the fact the procedure is done by interventional neuroradiology (INR) teams located in only 25 of the 170 acute hospitals across England. In addition, identifying patients for transfer relies on interpretation of their brain scan at a local hospital, which can be challenging.
With this in mind—according to a Brainomix press release—24 hospitals across England are taking part in an independent, detailed evaluation of e-Stroke led by the Oxford AHSN to assess its impact on patient and clinical outcomes, pathways and productivity.
E-Stroke securely processes CT and MRI brain scans in less than two minutes and sends the results to the doctors’ smartphones as well as hospital systems. It also connects specialists at different hospitals in a network to improve communication and coordination of care.
Interim findings from an independent evaluation of e-Stroke by the Oxford AHSN have showed that the average treatment rate in the e-Stroke hospitals was more than 55% higher than the national average—having been the same at baseline. Treatment rates rose to 5.7% at e-Stroke hospitals compared to the national average of 3.6%, an uplift that reflects hundreds more patients receiving life-changing thrombectomy treatments and avoiding the long-term effects of stroke, as per the recent release from Brainomix. Also, some of the highest performing hospitals taking part in the evaluation reached mechanical thrombectomy rates over 10%—the target set out in the National Health Service (NHS) Long Term Plan.
The independent evaluation also includes feedback from participating NHS specialist doctors, more than three-quarters of whom felt e-Stroke helped to identify more patients for treatment and improved communication between hospitals. In addition, more than two-thirds felt e-Stroke sped up decision-making and access to mechanical thrombectomy.
“Harnessing AI imaging technology within stroke networks has the potential to transform outcomes for many more stroke patients,” said Gary Ford (Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK), chief executive of the Oxford AHSN. “We have worked with Brainomix and our NHS partners to ensure widespread adoption of e-Stroke, and the evaluation is providing more evidence to support further spread.”
