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Background: Intracranial occlusion site, contrast permeability, and clot burden are thrombus characteristics that influence alteplase-associated reperfusion. In this study, we assessed the reperfusion efficacy of tenecteplase and alteplase in subgroups based on these characteristics in a pooled analysis of the EXTEND-IA TNK trial (Tenecteplase Versus Alteplase Before Endovascular Therapy for Ischemic Stroke). Methods: Patients with large vessel occlusion were randomized to treatment with tenecteplase (0.25 or 0.4 mg/kg) or alteplase before thrombectomy in hospitals across Australia and New Zealand (2015–2019). The primary outcome, early reperfusion, was defined as the absence of retrievable thrombus or >50% reperfusion on first-pass angiogram. We compared the effect of tenecteplase versus alteplase overall, and in subgroups, based on the following measured with computed tomography angiography: intracranial occlusion site, contrast permeability (measured via residual flow grades), and clot burden (measured via clot burden scores). We adjusted for covariates using mixed effects logistic regression models. Results: Tenecteplase was associated with higher odds of early reperfusion (75/369 [20%] versus alteplase: 9/96 [9%], adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.18 [95% CI, 1.03–4.63]). The difference between thrombolytics was notable in occlusions with low clot burden (tenecteplase: 66/261 [25%] versus alteplase: 5/67 [7%], aOR, 3.93 [95% CI, 1.50–10.33]) when compared to high clot burden lesions (tenecteplase: 9/108 [8%] versus alteplase: 4/29 [14%], aOR, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.16–2.06]; P interaction =0.01). We did not observe an association between contrast permeability and tenecteplase treatment effect (permeability present: aOR, 2.83 [95% CI, 1.00–8.05] versus absent: aOR, 1.98 [95% CI, 0.65–6.03]; P interaction =0.62). Tenecteplase treatment effect was superior with distal M1 or M2 occlusions (53/176 [30%] versus alteplase: 4/42 [10%], aOR, 3.73 [95% CI, 1.25–11.11]), but both thrombolytics had limited efficacy with internal carotid artery occlusions (tenecteplase 1/73 [1%] versus alteplase 1/19 [5%], aOR, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.01–3.83]; P interaction =0.16). Conclusions: Tenecteplase demonstrates superior early reperfusion versus alteplase in lesions with low clot burden. Reperfusion efficacy remains limited in internal carotid artery occlusions and lesions with high clot burden. Further innovation in thrombolytic therapies are required.

Background: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) access in remote areas is limited. Preliminary data suggest that long distance transfers for EVT may be beneficial; however, the magnitude and best imaging strategy at the referring center remains uncertain. We hypothesized that patients transferred >300 miles would benefit from EVT, achieving rates of functional independence (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score of 0–2) at 3 months similar to those patients treated at the comprehensive stroke center in the randomized EVT extended window trials and that the selection of patients with computed tomography perfusion (CTP) at the referring site would be associated with ordinal shift toward better outcomes on the mRS. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients transferred from 31 referring hospitals >300 miles (measured by the most direct road distance) to 9 comprehensive stroke centers in Australia and New Zealand for EVT consideration (April 2016 through May 2021). Results: There were 131 patients; the median age was 64 [53–74] years and the median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 16 [12–22]. At baseline, 79 patients (60.3%) had noncontrast CT+CT angiography, 52 (39.7%) also had CTP. At the comprehensive stroke center, 114 (87%) patients underwent cerebral angiography, and 96 (73.3%) proceeded to EVT. At 3 months, 62 patients (48.4%) had an mRS score of 0 to 2 and 81 (63.3%) mRS score of 0 to 3. CTP selection at the referring site was not associated with better ordinal scores on the mRS at 3 months (mRS median of 2 [1–3] versus 3 [1–6] in the patients selected with noncontrast CT+CT angiography, P =0.1). Nevertheless, patients selected with CTP were less likely to have an mRS score of 5 to 6 (odds ratio 0.03 [0.01–0.19]; P Conclusions: In selected patients transferred >300 miles, there was a benefit for EVT, with outcomes similar to those treated in the comprehensive stroke center in the EVT extended window trials. Remote hospital CTP selection was not associated with ordinal mRS improvement, but was associated with fewer very poor 3-month outcomes.

