48457Evaluation of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation as a New Method for Preventing VTE in Acute Stroke PatientsClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKThis project will look at the possibility of creating a new way to treat Acute strokes. Acute stroke is a condition where the blood supply to the brain is disrupted, resulting in damage to the brain and impairment of body function. It is most frequently caused by a clot in a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain. Or , it can also be caused by a burst blood vessel causing a leak into the brain. Stroke can cause permanent damage, including partial paralysis and impairment in speech, comprehension and memory. 15 million people worldwide suffer a stroke each year and 5.8 million people die as a result of it. In the UK approximately 100,000 people a year will suffer a stroke. Acute stroke patients are often bed-bound meaning that they are at risk from Venous thromboembolism (VTE). This a blood clot that starts in a blood vessel in the leg; this clot then breaks free causing a blockage elsewhere in the body. Tor prevent this Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC) is used this inflates cuffs on the lower leg moving blood around and preventing clots from forming. But, because of other conditions the patient may suffer IPC cannot be used. This means that about 30% of patients have no way of preventing VTE available to them. The applicants have developed a patented new method -- the geko(TM) - for preventing VTE. This is a small, battery-powered device that sticks to the back of the knee, where it gently stimulates a nerve causing the muscles in the lower leg to contract and pump blood around the body. It is very comfortable to wear and can be used when IPC cannot. The company has conducted tests on 1,000 patients that has shown that the geko(TM) is as effective or better than IPC and is far more comfortable than IPC. It can also be used in the majority of patients where IPC cannot. Of the 1,000 patients, 463 were treated with IPC and 11 suffered VTE; 203 were treated with geko(TM) and none suffered VTE. However, to prove this beyond doubt we need to test more patients to be able to legitimately make the claim that the geko(TM) is as good or better than IPC and can be used when IPC cannot. We propose to study a further 1,865 patients across four Midlands hospitals to enable us to do this.