Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is helping stroke in patients England Access to critical treatments more quickly, a study has found.
This technology helps doctors identify major stroke cases within minutes, increasing the chances of the procedure removing deadly clots.
The AI tool, called the Brainomics 360 Stroke Imaging Platform, analyzes CT scans in real time.
This makes it more likely that patients will have access to thrombectomy, where doctors use a catheter to remove a blood clot from an artery.
Most effective within a few hours of symptoms, sometimes it can be done up to 24 hours after the stroke.
The Stroke Association says prompt treatment through this process greatly improves recovery by reducing brain damage.
For study, published in lancet digital healthScans from around 15,377 patients were analyzed by AI.
At some centres, the technology helped increase the speed of treatment by a little more than an hour.
Patients reviewed by the AI were also more likely to have had a thrombectomy or intravenous thrombolysis, which uses drugs given through an IV drip to break up blood clots.
Elsewhere, researchers found that the thrombectomy rate in hospitals participating in the study doubled from 2.3 percent to 4.6 percent.
That compares with a 1.6 percent to 2.6 percent increase among hospitals not using the platform.
It comes after figures published last month showed that thrombectomy rates in England remain below the European average.
The latest national stroke audit, commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership, showed that the rate of mechanical thrombectomy rose to 4.4 per cent in 2024/25, up from 3.9 per cent in the previous 12 months.
The report suggests that, as evidence advances, it is likely that up to 15 percent of patients will be eligible for the procedure.
Dr David Hargroves, NHS national clinical director for stroke and study co-author, said: “This landmark study confirms what we are already seeing in daily practice: stroke AI imaging is helping us make faster decisions and provide better care for our patients.
“This technology helps physicians make quicker treatment decisions, meaning more patients can receive life- and disability-saving treatments in a timely manner – giving them a better chance of returning to independent living.
“This publication provides strong, real-world evidence of the impact of AI in stroke care and shows why the NHS moved quickly to implement this technology nationwide.”
Jean Hynes had a scan soon after arriving at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in August.
Within 25 minutes she was on her way to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where she had a successful thrombectomy.
The 83-year-old said: “I feel incredibly lucky. Everything happened so quickly and I know it made all the difference.”
“When I was on the ward I saw people who had lost their speech or movement, and it really struck me that a stroke could be life-changing. I’m very grateful for the speed of treatment – I know that’s why I haven’t suffered a serious disability.”
The Brainomics 360 Stroke platform has already been introduced in more than 70 NHS hospitals.
Juliette Bouverie, chief executive of the Stroke Association, said: “Every day in the UK, 240 people are faced with the reality of life after a stroke.
“This medical emergency requires timely treatment to reduce the risk that the stroke survivor will be unable to move, speak, see or even swallow.
“Stroke has been at the forefront of innovative healthcare for some time, and AI imaging is helping to support stroke diagnosis and treatment. Since thrombectomy is most effective within the first few hours of stroke onset – we welcome technology that speeds this process.
“However, it has been almost six years since this technology was first introduced, and many patients are still struggling to access thrombectomy.
“Last year, only 4.4 percent of stroke patients received this life-changing and life-saving treatment. This is for a myriad of reasons, including the need to provide ongoing support for clinical teams so they can make the most of the technology.
“We have long been campaigning to increase access to thrombectomy across the country, and this application of AI is part of the solution. But we still need all services to provide 24/7 thrombectomy access so that every stroke patient can get the timely treatment they need to survive and thrive.”