Chennai hospitals deploy AI scans for faster stroke detection

It has reduced the scan-to-interpretation time to just 7 minutes from about 30, Apollo Hospitals said.

Hospitals in Chennai, India, are deploying artificial intelligence (AI)-powered scan systems that can detect possible stroke symptoms to radiologists within seven minutes, Apollo Hospitals said.

AI scans now generate a severity score that computes stroke intensity and helps doctors initiate quicker diagnoses, it added.

Doctors can perform intravenous thrombolysis within four and a half hours or mechanical thrombectomy within six and a half hours.

AI scans have made the scan-to-interpretation time to just about seven minutes from about 30, said Dr. Ilankumaran Kaliamoorthy, CEO of Apollo Hospitals, Chennai region.

Diagnostic speed is crucial because with stroke, each lost minute destroys 12km of nerve fibre, said Apollo neuro-endovascular surgeon Dr. Srinivasan Paramasivan.

Whilst AI improves precision and turnaround, its added costs need to be carefully weighed, especially in hospitals in large urban centres with specialist staff, said Dr. C. Amarnath, Head of Radiology at Government Stanley Hospital.