AimTo characterise the ophthalmic indications for, and ophthalmic efficacy of, transverse sinus stenting in adults with medically refractory idiopathic intracranial hypertension.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was undertaken on a single-author database of 226 successive patients with confirmed idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). A total of 32 patients were identified who received a transverse sinus stent for medically refractory disease. This which was defined as visual threat and/or intolerance of maximal medical therapy. Patients with medically refractory disease proceeded to stenting, if found to have a significant transverse sinus stenosis gradient at catheter venography. Visual threat was quantified via the degree of papilledema on optical coherence tomography of the retinal nerve fibre layer, and via the visual field mean deviation. CSF opening pressure at lumbar puncture and cerebral venous sinus pressure measurements from catheter venography were correlated with the ophthalmic data, noting also intolerance of maximal medical therapy. Complications of stenting were fully assessed.ResultsMedically refractory IIH was found in 18% of the total cohort of IIH patients. 90% of those with medically refractory disease had a significant transverse sinus stenosis pressure gradient, and 80% proceeded to stenting. The intervention eliminated papilledema in 96% of stented patients, and allowed 81% to cease acetazolamide. The need for a further procedure was low at 6%, and the safety profile was favourable.ConclusionsMedically refractory disease in IIH is common (18%), and nearly always associated with a significant transverse sinus stenosis pressure gradient (90%). Endovascular stenting of the stenosis deserves wider uptake as a highly effective, safe, and usually definitive treatment. It safeguards vision by eliminating papilledema (96%), and allows most patients to cease acetazolamide (81%). By analogy with glaucoma, if acetazolamide is the prostaglandin of IIH and CSF diversion the emergency glaucoma filter, stenting is the minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.

Background: Definitive diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke is challenging, particularly in telestroke settings. Although the prognostic utility of CT perfusion (CTP) has been questioned, its diagnostic value remains under-appreciated, especially in cases without an easily visible intracranial occlusion. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of routine CTP in the acute telestroke setting. Methods: Acute and follow-up data collected prospectively from consecutive suspected patients with stroke assessed by a state-wide telestroke service between March 2020 and August 2021 at 12 sites in Australia were analyzed. All patients in the final analysis had been assessed with multimodal CT, including CTP, which was post-processed with automated volumetric software. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were calculated for multimodal CT and each individual component (noncontrast CT [NCCT], CT angiogram [CTA], and CTP). Final diagnosis determined by consensus review of follow-up imaging and clinical data was used as the reference standard. Results: During the study period, complete multimodal CT examination was obtained in 831 patients, 457 of whom were diagnosed with stroke. Diagnostic sensitivity for ischemic stroke increased by 19.5 percentage points when CTP was included with NCCT and CTA compared with NCCT and CTA alone (73.1% positive with NCCT+CTA+CTP [95% CI, 68.8–77.1] versus 53.6% positive with NCCT+CTA alone [95% CI, 48.9–58.3], P P =0.13). Multimodal CT, including CTP, demonstrated the highest negative predictive value (75.0% [95% CI, 72.1–77.7]). Patients with stroke not evident on CTP had small volume infarcts on follow-up (1.2 mL, interquartile range 0.5–2.7mL). Conclusions: Acquisition of CTP as part of a telestroke imaging protocol permits definitive diagnosis of cerebral ischemia in 1 in 5 patients with normal NCCT and CTA.

Objective We designed a multi-centre prospective cohort study to explore the hypothesis that early acutely elevated high sensitivity troponin (hsT) is associated with cardioembolic stroke (CES) Methods Ischaemic strokes across three hospitals underwent hsTroponin testing and 2 blinded clinicians classified patients as CES, NCE (Non Cardioembolic) or ESUS by ESUS criteria. Characteristics included baseline NIHSS, renal function, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, ischaemic heart disease, past stroke and congestive cardiac failure. The odds of positive hsT for CES Vs NCE and ESUS Vs NCE were modelled with step-wise addition of patient characteristics. Results 194 ischaemic stroke cases were included, with a mean age of 71 years and a 57:43 male:female ratio. 65 had a positive hsTroponin, which was associated with older age, hypertension, cardiac failure, coronary disease, an eGFR Conclusions An elevated hs troponin after acute ischaemic stroke is independently associated with a cardioembolic mechanism. High sensitivity cardiac troponin was not significantly associated with ESUS after adjusting for confounders, suggesting that a cardio-embolic cause may not be the dominant mechanism in this group.

