Mar 04, 2024

Unlocking New Frontiers in Stroke Management: Highlights from the 2024 International Stroke Conference in Phoenix

Every year, the International Stroke Conference (ISC) brings together medical professionals, researchers, and experts from around the globe to discuss the latest advancements in stroke prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. Attendees gathered to share groundbreaking research and innovative strategies aimed at combating this debilitating condition. Let’s delve into some of the key highlights from this year’s event.

1. Advances in Stroke Imaging Technology

Real-world evidence continues to validate adopting AI powered detection and care coordination to improve clinical workflow and patient outcomes. Six clinical studies presented at ISC demonstrated positive impacts of Viz.ai in practice across acute ischemic stroke, cryptogenic stroke, unruptured incidental aneurysm and brain hemorrhage.

Three key clinicians led the well attended learning studio: Precision in Practice: Accelerating Time to Treatment with Proven and Scalable AI Solutions. The three authors demonstrate how Viz has a unique algorithm designed to maximize accuracy, which results in proven and sustainable time savings across stroke systems of care. You can check out the papers presented here: head to head study, VALIDATE study, randomized clinical trial, and VISIION-S paper.

A secondary development showcased at the conference was the evolution of stroke imaging technology. Advanced imaging techniques, such as MRI and CT angiography, are revolutionizing the way clinicians diagnose and treat stroke patients. These cutting-edge tools enable healthcare providers to rapidly assess the extent of brain damage and identify the most effective treatment options, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

2. Novel Therapeutic Approaches

Researchers presented exciting findings on novel therapeutic approaches for stroke management. From neuroprotective agents to stem cell therapies, the field is witnessing a paradigm shift towards more personalized and targeted treatments. Promising clinical trials have demonstrated the potential of these innovative therapies to enhance neuroplasticity, promote tissue regeneration, and mitigate the long-term effects of stroke.

In the late-breaking session, researchers presented exciting findings on a novel approach for the management of chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH). With the aging population and use of anticoagulants, cSDH is projected to be the most common neurosurgical diagnosis by 2030.1 The results of three trials for the treatment of cSDH were presented at ISC: EMBOLISE, MAGIC-MT, and STEM. All three trials studied the use of middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization for the treatment of cSDH with positive outcomes. Viz Recruit with the Viz SDH module was used to screen potential EMBOLISE candidates during enrollment, and was shown to accelerate EMBOLISE enrollment by 36%. Viz HEMORRHAGE is the only available solution that offers cSDH detection and notification, enabling clinicians to assure these patients get the care needed.

3. Multidisciplinary Collaboration

The ISC served as a platform for multidisciplinary collaboration, bringing together experts from various fields, including neurology, cardiology, radiology, and rehabilitation medicine. By fostering interdisciplinary partnerships, healthcare providers can leverage diverse perspectives and expertise to develop comprehensive stroke care protocols that address the complex needs of patients at every stage of their recovery journey.

The Viz.ai One platform allows for multidisciplinary collaboration across specialties. To demonstrate the real world impact of this, our very own Stephanie Rubenstein (RN, SCRN) presented on Viz Connect, our new platform for cryptogenic stroke, designed to efficiently connect cryptogenic stroke patients to the proper post acute cardiology care team. Stephanie shared data from the 10-center pilot study which resulted in 2X increased referrals to cardiology, reduction in time to referral (by 1-2 days), and up to 3X improved follow-up and patient care.

Dr. Justin Fraser (UK Healthcare) shared the latest published data on the performance of Viz Aneurysm, highlighting 2 published papers and his ISC 2024 abstract. The sensitivity and specificity across all three datasets were between 81 – 97%. Data on the clinical impact of Viz Aneurysm across two papers was also presented. Viz Aneurysm detected additional aneurysms (28-55%) that were greater than or equal to 4mm and many were significantly larger. Most important, these impact studies revealed that most incidental aneurysms are not referred (67-75%), meaning that some detected aneurysms are not referred. Finally, a significant number of treatment-eligible aneurysms were not detected or not referred (29-33%).

A Clinically Validated Solution

Viz has a robust clinical evidence portfolio with over 100 publications demonstrating the performance and clinical impact of the neuro suite in various care pathways: Acute Ischemic stroke, aneurysm, hemorrhage, and cryptogenic stroke. All Viz publications are available in this database which can be filtered by care pathway.

From groundbreaking research to innovative technologies and collaborative initiatives, the conference underscored the importance of continuous innovation and collaboration in the quest to improve outcomes for stroke patients worldwide. As we look towards the future, it is clear that by working together, we can unlock new frontiers in stroke prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, ultimately transforming the lives of millions affected by this devastating condition.

Start a conversation to learn more about the Viz Neuro suite.

References:
1. Neifert, S.N., Chaman, E.K., Hardigan, T., et.al. (2020). Increases in subdural hematoma with an aging population- the future of cerebrovascular disease. World Neurosurgery, 141, 166-174.