Influencia de los factores pronósticos en la rehabilitación de pacientes geriátricos con ictus isquémico / Influence of prognostic factors in the rehabilitation of geriatric patients with ischemic ictus

RESUMEN Fundamento: la enfermedad cerebrovascular es en la actualidad uno de los problemas de salud más importantes, tanto en países desarrollados como subdesarrollados. Objetivo: valorar el grado de independencia funcional alcanzada en el proceso de rehabilitación en pacientes geriátricos con ictus isquémico según los factores pronósticos presentes. Métodos: se realizó un estudio prospectivo en pacientes geriátricos en la sala de rehabilitación del policlínico Santa Clara de enero de 2017 a diciembre de 2018 con diagnóstico clínico y radiológico de ictus isquémico. El universo de estudio estuvo constituido por 31 pacientes, se identificaron los factores pronósticos y se aplicó el Índice de Barthel al inicio y final de realizar el tratamiento neurorehabilitador. En el análisis estadístico se utilizaron pruebas no paramétricas, independencia basada en la distribución chi cuadrado y para muestras relacionadas, homogeneidad marginal. Resultados: predominaron los pacientes con edad entre los 60 y 69 años del sexo masculino. Los factores pronósticos encontrados en mayor frecuencia fueron la afectación del hemisferio dominante, retracciones osteotendinosas, desarrollo psicológico negativista y la colaboración pasiva. Previo al tratamiento en pacientes con menos de dos factores pronósticos, predominó la dependencia leve y al final se igualan los dependientes leves e independientes, en los pacientes con dos o más factores, al inicio del tratamiento predominaron los dependientes moderados y al final los dependientes leves. Conclusiones: la rehabilitación neurológica mejoró en la independencia de las actividades de la vida diaria de los pacientes geriátricos con ictus isquémico, que se hace más evidente cuando este se asocia a menos de dos factores pronósticos.

ABSTRACT Background: cerebrovascular disease is currently one of the most important health problems, both in developed and underdeveloped countries. Objective: to value the grade of functional independence reached in the rehabilitation process in patient geriatrics with ischemic ictus according to the factors present presage. Methods: a prospective study was carried out in geriatric patients in the rehabilitation room of the Santa Clara Polyclinic from January 2017 to December 2018 with a clinical and radiological diagnosis of ischemic ictus. The study universe was constituted by 31 patients, the prognostic factors were identified and the Barthel Index was applied at the beginning and end of the neuro-rehabilitation treatment. In the statistical analysis, nonparametric tests were used. (Independence based on the Chi square distribution and for related samples, marginal homogeneity). Results: male patients with age between 60 and 69 years of age are predominant. The prognostic factors found most frequently were the involvement of the dominant hemisphere, osteotendinous retractions, negative psychological development and passive collaboration. Prior to treatment, in patients with less than two prognostic factors, mild dependence predominated and in the end mild and independent dependents are equalized; in patients with two or more factors, moderate dependents predominated at the start of treatment and mild dependents at the end. Conclusions: neurological rehabilitation improves independence in the activities of daily life of geriatric patients with ischemic ictus that becomes more evident when this is associated with less than two prognostic factors.

Resultados terapéuticos de la aplicación de acupuntura y craneopuntura en pacientes hemipléjicos por accidente cerebrovascular isquémico / Therapeutic results of the application of acupuncture and craniopuncture in hemiplegic patients due to ischemic stroke

