Prehospital Study at the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel II

Single-center Clinical Trial Evaluating the Efficacy, Safety, Feasibility, Reliability, and Cost-effectiveness of In-ambulance Telemedicine for Patients With Suspicion of Acute Stroke

Interventional prospective randomized open blinded end-point (PROBE) single-center clinical trial on the evaluation of the efficacy, safety, feasibility, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of in-ambulance telemedicine for patients with suspicion of acute stroke.

The purpose of PreSSUB II is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, feasibility, reliability and cost-effectiveness of in-ambulance telemedicine during Paramedic Intervention Team transportation of patients with suspicion of acute stroke.

The implementation of expert stroke support in the pre-hospital arena using in-ambulance telemedicine is an innovative approach that opens up new perspectives and allows continuous guidance by a stroke specialist throughout the acute stroke care continuum.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Emergency transportation by the Paramedic Intervention Team of the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel
• Age >= 18 years
• Suspicion of acute stroke with symptom onset < 12 h or unknown, based on any of the symptoms mentioned in the Belgian manual for medical regulation of pre-hospital care: Hemiparesis, Facial asymmetry, Speech disturbance, Sudden, severe headache, or Confusion.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients for whom in-ambulance telemedicine consultation would delay any diagnostic or therapeutic intervention.