Radiology Nursing in the Management of the Acute Stroke Patient: Beyond Emergency Revascularization

Endovascular therapy is now the first-line treatment for acute ischemic stroke secondary to large vessel occlusions. As an important part of the neurovascular triad (radiology, neurology, and neurosurgery), nurses within the specialty of radiology play in important role in emergency revascularization. However, the role of nursing in acute stroke extends beyond timely recanalization, well into the convalescent phase. The purpose of our study was to explore the other important aspects of clinical care performed by diagnostic and interventional radiology nurses in acute stroke. After Institutional Review Board approval, imaging and clinical records of 100 consecutive patients presenting to a tertiary-care center with acute stroke and a large vessel occlusion were reviewed. Hospitalization records were examined for the type and number of interventional radiology-related non-neurovascular procedures performed in this patient population. Non-neurovascular interventional radiology-related procedures were performed in over 40% of patients, most commonly gastrostomy tube placement, IVC filter placement, and peripherally inserted central catheter placement. 28 gastrostomy tubes, 10 IVC filters, and 10 peripherally inserted central catheter lines were placed. The average age of IVC filter placement was 60 years, with a range of 45 to 81 years. Radiology nurses have an important role to play in the management of acute stroke patients, even after patients have undergone revascularization. Educating clinical colleagues and patients about radiology nursing-related services in acute stroke can advance the field of radiology nursing and other advanced practitioners while improving the care of the large number of patients afflicted by acute stroke.