The research project "Virtueller Behandlungsraum für die Akuttherapie zur ganzheitlichen Schlaganfallversorgung“ (VB-LVO) was successfully completed in cooperation with the University Hospital Freiburg. The goal was to ensure early information exchange between emergency services and hospitals through the development of the "mStroke" app, thereby reducing the time between emergency call and acute therapy, and improving the quality of time-critical decisions.

Background

Strokes are the leading cause of severe disabilities and the second leading cause of death among adults worldwide. Approximately 80% of these strokes are ischemic, often caused by the blockage of large blood vessels in the brain (Large Vessel Occlusion, LVO). In the first hours after an ischemic stroke, the chances of recovery through recanalizing therapies are high, but their effectiveness decreases over time. Therefore, it is crucial for experts from emergency services, neurology, and neuroradiology to collaborate to make the best therapeutic decisions. Seamless communication and the immediate provision of all collected patient information are essential for successful treatment.

Innovations and Results

As early as 2021, mbits published a comprehensive concept for networking all stakeholders. The information collected by emergency services is immediately transmitted to the target hospital, including a score for preclinical assessment of large vessel occlusion and the necessity of thrombectomy.

mStroke enables the mobile and digital capture of all relevant data. Through structured anamnesis guidelines using a score developed by clinical partners and instructions for specific examination steps, expert knowledge is applied in the preclinical phase. Digital algorithms, based on current studies and guidelines, propose the optimal treatment path – from dispatch centers to emergency services to diagnostics in the hospital. This data allows emergency services to directly head to the appropriate hospital. By forwarding this information to the target hospital and utilizing the live tracking function of emergency services, hospital staff can optimally prepare for the patient's arrival.

An initial version of the preclinical "mStroke" app was released on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store . The submission process was successful, resulting in a fully functional demonstrator that demonstrated the possible integration and functionality of the app in both preclinical and clinical environments. Clinical partners provided valuable feedback and suggestions for improvement on the prototypes. A structured survey of users from the fields of neurology, neuroradiology, and emergency services confirmed the usability of the prototypes.

Conclusion

The VB-LVO project has made a significant step towards improving stroke care. With the mStroke app, emergency services and hospitals can collaborate more efficiently, ultimately improving treatment outcomes for stroke patients.