The power of artificial intelligence in stroke emergency care.

People's Hospital 115 is the facility that receives the most stroke patients in the country, with approximately 20,000 cases per year. Not only has it achieved international certifications in stroke treatment, but the hospital also constantly updates itself with the latest medical advancements worldwide to bring better lives to its patients.

Associate Professor, Doctor Nguyen Huy Thang, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Stroke Association, Vice President of the Vietnam Stroke Association, Head of the Department of Cerebrovascular Pathology, People's Hospital 115.

At People's Hospital 115, a significant breakthrough in stroke treatment has been recorded thanks to the application of artificial intelligence – the RAPID software. RAPID is a modern tool that helps doctors "open the golden window" in stroke emergency care.

The RAPID software analyzes CT or MRI images to identify damaged brain areas and areas where survival is still possible within 30 seconds to 2 minutes. This allows doctors to make quick and accurate decisions. In 2018, RAPID was approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) for use in the United States. Just one year later, People's Hospital 115 became the first institution in Vietnam to apply RAPID to recommend thrombectomy for stroke patients arriving after 6 hours.

This decision has opened up opportunities for survival and recovery for thousands of acute stroke patients. Previously, if stroke patients arrived at the hospital more than 6 hours after symptoms appeared, the chances of treatment were almost nonexistent. Now, the treatment window has been extended to 24 hours!

The first case using RAPID at People's Hospital 115 was Mr. HGT (born in 1963), who suffered a cerebral infarction and was admitted to the hospital 12 hours and 42 minutes later. Based on cranial CT scan and MRI, the RAPID software quantified the infarct area as 33ml, with the area requiring treatment being 103ml. Based on this analysis, the doctors prescribed mechanical thrombectomy. The results were spectacular; Mr. T. recovered well after 3 months, escaping the risk of disability or becoming a burden to his family. To date, RAPID has been applied to over 5,000 cases at the hospital, with 56% of patients meeting the intervention criteria and nearly 50% recovering well.

“The hospital is pioneering research to extend the window for cerebral vascular intervention up to 72 hours. Besides its significance in stroke emergency care, RAPID is also a foundation that will help Vietnam advance in the era of smart healthcare , international integration, and affirm the position of the Vietnamese healthcare sector,” shared Dr. Tran Van Song, Director of People's Hospital 115.

TRONG NGUYEN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/suc-manh-cua-tri-tue-nhan-tao-trong-cap-cuu-dot-quy-post792722.html