RESUMEN Introducción: las enfermedades cerebrovasculares son afecciones por pérdida funcional transitoria o permanente de una parte del sistema nervioso central, generalmente son de instalación súbita, causadas por: oclusiones arteriales, trombos, émbolos o por rotura de una arteria encefálica. Objetivo: determinar los resultados terapéuticos de la aplicación de la craneopuntura y acupuntura somática en pacientes hemipléjicos con diagnóstico de accidente cerebrovascular isquémico. Métodos: se realizó una investigación cuasi-experimental y prospectiva en el Hospital Universitario Clínico Quirúrgico Cmdte. Manuel Fajardo Rivero, Santa Clara, en el período de octubre 2015 a septiembre 2018. La población estuvo constituida por los pacientes ingresados en los servicios de Medicina Interna y Medicina Tradicional. Se conformaron dos grupos: estudio y control (17 pacientes en cada uno). Se realizó una entrevista médica a los pacientes, se aplicó el índice de Barthel y se confeccionó la historia clínica tradicional. Ambos grupos recibieron tratamiento fisioterapéutico y al grupo estudio se le añadió la craneopuntura y la acupuntura somática. Resultados: predominaron los pacientes del sexo masculino y el grupo etario de 70 a 79 años. La deficiencia de yin del riñón prevaleció en la muestra estudiada; se evidenció un mayor número de pacientes autónomos frágiles en el grupo estudio, en el cual, un 52,9 % presentó una evolución de la capacidad funcional satisfactorio, acompañada de un tiempo terapéutico corto. Conclusiones: los pacientes hemipléjicos por accidente cerebrovascular isquémico tratados con craneopuntura y acupuntura somática, mostraron resultados terapéuticos favorables, en comparación con el grupo que no recibió este tratamiento.

ABSTRACT Introduction: cerebrovascular diseases are affections due to temporary or permanent functional loss of a part of the central nervous system, generally they are of sudden installation and are caused by arterial occlusions, thrombi, emboli or by rupture of an encephalic artery. Objective: to determine therapeutic results of the application of craniopuncture and somatic acupuncture in hemiplegic patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke. Methods: a quasi-experimental and prospective investigation was carried out at ‟Cmdte. Manuel Fajardo Rivero" Clinico-Surgical University Hospital in Santa Clara, from October 2015 to September 2018. The population consisted of patients admitted to the Internal Medicine and Traditional Medicine services. Two groups were formed: study and control (17 patients in each one). A medical interview to the patients was carried out, Barthel Index was applied and a traditional medical record was drawn up. Both groups received physiotherapeutic treatment and craniopuncture and somatic acupuncture were added to the study group. Results: male patients and the age group from 70 to 79 years predominated. Kidney -yin deficiency prevailed in the sample studied; a greater number of frail autonomous patients was evidenced in the study group, in which 52.9% had a satisfactory evolution of functional capacity, accompanied by a short therapeutic time. Conclusions: hemiplegic patients due to ischemic stroke treated with craniopuncture and somatic acupuncture, showed favorable therapeutic results, in comparison with the group that did not receive this treatment.

Herbal Medicine in Ischemic Stroke: Challenges and Prospective / 中国结合医学杂志

Herbal medicines, mainly of plant source, are invaluable source for the discovery of new therapeutic agents for all sorts of human ailments. The complex pathogenesis of stroke and multifactorial effect of herbal medicine and their active constituents may suggest the promising future of natural medicine for stroke treatment. Anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, neuroprotective and vascular protective effect of herbal medicines are believed to be efficacious in stroke treatment. Herbs typically have fewer reported side effects than allopathic medicine, and may be safer to use over longer period of time. Herbal medicines are believed to be more effective for the longstanding health complaints, such as stroke. Several medicinal plants and their active constituents show the promising results in laboratory research. However failure in transformation of laboratory animal research to the clinical trials has created huge challenge for the use of herbal medicine in stroke. Until and unless scientifically comprehensive evidence of the efficacy and safety of herbal medicine in ischemic stroke patients is available, efforts should be made to continue implementing treatment strategies of proven effectiveness. More consideration should be paid to natural compounds that can have extensive therapeutic time windows, perfect pharmacological targets with few side effects. Herbal medicine has excellent prospective for the treatment of ischemic stroke, but a lot of effort should be invested to transform the success of animal research to human use.

