Lakeridge Health introduces CT perfusion stroke imaging at Ajax Pickering and Oshawa hospitals

Lakeridge Health began using a stroke-imaging scan known as CT perfusion with RapidAI on Sept. 28 at Ajax Pickering Hospital and Oshawa Hospital, according to a news release from the hospital system.

The scan is used during emergency stroke assessments and is intended to help clinicians decide on treatment and whether a patient should be transferred to a specialized stroke centre in Toronto, Lakeridge Health said. The organization also said it is the first time this technology has been available in Durham Region.

CT perfusion is a specialized CT scan that shows how blood is flowing through the brain. RapidAI uses artificial intelligence to quickly analyze the images, Lakeridge Health said.

Lakeridge Health said the scan can help doctors identify which areas of the brain may already be damaged and which areas may still be treatable.

The hospital system said it already administers clot-busting medication for acute stroke in appropriate cases. It said the new imaging will be used to help guide that therapy.

For some patients, treatment can involve physically removing a clot using specialized procedures to restore blood flow to the brain, Lakeridge Health said. When specialized treatment is needed, the hospital system said it can use information from the scan to help coordinate transfers to a specialized stroke centre in Toronto.

In the release, Dr. Randy Wax, Lakeridge Health’s chief of staff, said having the scan available at Ajax Pickering and Oshawa hospitals means some care can begin there, while patients can still be connected to specialized stroke centres when needed.

The same release also noted that Lakeridge Health launched the Stryker 4.0 Orthopedic Robotics Platform at Ajax Pickering Hospital in July for joint replacement procedures.