An interventional study of Cardiac CT Angiography in Acute Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attacks, sponsored by Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-27.
Sponsored by Ottawa Hospital Research Institute · Not applicable, Interventional, and Diagnostic
Stroke can occur when a blood clot travels to the brain and blocks blood flow. In some patients, these blood clots may originate in the heart. Standard emergency stroke imaging typically includes a CT scan of the head and CT angiography (CTA) of the head and neck, but does not routinely include imaging of the heart.
This study will evaluate whether cardiac CT angiography (CTA) can be safely added to the standard acute stroke imaging workflow without delaying urgent stroke care. Participants with suspected acute ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack (TIA) will undergo either prospective ECG-gated cardiac CTA or non-ECG-gated cardiac CTA during their acute stroke imaging examination.
The primary goal of the study is to assess the feasibility of integrating cardiac CTA into routine stroke imaging by evaluating workflow impact, image quality, radiation exposure, contrast use, and protocol completion. Findings from this study may help improve the identification of cardiac sources of stroke and inform the design of future larger studies.
Acute ischemic stroke may result from thromboembolic material originating from the heart or thoracic aorta. Current emergency stroke imaging protocols routinely include non-contrast head CT and CT angiography (CTA) of the head and neck but do not routinely include dedicated cardiac imaging during the hyperacute phase of stroke assessment.
Cardiac CT angiography (CTA) has emerged as a promising non-invasive method for identifying potential cardioembolic sources, including left atrial appendage thrombus, left ventricular thrombus, and aortic atherosclerotic disease. Earlier identification of these findings may improve diagnostic evaluation and facilitate future treatment planning.
SCOPE-CT is a prospective, single-centre feasibility pilot study evaluating the integration of cardiac CTA into the acute stroke imaging workflow at The Ottawa Hospital. Approximately 50 participants with suspected acute ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack (TIA) will undergo either prospective ECG-triggered cardiac CTA or non-ECG-gated cardiac CTA in addition to standard stroke imaging.
The primary objective is to determine whether cardiac CTA can be incorporated into the hyperacute stroke imaging pathway without clinically meaningful disruption of workflow. Secondary objectives include assessment of image quality, protocol completion rates, radiation dose, contrast utilization, workflow impact, and detection of potential cardioembolic sources.
The results of this pilot study will be used to inform protocol optimization and the design of future larger studies evaluating the role of cardiac CTA in acute stroke assessment.
2,612 studies on the registry are indexed under Ischemic Stroke; 971 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 50 is below the median of 120 across 1,776 interventional studies indexed under Ischemic Stroke.
Browse Ischemic Stroke studies →Ottawa Hospital Research Institute is the lead sponsor of 547 studies on the registry; 99 are open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A “mini-stroke”: temporary stroke-like symptoms caused by reduced blood flow to part of the brain, spinal cord or eye, without signs of a new stroke on a scan.
Stroke symptoms need emergency care at once, even if they go away.
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
TIA (transient ischaemic attack)
A “mini-stroke”: temporary stroke-like symptoms caused by reduced blood flow to part of the brain, spinal cord or eye, without signs of a new stroke on a scan.
Stroke symptoms need emergency care at once, even if they go away.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Clinically significant
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants undergo prospective ECG-gated cardiac CT angiography (CTA) during acute stroke imaging to evaluate potential cardiac and aortic sources of embolism and assess feasibility within the acute stroke workflow.
Diagnostic Test: Cardiac CT Angiography
Participants undergo non-ECG-gated cardiac CT angiography (CTA) during acute stroke imaging. This imaging approach extends the standard stroke CTA acquisition to include the heart and thoracic aorta without ECG synchronization. The study will evaluate the feasibility, image quality, workflow impact, radiation exposure, and diagnostic performance of this approach within the acute stroke workflow.
Diagnostic Test: Cardiac CT Angiography
Cardiac CT angiography performed during acute stroke imaging using prospective ECG triggering to synchronize image acquisition with the cardiac cycle. This approach is intended to improve visualization of cardiac structures, including the left atrial appendage and left ventricle, while minimizing radiation exposure. The study will evaluate the feasibility of integrating this imaging protocol into the acute stroke workflow. Cardiac CT angiography performed during acute stroke imaging without ECG synchronization. This approach extends the standard stroke CT angiography acquisition to include the heart and thoracic aorta with minimal additional imaging time. The study will evaluate the feasibility, image quality, workflow impact, and diagnostic performance of this imaging protocol within the acute stroke workflow.
Feasibility of Integrating Cardiac CT Angiography Into the Acute Stroke Imaging Workflow
Feasibility will be assessed by successful completion of the cardiac CT angiography protocol and its integration into the acute stroke imaging workflow without clinically meaningful disruption to patient care.
Time frame: During the acute stroke imaging encounter (Day 1)
Additional Scanner/Table Time
Additional scanner/table time associated with the cardiac CT angiography acquisition compared with the standard acute stroke imaging workflow.
Time frame: Day 1
Assessment of diagnostic image quality for cardiac CT angiography acquisitions.
Diagnostic image quality of cardiac CT angiography (CTA) acquisitions will be assessed by study investigators and radiologists to determine whether the images are of sufficient quality for evaluation of potential cardiac and aortic sources of embolism. Image quality assessments will include the presence of motion artifact, visualization of relevant cardiac structures, and overall diagnostic interpretability.
Time frame: During the imaging procedure (Day 1)
Plan to share: No — Individual participant data will not be shared outside the study team. Data will be stored and managed in accordance with institutional privacy and confidentiality requirements.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
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