We analyzed data from a major telestroke network in Southeast United States looking at telestroke consults placed between January 2015 and July 2019. Calls made before and after February 2018 were divided into two groups and patient demographics, clinical characteristics and mechanical thrombectomy receipts were compared.

A total of 7,438 patients were studied. Of those, 4956 were before February 2018 and 3392 after.There was no statistical significant difference in age, race, or sex between the two groups. In the post-DAWN and DEFUSE 3 group, the median National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on presentation (3 vs. 4, P<0.001) was lower, had longer symptom-onset to door time (123 vs. 85 min, P<0.001), and was found to have more stroke mimics (41% vs. 35.3%, P<0.001). The number of consults per month was higher in the post-DAWN and DEFUSE 3 group (190 vs. 103, P<0.001), however the rates of mechanical thrombectomy were similar in the two groups (3.9% vs. 3.8%, P=0.849)

Telestroke calls have significantly increased after DAWN and DEFUSE 3 trials, however we found that these calls have not increased the mechanical thrombectomy rates. This finding needs to considered as we move forward given the high demand of telestroke in the present world.