Infarct Core Expansion on Computed Tomography before and after Intravenous Thrombolysis

PURPOSE: Infarct core can expand rapidly in acute stroke patients receiving intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV t-PA). We investigated changes in the extent of infarct core during IV t-PA treatment, and explored the associative factors of this infarct core expansion in patients with proximal artery occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included patients who were considered for sequential intra-arterial therapy (IAT) due to occlusion of intracranial proximal artery after IV t-PA. Patients who had a baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography (CT) Score (ASPECTS) ≥6 and who underwent two consecutive CT scans before and shortly after IV t-PA infusion were enrolled. Patients were classified into no, moderate, and marked expansion groups based on decreases in ASPECTS (0–1, 2–3, and ≥4, respectively) on follow-up CT. Collateral status was graded using CT angiography. RESULTS: Of the 104 patients, 16 (15.4%) patients showed moderate and 13 (12.5%) patients showed marked infarct core expansion on follow-up CT scans obtained at 71.1±19.1 min after baseline CT scan. Sixteen (15.4%) patients had an ASPECTS value < 6 on the follow-up CT. None of the patients with marked expansion were independent at 3 months. Univariate analysis and ordinal logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the infarct core expansion was significantly associated with collateral status (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Among patients who were considered for IAT after IV t-PA treatment, one out of every seven patients exhibited marked expansion of infarct core on follow-up CT before IAT. These patients tend to have poor collaterals and poor outcomes despite rescue IAT.

Endovascular Stroke Therapy Focused on Stent Retriever Thrombectomy and Direct Clot Aspiration: Historical Review and Modern Application

Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator had been the only approved treatment for acute ischemic stroke since its approval in 1995. However, the restrictive time window, numerous contraindications, and its low recanalization rate were all limitations of this modality. Under those circumstances, endovascular stroke therapy went through a great evolution during the past two decades of intravenous thrombolysis. The results of the 2013 randomized trials for endovascular stroke therapy were neutral, although they were limited by insufficient imaging screening at enrollment, early-generation devices with less efficacy, and treatment delays. Huge progress was made in 2015, as there were five randomized clinical trials which all demonstrated the safety and efficacy of endovascular stroke treatment. Despite differences in detail patient enrollment criteria, all 5 trials employed key factors for good functional recovery; (1) screening with non-invasive imaging to identify the proximal occlusion and exclude a large infarct core, (2) using highly effective modern thrombectomy devices mainly with stent retriever, and (3) establishment of a fast workflow to achieve effective reperfusion. The results of those trials indicate that modern thrombectomy devices can allow for faster and more effective reperfusion, which can lead to improved clinical outcomes compared to intravenous thrombolysis alone. These advances in mechanical thrombectomy are promising in the global fight against ischemic stroke-related disability and mortality. Two current mainstreams among such mechanical thrombectomy techniques, “stent retriever thrombectomy” and “direct clot aspiration”, are the topic of this review. Stent retriever thrombectomy using Solitaire and Trevo retriever will be firstly discussed. And, the commonalities and the differences between two major clot aspiration thrombectomy techniques; a direct aspiration first pass technique (ADAPT) and forced arterial suction thrombectomy (FAST), will be additionally explained. Finally, details regarding the combination of direct clot aspiration and stent retriever thrombectomy, the switching strategy and the Solumbra technique, will be described.

Factors Associated with Early Hospital Arrival in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke / 대한뇌졸중학회지

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Factors associated with early arrival may vary according to the characteristics of the hospital. We investigated the factors associated with early hospital arrival in two different stroke centers located in Korea and Japan. METHODS: Consecutive patients with ischemic stroke arrived hospital within 48 hours of onset between January 2011 and December 2012 were identified and the clinical and time variables were retrieved from the prospective stroke registries of Severance Hospital of Yonsei University Health System (YUHS; Seoul, Korea) and National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center (NCVC; Osaka, Japan). Subjects were dichotomized into early (time from onset to arrival 4.5 hours) arrival groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate factors associated with early hospital arrival. RESULTS: A total of 1,966 subjects (992 from YUHS; 974 from NCVC) were included in this study. The median time from onset to arrival was 6.1 hours [interquartile range, 1.7-17.8 hours]. In multivariate analysis, the factors associated with early arrival were atrial fibrillation (Odds ratio [OR], 1.505; 95% confidence interval [CI], [1.168-1.939]), higher initial National Institute of Health Stroke Scale scores (OR, 1.037; 95% CI [1.023-1.051]), onset during daytime (OR, 2.799; 95% CI [2.173-3.605]), and transport by an emergency medical service (OR, 2.127; 95% CI [1.700-2.661]). These factors were consistently associated with early arrival in both hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Despite differences between the hospitals, there were common factors related to early arrival. Efforts to identify and modify these factors may promote early hospital arrival and improve stroke outcome.

