Malignant middle cerebral artery stroke management in developing world-outcome predictors

@#Background & Objectives: Malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke constituting 5% of all strokes carries a high mortality across the world. We aimed to study predictors of malignant MCA stroke outcome, especially decompressive surgery in a developing country scenario. Methods: This was a prospective study design where patients with malignant MCA stroke (defined as imaging-CT/ MRI showing infarct involving >2/3rd MCA territory) admitted within 7 days of illness to SCTIMST, between January 2010 and December 2014 (5 years) were recruited. Clinical and imaging data, surgical details, in hospital complications and discharge outcome were collected. Follow-up data was collected at 3 and 12 months post-stroke. Results: We had 74 patients of malignant MCA territory strokes, 42 operated and 32 non-operated, who were comparable at baseline, except for age and stroke severity. At 3 months, deaths were more among the non-operated group (63% in non-operated vs 23% in operated group, p=0.02), while functional outcome was comparable. At 1 year follow-up, age below 60 years, lower stroke severity at onset and decompressive surgery were found to be independent predictors of good outcome. (p=0.04). Delayed surgery group, albeit small had a better 1 year outcome in comparison to the medical arm. Conclusions: Early functional outcome in the decompression group did not differ from the medically treated patients, other than mortality benefit. However, at 1 year, patients with age<60 years, lower stroke severity and decompressive surgery had a better morbidity and mortality outcome, indicating long term benefit of this life saving procedure in developing country scenario as well.

Maximum Decompressive Hemicraniectomy for Patients with Malignant Hemispheric Infarction

OBJECTIVE: The authors applied maximum external decompression for malignant hemispheric infarction and investigated the functional outcome according to the patient age.METHODS: Twenty-five patients with malignant hemispheric infarction were treated using a hemicraniectomy with maximum external decompression, comprising a larger (>14cm) hemicraniectomy, resection of the temporalis muscle and its fascia, spaciously expansive duraplasty, and approximation of the skin flap. The medical and diagnostic imaging records for the patients were reviewed, and 1-year functional outcome data obtained for the younger group (aged ≤ 60 years) and elderly group (aged > 60 years).RESULTS: The patients (n=25) who underwent maximum surgical decompression revealed a minimal mortality rate (n=2, 8.0%). The patients (n=14) in the younger group all survived with mRS scores of 2 (n=1, 7.1%), 3 (n=7, 50.0%), 4 (n=3, 21.4%), or 5 (n=3, 21.4%). A majority of the younger patients (57.1% with mRS ≤3) lived with functional independence. When the 1-year mRS scores were dichotomized between favorable (mRS ≤3) and unfavorable (mRS ≥4) outcomes, the younger group had significantly more patients with a favorable outcome than the elderly group (57.1% versus 9.1%, p=0.033). In contrast, in the elderly group, most patients showed unfavorable outcomes with the mRS scores of 4 (n=5, 45.5%), 5 (n=3, 27.3%), or 6 (n=2, 18.2%), whereas only one patient showed favorable outcome (mRS 3). A majority of the elderly patients (45.5% with mRS 4) survived with moderately severe disability.CONCLUSION: For malignant hemispheric infarction, a hemicraniectomy with maximum external decompression was found to considerably increase survival with a favorable outcome in functional independence (mRS ≤3) for younger patients aged ≤60 years. It can be optimal surgical treatment for younger patients.

Therapeutic effect of early directional catheterization on malignant middle cerebral artery infarction / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of cuboid stereotactic aspiration of necrotic brain tissue for treating malignant middle cerebral artery infarction in the elderly patients.Methods Sixteen elderly patients with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction were selected from June 2017 to January 2019 in our hospital.Patients were followed up for 6 months to evaluate the efficacy of stereotactic aspiration of necrotic brain tissue using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).Results The 30-day mortality was 18.75％.Among the 16 elderly patients,6 (37.5％) had an mRS score of 3 (defined as moderate disability),6 (37.5％) had an mRS score of 4 (defined as moderate to severe disability),1 (6.25％) had an mRS score of 5 (defined as severe disability),and 3 (18.75％) had an mRS score of 6.The probability of 6-month favorable outcome,defined as an mRS score of ≤ 3,was 37.5％,and the 6-month mortality was 18.75％.Conclusions It is a simple,minimally invasive,effective and safe method to treat malignant middle cerebral artery infarction in the elderly patients with cuboid stereotactic aspiration of necrotic brain tissue,which needs to be confirmed by further randomized controlled studies.

Therapeutic effect of early directional catheterization on malignant middle cerebral artery infarction / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the efficacy and safety of cuboid stereotactic aspiration of necrotic brain tissue for treating malignant middle cerebral artery infarction in the elderly patients.@*Methods@#Sixteen elderly patients with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction were selected from June 2017 to January 2019 in our hospital. Patients were followed up for 6 months to evaluate the efficacy of stereotactic aspiration of necrotic brain tissue using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).@*Results@#The 30-day mortality was 18.75%. Among the 16 elderly patients, 6 (37.5%) had an mRS score of 3 (defined as moderate disability), 6 (37.5%) had an mRS score of 4 (defined as moderate to severe disability), 1 (6.25%) had an mRS score of 5 (defined as severe disability), and 3 (18.75%) had an mRS score of 6. The probability of 6-month favorable outcome, defined as an mRS score of ≤3, was 37.5%, and the 6-month mortality was 18.75%.@*Conclusions@#It is a simple, minimally invasive, effective and safe method to treat malignant middle cerebral artery infarction in the elderly patients with cuboid stereotactic aspiration of necrotic brain tissue, which needs to be confirmed by further randomized controlled studies.

