CompletedNot Applicable

Pocket Sized Carotid Stenosis Screening by Junior Doctors

Norway75 participantsStarted 2016-12

Plain-language summary

Among patients admitted with cerebral ischemia (stroke and transitory ischemic attack (TIA)) it is important to reveal the underlying cause of the disease. In special it is important to reveal if carotid artery stenosis is present as such a finding will directly influence on treatment and follow-up. For the diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis due to atherosclerosis ultrasound examinations is the cornerstone, but computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging may be better in some cases. Development of high quality pocket-sized ultrasound scanners has allowed for semi quantitatively bed-side assessment of the carotid arteries and the heart. The investigators aim to study the feasibility and reliability of bed-side assessment of the carotid arteries by pocket-sized ultrasound scanners in inexperienced hands and the clinical influence of this examination when performed by experienced users. The investigators hypothesize that a significant proportion of this patient population can be clarified bed-side by junior doctors with no need of further imaging procedures for the assessment of the carotid arteries and the heart.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Admitted to the Department of Medicine with history and findings suspicious of (transient) cerebrovascular ischemia and willing and able to give their informed written consent Exclusion Criteria: * Evaluation of carotid artery stenosis by imaging (CT, MRI or ultrasound) performed during the stay prior to inclusion.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Proportion of patients without need for further diagnostic imaging

Timeframe: The participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of approximately 4 days

Trial details

NCT IDNCT02992821

SponsorHelse Nord-Trøndelag HF

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2018-07

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Ischemic Attack, Transient trials