ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy ofXing Nao Kai Qiao (brain-awakening and orifice-opening) needling plus thunder-fire moxibustion in treating vertebrobasilar ischemia.Method Fifty-five patients with vertebrobasilar ischemia were randomized into a treatment group of 26 cases and a control group of 29 cases. The treatment group was intervened byXing Nao Kai Qiao needling plus thunder-fire moxibustion, while the control group was by oral administration ofYangxue Qingnao granules. The blood flow of vertebrobasilar arteries were observed by using ultrasonic Doppler blood-flow detector before and after intervention, and the clinical efficacies were compared between the two groups.Result The recovery and markedly-effective rate and total effective rate were respectively 61.5% and 96.2% in the treatment group, versus 34.5% and 89.7% in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01,P<0.05). The VS and VD of vertebral arteries and VS of basilar arteries were significantly changed after intervention in the treatment group (P<0.05). The VS of basilar arteries was significantly changed after intervention in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, The VS of vertebral and basilar arteries in the treatment group was significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05).ConclusionXing Nao Kai Qiao needling plus thunder-fire moxibustion is an effective approach in treating vertebrobasilar ischemia.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) compared with In?tra-arterial Thrombolysis (IAT) treatment in patients with severe acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by large cerebral ar?tery occlusion. Method The patients with AIS caused by large cerebral artery occlusion and underwent MT or IAT from 2005 May to 2014 May was included. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the onset to emergency(OTE)time, emergency to acupuncture(ETA)time, acupuncture to recanalization (ATR) time, stroke severity as measured by the Na?tional Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and site of arterial occlusion on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). A comparison was made between MT and IAT patients in rates of recanalization, symptomatic intracranial bleed?ing (SIB), mortality, and functional outcome. Three-month favourable outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score≤2. Result One hundred and two AIS patients were treated with MT and 50 with IAT. There was no differ?ence between MT and IAT groups with regard to demographics, onset NIHSS score (13.37±6.95 vs. 12.70±6.11;P=0.572) and discharge NIHSS score (8.40 ± 6.69 vs. 7.53 ± 7.28, P= 0.522) and the change of NIHSS score (3.87 ± 7.14 vs. 4.26 ± 5.42, P=0.766). There were significantly differences between MT and IAT groups in the OTE time (Median 300 min vs. 120 min,Z=-5.704,P=0.000) , ATR time (Median 30 min vs. 65 min,Z=-5.011,P=0.001) ,recanalization (91.2%vs. 60.0%,P =0.01),the rate of AIB(21.7% vs. 36.0%,P =0.046),3-month mortality (16.6% vs. 26.0%,P =0.043). The above parameters were better in MT group than in the IAT group. There were no significant differences between MT and IAT groups in the rate of SIB (12% vs. 16%,P =0.055), the NIHSS change(Median 3 vs. 4,Z =-0.236,P =0.823) and mRS score on 90d ( 48.2%vs. 46.0%, P=0.823). MT patients had significantly higher percentages of stent use (22.5%vs. 8%,P=0.018) . The Recanalization for ICA(81.8%vs. 55.6%,P=0.048),BA(93.1%vs. 55.6%,P=0.032)and MCA( 97.5% vs. 60.0%,P =0.026)was higher in MT group than in IAT group .The SIB rate for ICA(13.8% vs. 33.3%,P =0.000),BA(13.8%vs. 33.3%,P=0.000)was lower in MT group than in IAT group . The mortality rate of was significant?ly lower in MT than in IAT group for MCA (2.5%vs. 20.0%,P=0.000) . the good outcome rate for BA was higher in MT group than in IAT group(41.3%vs. 22.2%,P﹤0.01). Conclusions Compared to IAT,MT can provide broader time win?dow,higher recanalization rate and better outcome in patients with severe acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by large ce?rebral artery occlusion.