Lironn Kraler, MD

All Publications

• Feasibility of a blood pressure telemedicine program in the virtual age. Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association Sreekrishnan, A., Lansberg, M., Singer, A. E., Tennant, R. S., Howard, M., Buncom, J., Castillo, M., Rajasekhar, V., Kraler, L. 2024: 108073

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Despite strong evidence for maintaining blood pressure (BP) < 130/80 for secondary stroke prevention, there have been many barriers toward achieving this goal. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of a new physician-led BP telemedicine program on the improvement of BP and medication compliance in stroke survivors.METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients with a history of stroke and hypertension into this BP telemedicine program where participants were paired with a physician for one-on-one counseling. Participants submitted daily recordings of their BP as well as completed surveys assessing the usability of the program (Marshfield Usability Survey) and medication compliance (Morisky Medication Adherence Scale). A repeated measures ANOVA was utilized to examine differences in BP recordings at enrollment, 3 months, and 6 months.RESULTS: Due to an interruption of external funding only 27 patients were ultimately enrolled (4/25/22-10/15/23). There were significant differences over time for both systolic (p = 0.022) and diastolic (p = 0.007) BP, however these differences were seen only between the enrollment and 6-month timepoint in follow-up testing. Participants rated the program highly favorably across multiple categories, commenting on the ease of using the program and feeling confident in the system. There was also an observed reduction in reported barriers to taking medications.CONCLUSION: This pilot program demonstrated the feasibility of managing BP using a telemedicine approach. A minimum of 6 months was required to see significant differences in BP as well as trends toward improvements in medication compliance. These results have an impact in how similar remote programs should be designed for future evaluations of this patient population.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2024.108073

  View details for PubMedID 39393514

• Inpatient Neurology Deaths and Factors Associated With Discharge to Hospice. The Neurohospitalist Dujari, S., Wei, J., Kraler, L., Goyal, T., Bernier, E., Schwartz, N., Hirsch, K., Gold, C. A. 2023; 13 (4): 337-344

  Abstract

  The Neurology Mortality Review Committee at our institution identified variability in location of death for patients on our inpatient neurology services. Hospice may increase the number of patients dying in their preferred locations. This study aimed to characterize patients who die on inpatient neurology services and explore barriers to discharge to hospice.This retrospective study was completed at a single, quaternary care medical center that is a Level I Trauma Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center. Patients discharged by an inpatient neurology service between 6/2019-1/2021 were identified and electronic medical record review was performed on patients who died in the hospital and who were discharged to hospice.69 inpatient deaths and 74 discharges to hospice occurred during the study period. Of the 69 deaths, 54 occurred following withdrawal of life sustaining treatment (WLST), of which 14 had a referral to hospice placed. There were 88 "hospice-referred" patients and 40 "hospice-eligible" patients. Hospice-referred patients were less likely to require the intensive care unit than hospice-eligible patients. Hospice-referred patients had their code status changed to Do Not Intubate earlier and were more likely to have advanced directives available.Our data highlight opportunities for further research to improve discharge to hospice including interhospital transfers, advanced directives, earlier goals of care discussions, palliative care consultations, and increased hospice bed availability. Importantly, it highlights the limitations of using in-hospital mortality as a quality indicator in this patient population.

  View details for DOI 10.1177/19418744231174577

  View details for PubMedID 37701246

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10494814

• Carotid-Cavernous Fistula Treatment in Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of Management. Stroke Wong, G. J., Pendharkar, A. V., Lyman, K. A., Thatikunta, P., Kraler, L. D., Mijalski, C., Liang, D. H., Dodd, R. L. 2023

  View details for DOI 10.1161/STROKEAHA.123.042623

  View details for PubMedID 37226776

• Inpatient Neurology Deaths and Factors Associated With Discharge to Hospice NEUROHOSPITALIST Dujari, S., Wei, J., Kraler, L., Goyal, T., Bernier, E., Schwartz, N., Hirsch, K., Gold, C. A. 2023

  View details for DOI 10.1177/19418744231174577

  View details for Web of Science ID 000983969300001

• Cost-Effectiveness of Cilostazol Added to Aspirin or Clopidogrel for Secondary Prevention After Noncardioembolic Stroke. Journal of the American Heart Association Zhou, L. W., Kraler, L., de Havenon, A., Lansberg, M. G. 2022: e024992

  Abstract

  Background The objective of the study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of cilostazol (a selective phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor) added to aspirin or clopidogrel for secondary stroke prevention in patients with noncardioembolic stroke. Methods and Results A Markov model decision tree was used to examine lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of patients with noncardioembolic stroke treated with either aspirin or clopidogrel or with additional cilostazol 100mg twice daily. Cohorts were followed until all patients died from competing risks or ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis using Monte Carlo simulation was used to model 10000 cohorts of 10000 patients. The addition of cilostazol to aspirin or clopidogrel is strongly cost saving. In all 10000 simulations, the cilostazol strategy resulted in lower health care costs compared with aspirin or clopidogrel alone (mean $13488 cost savings per patient; SD, $8087) and resulted in higher QALYs (mean, 0.585 more QALYs per patient lifetime; SD, 0.290). This result remained robust across a variety of sensitivity analyses, varying cost inputs, and treatment effects. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of $50000/QALY, average net monetary benefit from the addition of cilostazol was $42743 per patient over their lifetime. Conclusions Based on the best available data, the addition of cilostazol to aspirin or clopidogrel for secondary prevention following noncardioembolic stroke results in significantly reduced health care costs and a gain in lifetime QALYs.