Decompressive Hemicraniectomy Versus Medical Management in Cerebral Venous Thrombosis with Signs of Raised Intracranial Pressure

Background: Mass effect is the major cause of death in cortical venous sinus thrombosis and there is no clear cut the role of decompressive hemicraniectomy. Aims: To study the outcome of patients with large venous infarct and acutely increased intracranial pressure subjected to either conservative treatment or decompressive surgery. Materials & Methods: 20 consecutive patients admitted with moderate to large venous infarct were examined for features of raised intracranial pressure (ICP) . Cranial CT and or MRI and CT venogram or MR venogram and or cerebral DSA were examined for site of Sino venous occlusion. Results: There were 20 patients with 10 each in conservatively and surgically treated group. Cranial CT/MRI head revealed large venous infarct with midline shift and mass effect in all patients. Overall 15 of 16 survivors had good outcome at 3 months without any significant residual deficit irrespective of mode of treatment used. There is no statistical difference between medical and surgical groups in mRS 1 month, 3 months and death with p value 0.651, 0.185 and 0.474 respectively. Conclusion: Patient with large venous infarct with signs of raised intracranial pressure carries good overall outcome with timely care irrespective of conservative or surgical management.

Hemicraniectomia decompresiva en un paciente de 5 años con ataque cerebrovascular isquémico en el territorio de la arteria cerebral media derecha: presentación de caso clínico y revisión de la literatura / Decompressive hemicraniectomy in a 5 year old patient with middle cerebral artery ischemic stroke: case report

El ataque cerebrovascular (ACV) isquémico en la infancia es una entidad poco común que se ha venido incrementando en frecuencia y representa una patología de alto riesgo de eventos adversos en los niños; adicionalmente, es una patología de difícil manejo y con múltiples recurrencias. Los pacientes pediátricos que presentan esta clase de patología y que llegan al servicio de urgencias pediátricas son difíciles para establecer un diagnóstico e instaurar un manejo rápido, ya que esta entidad presenta múltiples diagnósticos diferenciales y por su baja incidencia no se tienen algoritmos claros y terapias rápidas y seguras para contrarrestar el compromiso neurológico severo del paciente. Esto se debe a que existen pocos estudios realizados en ACV pediátrico que describan el manejo médico adecuado o las intervenciones necesarias en esta patología, por lo cual no se tienen pautas claras para contrarrestar el evento agudo. Por lo tanto, se tienen intervenciones como trombectomía y la hemicraniectomia decompresiva, lo que lleva al paciente pediátrico a un riesgo mayor, pero tienen respuesta favorable en la mortalidad, con una recuperación favorable. Presentamos el caso clínico de un paciente pediátrico con ACV de territorio de arteria cerebral media derecha, su diagnóstico y tratamiento definitivo, con revisión de la literatura.

Ischemic stroke (CVA) in childhood is a rare entity that has been increasing in frequency and pathology represents a high risk of adverse events in children, additionally it is a pathology difficult to handle and with multiple recurrences. Pediatric patients with this kind of pathology and reaching the pediatric emergency department are difficult to establish a diagnosis and a fast management, since this entity has multiple differential diagnoses and their low incidence does not have clear algorithms and therapies fast and safe to counteract the severe neurological compromise patient. Because there are few studies in pediatric stroke describing the appropriate medical management or interventions for this disease, for which there are no clear guidelines to counteract the acute event. Therefore, there are interventions such as thrombectomy and decompressive craniectomy, leading to pediatric patients at a higher risk, but they have a favorable response in mortality, with a favorable recovery. We report a case of a pediatric patient with stroke in the territory of the right middle cerebral artery, diagnosis and definitive treatment, with review of the literature.

Decompressive craniectomy in massive cerebral infarction / Craniectomia descompressiva no infarto cerebral extenso

Twenty one patients were submitted to decompressive craniectomy for massive cerebral infarct. Ten patients (47.6 percent) presented a good outcome at the 6 months evaluation, eight had a poor outcome (38 percent) and three died (14.2 percent). There was no outcome statistical difference between surgery before and after 24 hours of ictus, dominant and non-dominant stroke groups. Patients older than 60 years and those who had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)<8 in the pre-surgical exam presented worst outcome at six months (p<0.05). Decompressive craniectomy for space-occupying large hemispheric infarction increases the probability of survival. Age lower than 60 years, GCS >8 at pre-surgical exam and decompressive craniectomy before signs of brain herniation represent the main factors related to a better outcome. Dominant hemispheric infarction does not represent exclusion criteria.

Vinte e um pacientes foram submetidos a craniectomia descompressiva para o tratamento de infarto cerebral extenso. Dez pacientes (47,6 por cento) apresentaram boa evolução em avaliação após 6 meses, 8 apresentaram evolução desfavorável (38 por cento) e 3 faleceram (14,2 por cento). Durante o seguimento, não se evidenciou diferença estatística na evolução entre pacientes operados antes e após 24 horas do ictus, nem entre lesões envolvendo o hemisfério dominante versus não dominante. Pacientes com mais de 60 anos e aqueles com Escala de Coma de Glasgow (ECG)<8 na avaliação pré-operatória apresentaram pior evolução após 6 meses (p<0,05). A craniectomia descompressiva para infartos hemisféricos extensos aumentam a probabilidade de sobrevivência. Idade abaixo de 60 anos e ECG >8 no exame pré-operatório e craniectomia descompressiva antes de sinais de herniação cerebral representam os principais fatores relacionados a uma melhor evolução clínica. Infarto hemisférico envolvendo o hemisfério dominante não representa um critério de exclusão.