Artificial intelligence-enabled technology speeds up stroke care in Coastal communities

A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked or reduced. It can cause serious brain damage or death. For stroke patients, timing is everything – for every minute delay in treatment, 1.9 million brain cells die. 

Most strokes are ischemic, caused by a clot blocking blood flow in the brain. Two main treatments can help: 

• Intravenous (IV) thrombolysis (using medicine to dissolve the clot)
• Mechanical Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) (a minimally invasive medical procedure to remove the clot) 

In the VCH region, EVT is only available at Vancouver General Hospital. Patients from Lions Gate Hospital, Sechelt | shíshálh Hospital, and qathet General Hospital must be transferred to Vancouver General Hospital by ground or air ambulance. Emergency Department physicians in these Coastal communities and the Vancouver General Hospital neurology team work in close collaboration to review CT scans, enabling a quicker decision for patients who would benefit from being transferred for EVT.  

The new AI-enabled software processes CT scans in three to five minutes and identifies: 

• The location of the clot;  
• How much brain tissue is damaged; and
• Which areas of the brain can still be saved. 

Studies show AI for stroke medical imaging can cut treatment times by up to 35 minutes—time that can make the difference between recovery and disability. 

“It’s a game changer,” says Mariève Legrand, Regional Stroke Planning Lead for Vancouver Coastal Health. “It can see in more detail and more efficiently where the clot may be located, and also show a better image of the salvageable brain area faster.” 

Vancouver Coastal Health is committed to continually improving health care delivery, innovating for impact and creating access to equitable care for all. This new technology benefits patients in a number of ways:  

• Improved care: Faster, more accurate specialized treatment for stroke patients helps prevent brain damage and improves recovery.
• Improved experience: Fewer unnecessary transfers to Vancouver General Hospital reduces travel for patients and families.
• Increased access to care: Indigenous populations and remote communities face a higher risk of stroke as well as increased barriers to accessing health care. Hospitals in these Coastal communities can now provide better access to stroke diagnosis and opportunity for more timely treatment.
• Improved efficiency: Only patients who truly need EVT are transferred, saving costs and reducing environmental impact, aligning with VCH’s commitment to Planetary Health. 

“The impact that this technology can have, even on a single patient, is immeasurable,” says Legrand. “Being able to quickly identify the area of the stroke and providing intervention that can restore blood flow and reverse symptoms is significant in helping patients regain function and quality of life.” 

This initiative was generously funded by Boehringer Ingelheim and VGH and UBC Hospital Foundation though the VCH Innovation for Impact Collaborative as well as the Powell River Hospital Foundation, Sechelt Hospital Foundation and Lions Gate Hospital Foundation.