Emergency stroke unit for acute cerebrovascular events: a prospective, single-arm trial with a historical control group
NCT ID NCT06728592
First seen Sep 10, 2026 · Last updated Sep 10, 2026
Summary
Background Reperfusion therapies, i.e., intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and/or endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), are most effective treatments in the management of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. The benefits of reperfusion therapies, however, may be reduced by treatment delays due to tests and examinations and logistic issues. Emergency Stroke Unit (ESU), a new concept of stroke unit locating at the Accident and Emergency Department (AED), equipped with a mobile, low-field MR imaging (lfMRI) scanner for fast diagnosis of ischemic stroke, differentiation of intracranial hemorrhage and identification of large vessel occlusion (LVO), is being tested in Mainland China. It may shorten the door-to-needle time (DNT) for IVT and door-to-groin puncture time (DPT) for EVT, which may hance associate with improved functional outcomes of AIS patients. This is a prospective, single-center, open-label, non-randomized, single-arm study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the ESU workflow using lfMRI in shortening the DNT/DPT and improving functional outcomes in AIS patients, who are eligible for IVT and/or EVT and can be treated within 6 hours after onset, compared with standard practice in Hong Kong; to reveal the changes in the ischemic lesions over a few days after IVT/EVT in these patients, with serial follow-up lfMRI exams.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 60 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Dec 2024
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 100 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age ≥18 years; 2. Diagnosed as ischemic stroke; 3. Eligible for IVT and/or EVT and can be treated within 6 hours of symptom onset (time of symptom onset is defined as the last known normal time); 4. Presenting to AED during working hours (8AM to 6PM, weekdays); 5. Written informed consent from patients or representatives, who understand Cantonese, to participate in this study. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with unstable vital signs who need urgent medical interventions/care; 2. Confirmed contraindications for IVT or EVT by initial assessment (e.g., unstable vital signs, history of severe head trauma within 3 months, known bleeding tendency), before starting brain imaging exams; 3. Claustrophobia or other conditions that are contraindicated for MRI; 4. Patients with pacemakers, brain stimulators or insulin pumps; 5. Patients with medical or other conditions that prevent cooperation with the procedures; 6. Pregnant or breastfeeding women; 7. Participation in other clinical trials within 3 months before screening.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
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Contacts and locations
Locations
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Chinese University of Hong Kong
RECRUITINGHong Kong, Hong Kong
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- Stroke rehabilitation with innovative extended reality (STRIVE): a feasibility study in clinical practice
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- Health, functioning, work, and experiences of social and health services of persons with stroke
- Intravenous tenecteplase for acute ischemic stroke within 4.5 to 6 hours of onset (EXIT-BT2): a prospective, randomized, open label, blinded endpoint, and multi-center study
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