Urgent clinical assessment and brain imaging are essential for differentiating stroke mimics from stroke and to avoid unnecessary initiation of reperfusion and other therapies in stroke mimic patients.In this article, the authors will review acute stroke imaging and then the imaging patterns of the most common stroke mimics. The authors have focused our review on brain CT scan, and more specifically CT perfusion, as this is the most commonly available and emerging tool in emergency settings. The authors also provide information on acute brain MRI and MR perfusion.Imaging can contribute to the detection and diagnosis of acute stroke mimics. Knowledge of imaging findings in different stroke mimics can help distinguish these from patients with stroke who require timely reperfusion therapy. CT and MRI perfusion and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) MRI are useful imaging modalities for the assessment of acute stroke patients as they provide more accurate information than plain CT scan. Some of these modalities should be available in the emergency setting. The authors recommended CT perfusion as a useful tool for stroke management and differentiation with stroke mimics.

Background and hypothesis Intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase remains standard care prior to thrombectomy for eligible patients within 4.5 h of ischemic stroke onset. However, alteplase only succeeds in reperfusing large vessel arterial occlusion prior to thrombectomy in a minority of patients. We hypothesized that tenecteplase is non-inferior to alteplase in achieving reperfusion at initial angiogram, when administered within 4.5 h of ischemic stroke onset, in patients planned to undergo endovascular therapy. Study design EXTEND-IA TNK is an investigator-initiated, phase II, multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint non-inferiority study. Eligibility requires a diagnosis of ischemic stroke within 4.5 h of stroke onset, pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale≤3 (no upper age limit), large vessel occlusion (internal carotid, basilar, or middle cerebral artery) on multimodal computed tomography and absence of contraindications to intravenous thrombolysis. Patients are randomized to either IV alteplase (0.9 mg/kg, max 90 mg) or tenecteplase (0.25 mg/kg, max 25 mg) prior to thrombectomy. Study outcomes The primary outcome measure is reperfusion on the initial catheter angiogram, assessed as modified treatment in cerebral infarction 2 b/3 or the absence of retrievable thrombus. Secondary outcomes include modified Rankin Scale at day 90 and favorable clinical response (reduction in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale by ≥8 points or reaching 0–1) at day 3. Safety outcomes are death and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02388061

Telestroke services have been shown to increase stroke therapy access in rural areas. The implementation of advanced CT imaging for patient assessment may improve patient selection and detection of stroke mimics in conjunction with telestroke. We implemented a telestroke service supported by multimodal CT imaging in a rural hospital in Australia. Over 21 months we conducted an evaluation of service activation, thrombolysis rates and use of multimodal imaging to assess the feasibility of the service. Rates of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage and 90-day modified Rankin Score were used as safety outcomes. Fifty-eight patients were assessed using telestroke, of which 41 were regarded to be acute ischemic strokes and 17 to be stroke mimics on clinical grounds. Of the 41 acute stroke patients, 22 patients were deemed eligible for thrombolysis. Using multimodal CT imaging, 8 more patients were excluded from treatment because of lack of treatment target. Multimodal imaging failed to be obtained in one patient. For the 14 treated patients, median door-imaging time was 38 min. Median door-treatment time was 91 min. A 90-day mRS ⩽2 was achieved in 40% of treated patients. We conclude that a telestroke service using advanced CT imaging for therapy decision assistance can be successfully implemented in regional Australia and can be used to guide acute stroke treatment decision-making and improve access to thrombolytic therapy. Efficiency and safety is comparable to established telestroke services.