  View details for DOI 10.1161/JAHA.121.024992

  View details for PubMedID 35656996

• Cost Effectiveness Of Cilostazol Added To Aspirin Or Plavix For Secondary Stroke Prevention Following Non-cardioembolic Stroke Zhou, L., Kraler, L., Lansberg, M. G. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2022

  View details for DOI 10.1161/str.53.suppl_1.TP81

  View details for Web of Science ID 000788100600367

• Education Research: A novel resident-driven neurology quality improvement curriculum. Neurology Miller-Kuhlmann, R., Kraler, L., Bozinov, N., Frolov, A., Mlynash, M., Gold, C. A., Kvam, K. A. 2020; 94 (3): 137–42

  Abstract

  OBJECTIVE: To describe and assess the effectiveness of a neurology resident quality improvement curriculum focused on development of practical skills and project experience.METHODS: We designed and implemented a quality improvement curriculum composed of (1) a workshop series and (2) monthly resident-led Morbidity, Mortality, & Improvement conferences focused on case analysis and project development. Surveys were administered precurriculum and 18 months postcurriculum to assess the effect on self-assessed confidence with quality improvement skills, attitudes, and project participation. Scholarship in the form of posters, presentations, and manuscripts was tracked during the course of the study.RESULTS: Precurriculum, 83% of neurology residents felt that instruction in quality improvement was important, but most rated their confidence level with various skills as low. Following implementation of the curriculum, residents were significantly more confident in analyzing a patient case (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval) (2.4, 1.9-3.1), proposing system changes (3.1, 2.3-3.9), writing a problem statement (9.9, 6.2-13.5), studying a process (3.1, 2.3-3.8), identifying resources (3.1, 2.3-3.8), identifying appropriate measures (2.5, 1.9-3.0), collaborating with other providers to make improvements (4.9, 3.5-6.4), and making changes in a system (3.1, 2.3-3.8). Project participation increased from the precurriculum baseline (7/18, 39%) to the postcurriculum period (17/22, 77%; p = 0.023). One hundred percent of residents surveyed rated the curriculum positively.CONCLUSIONS: Our multifaceted curriculum was associated with increased resident confidence with quality improvement skills and increased participation in improvement projects. With adequate faculty mentorship, this curriculum represents a novel template for preparing neurology residents for meeting the expectations of improvement in practice and offers scholarship opportunities.

  View details for DOI 10.1212/WNL.0000000000008752

  View details for PubMedID 31959682

• Clinicoradiographic Course of Focal Intracranial Arteriopathy in Young Adults MacLellan, A., Kraler, L., Schwartz, N., Lee, S. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2019

  View details for Web of Science ID 000475965901324

• A Unique Case of Malignant Edema due to Cerebellar Diaschisis Necessitating Decompressive Craniectomy Hurtubise, B., Kraler, L. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2019

  View details for Web of Science ID 000475965903227

• Blood Pressure Elevation and Risk of Moyamoya Syndrome in Patients With Trisomy 21 PEDIATRICS Santoro, J. D., Lee, S., Mlynash, M., Thuy Nguyen, Lazzareschi, D. V., Kraler, L. D., Mayne, E. W., Steinberg, G. K. 2018; 142 (4)

  View details for DOI 10.1542/peds.2018-0840

  View details for Web of Science ID 000449034300026

• Blood Pressure Elevation and Risk of Moyamoya Syndrome in Patients With Trisomy 21. Pediatrics Santoro, J. D., Lee, S., Mlynash, M., Nguyen, T., Lazzareschi, D. V., Kraler, L. D., Mayne, E. W., Steinberg, G. K. 2018

  Abstract

  OBJECTIVES: Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are at risk for the development of moyamoya syndrome (MMS); MMS is often recognized only after a resulting stroke has occurred. Our goal with this study was to determine if elevations in blood pressure (BP) precede acute presentation of MMS in individuals with DS.METHODS: A single-center, retrospective case-control study was performed. Thirty patients with MMS and DS and 116 patients with DS only were identified retrospectively. Three BP recordings were evaluated at set intervals (18-24 months, 12-18 months, and 6-12 months before diagnosis of MMS). These were then compared against control averages from patients with DS only. To assess changes over the time, we used general linear model repeated measures analysis of variance. To identify independent predictors of MMS and DS, we used a multivariable analysis using generalized estimating equations accounting for repeated measures of BP.RESULTS: BP in patients with MMS and DS rose significantly over the 24-month period preceding presentation (34th, 42nd, and 70th percentiles at the 18-24-month, 12-18-month, and 6-12-month periods, respectively). BPs in the patients with both MMS and DS were significantly higher than in the DS-only controls in the 6 to 12 (P < .001) and 12 to 18 months before presentation (P = .016). Higher Suzuki scores, bilateral disease, and posterior circulation involvement were also predictive of BP elevation before presentation.CONCLUSIONS: Elevations in BP may foreshadow presentation of MMS in individuals with DS. This simple, low-cost screening measure may lead to early identification of at-risk patients in the medical home and prevent irreversible neurologic injury.

  View details for PubMedID 30190347

• Variability of Safety Policies Related to Prion Disease Among Top Neurological Institutions Werbaneth, K., Tummalapalli, P., Kraler, L., Gold, C. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2018

  View details for Web of Science ID 000453090805308

• A Quality Improvement Curriculum for Neurology Residents Miller-Kuhlmann, R., Kraler, L., Bozinov, N., Frolov, A., Mlynash, M., Gold, C., Kvam, K. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2018

  View details for Web of Science ID 000453090805218