Specifications Manual for Joint Commission National Quality Measures (v2021A1)
Posted: 9/25/2020

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Measure Information Form
Version 2021A1

Measure Information Form

Measure Set: Comprehensive Stroke (CSTK)

Set Measure ID: CSTK-09

Performance Measure Name: Arrival Time to Skin Puncture

Description: Median time from hospital arrival to the time of skin puncture to access the artery (e.g., brachial, carotid, femoral, radial) selected for endovascular treatment (EVT) of acute ischemic stroke.

Rationale: Timely recanalization of an occluded intracerebral artery is a strong predictor of improved functional outcome and reduced mortality in patients with an acute ischemic stroke. Initiation of intra-venous (IV) alteplase within three hours of time last known well is recommended first before attempting other treatment; however, endovascular treatment (EVT) with mechanical retrieval devices is also recommended after IV thrombolysis failure or lapse of the therapeutic window. For eligible patients, initiation of EVT (e.g., groin puncture) within 6 hours of stroke symptom onset using a stent retriever is preferred (Powers WJ, et. al., 2015). Findings from clinical trials published in 2018 ( i.e., DAWN, DEFUSE 3) have reported the benefits of mechanical thrombectomy in the extended window up to 24 hours of last known well for select ischemic stroke patients meeting certain criteria. The use of mechanical thrombectomy devices other than stent retrievers as first-line devices for mechanical thrombectomy may be reasonable in some circumstances, but stent retrievers remain the first choice (Powers WJ, et. al., 2018).

Since “time is brain”, the overall speed of the revascularization process is an important and appropriate measure. In multicenter clinical trials of intra-arterial catheter-directed therapies, the probability of good outcome as defined by a Modified Rankin Score of 0-2 at 90 days decreased as time to angiographic revascularization increased. It is estimated that for every 30-minute delay in time to revascularization, there is a 10% decrease in the likelihood of a good outcome from EVT.

Type Of Measure: Process

Improvement Noted As: Decrease in the median value

Continuous Variable Statement: Time (in minutes) from hospital arrival to skin puncture in patients with acute ischemic stroke who undergo endovascular treatment.
Included Populations:

  • Discharges with ICD-10-CM Principal Diagnosis Code for ischemic stroke as defined in Appendix A, Table 8.1 for ICD-10 codes,
    AND
  • Patients with documented Mechanical Endovascular Reperfusion Therapy (ICD-10-PCS Principal or Other Procedure Codes as defined in Appendix A, Table 8.1b for ICD-10 codes).

Excluded Populations:

  • Patients less than 18 years of age
  • Patients who have a Length of Stay > 120 days
  • Patients admitted for Elective Carotid Intervention
  • Patients who have an Initial NIHSS Less Than 6
  • Patients who have a Delayed Endovascular Rescue Procedure later than 8 hours after hospital arrival (ICD-10-PCS Principal or Other Procedure Codes as defined in Appendix A, Table 8.1a or Table 8.1b)

Data Elements:

Risk Adjustment: No.

Data Collection Approach: Retrospective data sources for required data elements include administrative data and medical records.

Data Accuracy: Variation may exist in the assignment of ICD-10 codes; therefore, coding practices may require evaluation to ensure consistency.

Measure Analysis Suggestions: None

Sampling: Yes. Please refer to the measure set specific sampling requirements and for additional information see the Population and Sampling Specifications section.

Data Reported As: Aggregate measure of central tendency .

