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.

Does the side of middle cerebral artery compromise matters in the mortality after thrombolysis in ischemic stroke? / O lado acometido da artéria cerebral média interfere na mortalidade do acidente vascular isquêmico pós trombólise?

The impact of the side in middle cerebral artery (MCA) ischemic stroke is not well established. Our aim was to analyze the differences between right (RMCA) and left middle cerebral artery (LMCA) stroke in patients submitted to intravenous thrombolysis and the influence of the affected side in the patient’s mortality after 3 months. Method Patients with MCA ischemic stroke submitted to intravenous thrombolysis from March 2010 to December 2011 at two Brazilian Stroke Centers were included. Differences between patients with RMCA and LMCA stroke were identified by univariate analysis. Results Forty-five patients with RMCA stroke and 67 with LMCA stroke were analyzed. Patients with LMCA had a higher incidence of atrial fibrillation (p = 0.031), although patients with RMCA more often had a previous ischemic stroke (p = 0.034). The mortality over 3 months was similar for either side (OR = 1.20 ;0.37 - 4.29, p = 0.772). Conclusion The side of the MCA ischemic stroke did not influence the patients mortality. .

O impacto do lado de acometimento da artéria cerebral média (ACM) não é bem estabelecido. Nosso objetivo é analisar as diferenças entre pacientes com acidente vascular isquêmico (AVCi) de ACM direita (ACMD) e esquerda (ACME) submetidos à trombólise endovenosa e a influência do lado acometido na mortalidade em 3 meses. Método Pacientes com AVCi ACMD e ACME submetidos à trombólise endovenosa entre Março de 2010 a Dezembro de 2012 em duas Unidades de AVC brasileiras foram incluídos. Diferenças entre AVCi ACMD e ACME foram identificadas pela análise univariada. Resultados Quarenta e cinco pacientes com AVCi de ACMD e 67 de ACME foram analisados. Pacientes com AVCi de ACME tiveram maior incidência de fibrilação atrial (p = 0,031), enquanto de ACMD maior de AVCi prévio (p = 0,034). A mortalidade em 3 meses foi similar em ambos os grupos (OR = 1,20; 0,37 -4,29, p = 0,772). Conclusão O lado de acometimento da ACM no AVCi não influencia na mortalidade. .

Functional Outcome of Patients with Posterior Circulation Stroke

OBJECTIVE: To compare functional outcome of posterior circulation (PC) stroke with middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke. METHOD: We reviewed retrospectively 2, 226 records of stroke patients admitted to our hospital from June 1992 to October 2001, and selected PC stroke patients as a case with exclusion criteria; the presence of other neurological disease, the history of previous stroke, or multiple brain lesions. Also, we considered MCA stroke patients matched to a case as a control. 28 patients were selected as a case and 24 patients as a control. We compared FIM gains and efficiencies. RESULTS: Self care FIM efficiency (0.56+/-0.45) of PC stroke was higher than that (0.43+/-0.24) of MCA stroke and sphincter FIM efficiency (0.04+/-0.10) of the former was lower than that (0.10+/-0.11) of the latter. But, we couldn't detect any difference in cognitive (0.09+/-0.14 vs. 0.14+/-0.14), motor (1.10+/-0.71 vs. 0.87+/-.51), and total FIM efficiency (1.20+/-0.73 vs. 1.02+/-0.60). CONCLUSION: Our study shows the functional outcome of PC stroke previously reported as controversial or rather poor result is favorable like that of MCA stroke, under active rehabilitation intervention. And so we think that comprehensive rehabilitation management is needed for functional regain even in patients with PC stroke.