OBJECTIVEThe role of mechanical thrombectomy in pediatric acute ischemic stroke is uncertain, despite extensive evidence of benefit in adults. The existing literature consists of several recent small single-arm cohort studies, as well as multiple prior small case series and case reports. Published reports of pediatric cases have increased markedly since 2015, after the publication of the positive trials in adults. The recent AHA/ASA Scientific Statement on this issue was informed predominantly by pre-2015 case reports and identified several knowledge gaps, including how young a child may undergo thrombectomy. A repeat systematic review and meta-analysis is warranted to help guide therapeutic decisions and address gaps in knowledge.METHODSUsing PRISMA-IPD guidelines, the authors performed a systematic review of the literature from 1999 to April 2019 and individual patient data meta-analysis, with 2 independent reviewers. An additional series of 3 cases in adolescent males from one of the authors’ centers was also included. The primary outcomes were the rate of good long-term (mRS score 0–2 at final follow-up) and short-term (reduction in NIHSS score by ≥ 8 points or NIHSS score 0–1 at up to 24 hours post-thrombectomy) neurological outcomes following mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke in patients < 18 years of age. The secondary outcome was the rate of successful angiographic recanalization (mTICI score 2b/3).RESULTSThe authors’ review yielded 113 cases of mechanical thrombectomy in 110 pediatric patients. Although complete follow-up data are not available for all patients, 87 of 96 (90.6%) had good long-term neurological outcomes (mRS score 0–2), 55 of 79 (69.6%) had good short-term neurological outcomes, and 86 of 98 (87.8%) had successful angiographic recanalization (mTICI score 2b/3). Death occurred in 2 patients and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in 1 patient. Sixteen published thrombectomy cases were identified in children < 5 years of age.CONCLUSIONSMechanical thrombectomy may be considered for acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (ICA terminus, M1, basilar artery) in patients aged 1–18 years (Level C evidence; Class IIb recommendation). The existing evidence base is likely affected by selection and publication bias. A prospective multinational registry is recommended as the next investigative step.

Intravenous infusion of alteplase is used for thrombolysis before endovascular thrombectomy for ischemic stroke. Tenecteplase, which is more fibrin-specific and has longer activity than alteplase, is given as a bolus and may increase the incidence of vascular reperfusion.We randomly assigned patients with ischemic stroke who had occlusion of the internal carotid, basilar, or middle cerebral artery and who were eligible to undergo thrombectomy to receive tenecteplase (at a dose of 0.25 mg per kilogram of body weight; maximum dose, 25 mg) or alteplase (at a dose of 0.9 mg per kilogram; maximum dose, 90 mg) within 4.5 hours after symptom onset. The primary outcome was reperfusion of greater than 50% of the involved ischemic territory or an absence of retrievable thrombus at the time of the initial angiographic assessment. Noninferiority of tenecteplase was tested, followed by superiority. Secondary outcomes included the modified Rankin scale score (on a scale from 0 [no neurologic deficit] to 6 [death]) at 90 days. Safety outcomes were death and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage.Of 202 patients enrolled, 101 were assigned to receive tenecteplase and 101 to receive alteplase. The primary outcome occurred in 22% of the patients treated with tenecteplase versus 10% of those treated with alteplase (incidence difference, 12 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2 to 21; incidence ratio, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.4; P=0.002 for noninferiority; P=0.03 for superiority). Tenecteplase resulted in a better 90-day functional outcome than alteplase (median modified Rankin scale score, 2 vs. 3; common odds ratio, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0 to 2.8; P=0.04). Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in 1% of the patients in each group.Tenecteplase before thrombectomy was associated with a higher incidence of reperfusion and better functional outcome than alteplase among patients with ischemic stroke treated within 4.5 hours after symptom onset. (Funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and others; EXTEND-IA TNK ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02388061 .).