Selected References:
  • Adams HP, Brott TG, Furlan AJ, Gomez CR, Grotta J, Helgason CM, Kwiatkowski T, Lyden PD, Marler JR, Torner J, et. al. Guidelines for thrombolytic therapy for acute stroke: a supplement to the guidelines for the management of patients with acute ischemic stroke. Circulation. 1996;94:1167-1174.
  • Albers GW, Marks MP, Kemp S, Christensen S, Tsai JP, Ortega-Gutierrez S, et. al. Thrombectomy for stroke at 6 to 16 hours with selection by perfusion imaging. NEJM. 2018;378(8): 708-718.
  • Antman EM, Anbe DT, Armstrong PW, Bates ER, Green LA, Hand M, et al. ACC/AHA guidelines for the management of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Committee to Revise the 1999 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction). 2004.
  • Antman EM, Hand M, Armstrong PW, Bates ER, Green LA, Halasyamani LK, et al. 2007 focused update of the ACC/AHA 2004 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Group to Review New Evidence and Update the ACC/AHA 2004 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction). J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008;51:210—-47.
  • Campbell BCV, Mitchell PJ, Kleinig TJ, Dewey HM, Churilov L, Yassi N, et. al. Endovascular therapy for ischemic stroke with perfusion-imaging selection. NEJM. 2015 Mar;372(11): 1009-17.
  • Demchuk AM, Goyal M, Monon BK, Eesa M, Ryckborst KJ, Kamal N, et. al. Endovascular treatment for Small Core and Anterior circulation Proximal occlusion with Emphasis on minimizing CT to recanalization times (ESCAPE) trial: methodology. Int J Stroke. 2015 Apr;10(3): 429-38.
  • Furlan A, Higashida R, Wechsler L, et. al. Intra-arterial prourokinase for acute ischemic stroke. The PROACT II study; a randomized controlled trial. Prolyse in Actue Cerebral Thromboembolism. JAMA. 1999;282:2003-2011.
  • Jauch EC, Saver JL, Adams HP Jr, Bruno A, Connors JJ, Demaerschalk BM, Khatri P, et al. Guidelines for the early management of patients with acute ischemic stroke: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2013;44:32-36.
  • Khatari P, Abruzzo T, Yeatts SD, Nichols C, Broderick JP, Tomsick TA; IMS I and II Investigators. Good clinical outcome after ischemic stroke with successful revascularization is time-dependent. Neurology. 2009 Sep 29;73(13):1066-72.
  • Khatari P, Hill MD, Palesch YY, et. al. Methodology of the Interventional Manaagement of Stroke III Trial. Int J Stroke. 2008;3:130-137.
  • Leifer D, Bravata DM, Connors JJ III, Hinchey JA, Jauch EC, Johnston SC, Latchaw R, Likosky W, Ogilvy C, Qureshi AI, Summers D, Sung GY, Williams LS, Zorowitz R, on behalf of the American Heart Association Special Writing Group of the Stroke Council, Atherosclerotic Peripheral Vascular Disease Working Group and Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia, and Council on Cardiovascular Nursing. Metrics for measuring quality of care in comprehensive stroke centers: detailed follow-up to Brain Attack Coalition comprehensive stroke center recommendations: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2011;42; 857.
  • Nogueira RG, Jadhav AP, Haussen DC, Bonafe A, Budzik RF, Bhuva P, et. al. Thrombectomy 6 to 24 hours after stroke with a mismatch between deficit and infarct. NEJM. 2018;378(1): 11-21.
  • Penumbra Pivotal Stroke Trial Investigators. The penumbra pivotal stroke trial: safety and effectiveness of a new generation of mechanical devices for clot removal in intracranial large vessel occlusive disease. Stroke. 2009;40:2761-2768.
  • Powers WJ, Derdeyn CP, Biller J, Coffey CS, Jauch EC, Johnston KC, Johnston SC, Khalessi AA, Kidwell CS, Meschia JF, Ovbiagele B, Yavagal DR, on behalf of the American Heart Association Stroke Council. 2015 AHA/ASA focused update of the 2013 guidelines for the early management of patients with acute ischemic stroke regarding endovascular treatment: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2015;46; 3021-3035.
  • Powers WJ, Rabinstein AA, Ackerson T, Adeoye OM, Bambakidis NC, Becker K, Biller J, et al; on behalf of the American Heart Association Stroke Council. 2018 Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Guideline for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2018 Jan;49:e26-e30.
  • Powers WJ, Rabinstein AA, Ackerson T, Adeoye OM, Bambakidis NC, Becker K, Biller J, et al. Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke: 2019 Update to the 2018 Guidelines for the Early Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke. A Guideline for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2019 Dec;50(12):e344-e418.
  • Rha JH, Saver JL. The impact of recanalization on ischemic stroke outcome: a meta-analysis. Stroke.
  • Sacks D, Black CM, Cognard C, Connors JJ III, Frei D, Gupta R, Jovin TG, Kluck B, Meyers PM, Murphy KJ, Ramee S, Rϋfenacht DA, Stallmeyer MJB, Vorwerk D. Multisociety consensus quality improvement guidelines for intraarterial catheter-directed treatment of acute ischemic stroke from the American Society of Neuroradiology, Canadian Interventional Radiology Association, Cardiovascular and interventional Radiological Society of Europe, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society of Interventional Radiology, Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery, European Society of Minimally Invasive Neurological Therapy, and Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2013;24:151-163.
  • Saver JL, Goyal M, Bonafe A, Diener HC, Levy EI, Pereira VM, et. al. Stent-retriever thrombectomy after intravenous t-PA vs. t-PA alone in stroke. NEJM. 2015 Apr: 1-11.
  • Sharma VK, Teoh HL, Wong LYH, Su J, Ong BKC, and Chan BLP. Recanalization therapies in acute ischemic stroke: pharmacological agents, devices, and combinations. Stroke Research and Treatment. 2010.
  • Smith WS, Sung G, Saver J, et. al. Mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke: final results of the Multi MERCI trial. Stroke. 2008;39:1205-1212.
  • Tarr R, Hsu D, Kulcsar Z, et. al. The POST trial: initial post-market experience of the Penumbra system: revascularization of large vessel occlusion in acute ischemic stroke in the United States and Europe. _J Neurointerv Surg. 2010;2:341-344.
  • Turk AS, Frei D, Fiorella D, Mocco J, Baxter B, Siddiqui A, et. al. ADAPT FAST study: a direct aspiration first pass technique for acute stroke thrombectomy. J Neurointerv Surg. 2014 May;694): 260-4.

Measure Algorithm:

Measure Information Form CSTK-09
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Specifications Manual for Joint Commission National Quality Measures (v2021A1)
Discharges 01-01-21 (1Q21) through 06-30-21 (2Q21)

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