An innovative AI-based central decision support system is revolutionizing the care provided to stroke patients in Hungary, thanks to a generous grant from the European Union. The National Institute of Mental Health, Neurology and Neurosurgery (OMIII) utilized the substantial funding of HUF 1.286 billion (EUR 3.3 million) to integrate an AI-powered automatic image evaluation system into patient care.
According to OMIII’s website, acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by cerebral vascular obstruction ranks as the third leading cause of death and the primary cause of long-term disability in developed industrialized societies, including Hungary. Timely circulatory intervention holds the key to preventing or minimizing permanent neurological damage.
Each year, around 27,000 individuals in Hungary are admitted to hospitals with suspected stroke. Shockingly, more than 10,000 people lose their lives due to acute stroke, while survivors often require extended care. Therefore, improving access to urgent treatment and care for acute stroke patients has become of paramount importance.
OMIII proudly stands as one of the top five busiest acute stroke intervention centers in Europe, providing treatment for almost half of Hungary’s stroke patients requiring intervention.
To ensure prompt and accurate therapeutic decisions, OMIII established a central decision support system with EU funding. Dr. Loránd Erőss, the Chief Medical Director at OMIII, highlights the significance of imaging findings, particularly CT scans of the skull, in making the right therapeutic choices. The central evaluation server, powered by AI-based software, swiftly assesses incoming CT scans from participating hospitals. The evaluated outcome is then shared with the sending hospital and the designated institute responsible for the appropriate intervention in the event of pituitary artery blockage.
Notably, processed images are readily available in the institutions’ image archives for the attending physicians to access conveniently on desktop computers and mobile phones, while still preserving anonymity.
OMIII’s comprehensive system, serving 28 hospitals, and a parallel network extended to 10 institutions in Pécs, collectively encompass 38 stroke centers across the country. Remarkably, no other European nation currently boasts a similar nationwide coverage.
Since its implementation in October 2022, the system has been effectively analyzing an average of 6,000 to 8,000 CT scans per month from March 2023. Over the past year, a remarkable 38,060 CT scans from 16,276 patients have undergone AI-based analysis. Impressively, the average image processing time stands at 10 minutes, and the overall processing time has been reduced to a mere 2 minutes. Additionally, the time from the initial ambulance call to the patients’ arrival at the institute has been reduced by 30 minutes within a year.
This groundbreaking AI-based decision support system is set to transform the landscape of stroke patient care in Hungary, ensuring faster and more accurate diagnoses and enhancing treatment outcomes for those in need.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the purpose of the AI-based central decision support system implemented in Hungary?
The purpose of the AI-based central decision support system is to revolutionize the care provided to stroke patients in Hungary. It aims to improve access to urgent treatment and care by integrating an AI-powered automatic image evaluation system into patient care.
2. What is acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and why is it significant?
Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is caused by cerebral vascular obstruction and is the third leading cause of death and the primary cause of long-term disability in developed industrialized societies, including Hungary. Timely circulatory intervention is crucial in preventing or minimizing permanent neurological damage.
3. How many individuals in Hungary are admitted to hospitals with suspected stroke each year?
Around 27,000 individuals in Hungary are admitted to hospitals with suspected stroke each year.
4. How many stroke patients in Hungary require intervention, and how many does OMIII provide treatment for?
Almost half of Hungary’s stroke patients requiring intervention receive treatment at OMIII, making it one of the top five busiest acute stroke intervention centers in Europe.
5. How does the central decision support system assess CT scans?
The central evaluation server, powered by AI-based software, swiftly assesses incoming CT scans from participating hospitals. The evaluated outcome is then shared with the sending hospital and the designated institute responsible for the appropriate intervention in case of pituitary artery blockage.
6. How are processed images made accessible to attending physicians?
Processed images are readily available in the institutions’ image archives, allowing attending physicians to conveniently access them on desktop computers and mobile phones while preserving anonymity.
7. How many hospitals and institutions does OMIII’s comprehensive system serve?
OMIII’s comprehensive system serves 28 hospitals and a parallel network extended to 10 institutions in Pécs, collectively encompassing 38 stroke centers across the country.
8. How many CT scans has the AI-based system analyzed since its implementation?
Since its implementation in October 2022, the system has effectively analyzed an average of 6,000 to 8,000 CT scans per month from March 2023. Over the past year, a total of 38,060 CT scans from 16,276 patients have undergone AI-based analysis.
9. What are the benefits of the groundbreaking AI-based decision support system?
The groundbreaking AI-based decision support system is set to transform stroke patient care in Hungary by ensuring faster and more accurate diagnoses and enhancing treatment outcomes for those in need.
Key Terms/Jargon:
– Acute ischemic stroke (AIS): A type of stroke caused by a blockage in a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain, leading to a lack of blood flow and oxygen.
– CT scans: Computerized tomography scans, which use X-rays and a computer to create detailed images of the inside of the body.
– Pituitary artery blockage: The obstruction of the pituitary artery, a blood vessel in the brain, which can lead to stroke.
Suggested Related Links:
– European Union
– Acute Ischemic Stroke: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment
The source of the article is from the blog lanoticiadigital.com.ar