BACKGROUND: General anaesthesia (GA) during endovascular thrombectomy has been associated with worse patient outcomes in observational studies compared with patients treated without GA. We assessed functional outcome in ischaemic stroke patients with large vessel anterior circulation occlusion undergoing endovascular thrombectomy under GA, versus thrombectomy not under GA (with or without sedation) versus standard care (ie, no thrombectomy), stratified by the use of GA versus standard care.METHODS: For this meta-analysis, patient-level data were pooled from all patients included in randomised trials in PuMed published between Jan 1, 2010, and May 31, 2017, that compared endovascular thrombectomy predominantly done with stent retrievers with standard care in anterior circulation ischaemic stroke patients (HERMES Collaboration). The primary outcome was functional outcome assessed by ordinal analysis of the modified Rankin scale (mRS) at 90 days in the GA and non-GA subgroups of patients treated with endovascular therapy versus those patients treated with standard care, adjusted for baseline prognostic variables. To account for between-trial variance we used mixed-effects modelling with a random effect for trials incorporated in all models. Bias was assessed using the Cochrane method. The meta-analysis was prospectively designed, but not registered.FINDINGS: Seven trials were identified by our search; of 1764 patients included in these trials, 871 were allocated to endovascular thrombectomy and 893 were assigned standard care. After exclusion of 74 patients (72 did not undergo the procedure and two had missing data on anaesthetic strategy), 236 (30%) of 797 patients who had endovascular procedures were treated under GA. At baseline, patients receiving GA were younger and had a shorter delay between stroke onset and randomisation but they had similar pre-treatment clinical severity compared with patients who did not have GA. Endovascular thrombectomy improved functional outcome at 3 months both in patients who had GA (adjusted common odds ratio (cOR) 1·52, 95% CI 1·09-2·11, p=0·014) and in those who did not have GA (adjusted cOR 2·33, 95% CI 1·75-3·10, pINTERPRETATION: Worse outcomes after endovascular thrombectomy were associated with GA, after adjustment for baseline prognostic variables. These data support avoidance of GA whenever possible. The procedure did, however, remain effective versus standard care in patients treated under GA, indicating that treatment should not be withheld in those who require anaesthesia for medical reasons.FUNDING: Medtronic.

Background Multi-modal CT (MMCT) to guide decision making for reperfusion treatment is increasingly used, but there remains a perceived risk of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). At our center, MMCT is used empirically without waiting for serum-creatinine (sCR) or renal profiling. Aims To determine the incidence of CIN, examine the risk factors predisposing to its development, and investigate its effects on clinical outcome in the acute stroke population. Methods An institution-wide protocol was implemented for acute stroke presentations to have MMCT (100–150 ml nonionic tri-iodinated contrast, perfusion CT and CT angiography) without waiting for serum-creatinine to minimize delays. Intravenous saline is routinely infused (80–125 ml/h) for at least 24-h after MMCT. Serial creatinine levels were measured at baseline, risk period, and follow-up. Renal profiles and clinical progress were reviewed up to 90 days. Results We analyzed 735 consecutive patients who had MMCT for the evaluation of acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke during the last five-years. A total of 623 patients met the inclusion criteria for analysis: 16 cases (2·6%) biochemically qualified as CIN; however, the risk period serum-creatinine for 15 of these cases was confounded by dehydration, urinary tract infection, or medications. None of the group had progression to chronic kidney disease or required dialysis. Conclusions The incidence of CIN is low when MMCT is used routinely to assess acute stroke patients. In this population, CIN was a biochemical phenomenon that did not have clinical manifestations, cause chronic kidney disease, require dialysis, or negatively impact on 90-day mRS outcomes. Renal profiling and waiting for a baseline serum-creatinine are an unnecessary delay to emergency reperfusion treatment.

Background Trials of endovascular therapy for ischemic stroke have produced variable results. We conducted this study to test whether more advanced imaging selection, recently developed devices, and earlier intervention improve outcomes. Methods We randomly assigned patients with ischemic stroke who were receiving 0.9 mg of alteplase per kilogram of body weight less than 4.5 hours after the onset of ischemic stroke either to undergo endovascular thrombectomy with the Solitaire FR (Flow Restoration) stent retriever or to continue receiving alteplase alone. All the patients had occlusion of the internal carotid or middle cerebral artery and evidence of salvageable brain tissue and ischemic core of less than 70 ml on computed tomographic (CT) perfusion imaging. The coprimary outcomes were reperfusion at 24 hours and early neurologic improvement (≥8-point reduction on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale or a score of 0 or 1 at day 3). Secondary outcomes included the functional score on the modified Rankin scale at 90 days. Results The trial was stopped early because of efficacy after 70 patients had undergone randomization (35 patients in each group). The percentage of ischemic territory that had undergone reperfusion at 24 hours was greater in the endovascular-therapy group than in the alteplase-only group (median, 100% vs. 37%; P

Background Endovascular thrombectomy improves functional outcome in large vessel occlusion ischemic stroke. We examined disability, quality of life, survival and acute care costs in the EXTEND-IA trial, which used CT-perfusion imaging selection. Methods Large vessel ischemic stroke patients with favorable CT-perfusion were randomized to endovascular thrombectomy after alteplase versus alteplase-only. Clinical outcome was prospectively measured using 90-day modified Rankin scale (mRS). Individual patient expected survival and net difference in Disability/Quality-adjusted life years (DALY/QALY) up to 15 years from stroke were modeled using age, sex, 90-day mRS, and utility scores. Level of care within the first 90 days was prospectively measured and used to estimate procedure and inpatient care costs (US$ reference year 2014). Results There were 70 patients, 35 in each arm, mean age 69, median NIHSS 15 (IQR 12–19). The median (IQR) disability-weighted utility score at 90 days was 0.65 (0.00–0.91) in the alteplase-only versus 0.91 (0.65–1.00) in the endovascular group (p = 0.005). Modeled life expectancy was greater in the endovascular versus alteplase-only group (median 15.6 versus 11.2 years, p = 0.02). The endovascular thrombectomy group had fewer simulated DALYs lost over 15 years [median (IQR) 5.5 (3.2–8.7) versus 8.9 (4.7–13.8), p = 0.02] and more QALY gained [median (IQR) 9.3 (4.2–13.1) versus 4.9 (0.3–8.5), p = 0.03]. Endovascular patients spent less time in hospital [median (IQR) 5 (3–11) days versus 8 (5–14) days, p = 0.04] and rehabilitation [median (IQR) 0 (0–28) versus 27 (0–65) days, p = 0.03]. The estimated inpatient costs in the first 90 days were less in the thrombectomy group (average US$15,689 versus US$30,569, p = 0.008) offsetting the costs of interhospital transport and the thrombectomy procedure (average US$10,515). The average saving per patient treated with thrombectomy was US$4,365. Conclusion Thrombectomy patients with large vessel occlusion and salvageable tissue on CT-perfusion had reduced length of stay and overall costs to 90 days. There was evidence of clinically relevant improvement in long-term survival and quality of life. Clinical Trial Registration http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01492725 (registered 20/11/2011).

Background Patients with acute ischemic stroke and large vessel occlusion (LVO) may benefit from prehospital identification and transfer to a center offering endovascular therapy. Aims We aimed to assess the accuracy of an existing 8-item stroke scale (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale-8 [NIHSS-8]) for identification of patients with acute stroke with LVO. Methods We retrospectively calculated NIHSS-8 scores in a population of consecutive patients with presumed acute stroke assessed by emergency medical services (EMS). LVO was identified on admission computed tomography angiography. Accuracy to identify LVO was calculated using receiver operating characteristics analysis. We used weighted Cohen's kappa statistics to assess inter-rater reliability for the NIHSS-8 score between the EMS and the hospital stroke team on a prospectively evaluated subgroup. Results Of the 551 included patients, 381 had a confirmed ischemic stroke and 136 patients had an LVO. NIHSS scores were significantly higher in patients with LVO (median 18; interquartile range 14-22). The NIHSS-8 score reliably predicted the presence of LVO (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve .82). The optimum NIHSS-8 cutoff of 8 or more had a sensitivity of .81, specificity of .75, and Youden index of .56 for prediction of LVO. The EMS and the stroke team reached substantial agreement (κ = .69). Conclusions Accuracy of the NIHSS-8 to identify LVO in a population of patients with suspected acute stroke is comparable to existing prehospital stroke scales. The scale can be performed by EMS with reasonable reliability. Further validation in the field is needed to assess accuracy of the scale to identify patients with LVO eligible for endovascular treatment in a prehospital setting.