Mechanical Thrombectomy Using the Solitaire FR system for Occlusion of the Top of the Basilar Artery: Intentional Detachment of the Device after Partial Retrieval / 신경중재치료의학

Acute, distal, basilar artery occlusion is a challenging neurovascular emergency. There have been several reports regarding the successful application of the Solitaire FR device for treating this lesion. However, due to the lack of a suitable, balloon-tipped, guiding catheter for the vertebral artery, during this procedure we frequently experience the occurrence of clot fragmentation and distal migration. There may be some technical solutions to solve this problem. The purpose of this report is to present a technical variation of using the Solitaire FR, and which is referred to as the 'intentional device detachment technique.' As a clot tends to re-embolize during its passage through the tortuous cranio-cervical junction level of the vertebral artery or its passage through the tip of the guiding catheter, due to the lack of proximal flow arrest, we thought that not removing the stent segment of the device which is capturing the clot could avoid this problem. We were able to successfully apply this technique in two cases. We believe that this technique can be a possible technical option for using the Solitaire FR device when a patient has little concern regarding the subsequent use of antiplatelets.

Curitiba acute ischemic stroke protocol: a university hospital and EMS initiative in a large Brazilian city / Protocolo de AVCi agudo em Curitiba: uma iniciativa de um hospital universitário e do SAMU

Few healthcare centers in Brazil perform thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe an interinstitutional protocol for the rapid identification and thrombolytic treatment of AIS patients at a public health hospital in a large Brazilian city. METHOD: Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel evaluated 433 patients with possible stroke during a six-month period. After a standard checklist, patients with suspected AIS and symptoms onset of less than two hours were evaluated at our University Hospital (UH). RESULTS: Sixty-five (15 percent) patients met the checklist criteria and had a symptom onset of less than two hours, but only 50 (11 percent) patients were evaluated at the UH. Among them, 35 (70 percent) patients had ischemic stroke, 10 (20 percent) had hemorrhagic stroke, and 5 (10 percent) had other diagnoses. Of the 35 ischemic stroke patients, 15 (43 percent) underwent IV thrombolysis. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that trained EMS workers could help to improve the rate of thrombolytic treatment in large Brazilian cities. Permanent training programs for EMS and hospital staff, with quality control and correct identification of AIS patients, should be implemented to increase appropriate thrombolytic therapy rates in Brazil.

No Brasil, apenas alguns hospitais realizam terapia trombolítica para o acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico agudo (AVCiA). OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever um protocolo inter-institucional para a rápida identificação e para o tratamento trombolítico de pacientes com AVCiA em hospital público de Curitiba, PR. MÉTODO: O Serviço de Atendimento Médico de Urgência (SAMU) avaliou 433 pacientes com possível AVC durante um período de seis meses. Depois de um check list padrão, os pacientes com suspeita de AVCiA e início dos sintomas inferior a duas horas, foram avaliados no Hospital de Clínicas (HC). RESULTADOS: Sessenta e cinco (15 por cento) pacientes preencheram os critérios propostos, porém apenas 50 pacientes (11 por cento) foram avaliados no HC. Destes, 35 (70 por cento) eram AVC isquêmico (AVCi), 10 (20 por cento) eram hemorrágicos e 5 (10 por cento) tiveram outros diagnósticos. Dos 35 pacientes com AVCi, 15 (43 por cento) foram submetidos a trombólise IV. CONCLUSÃO: O presente estudo demonstrou que o treinamento do SAMU poderia auxiliar na otimização da terapia trombolítica em grandes cidades brasileiras. Programas permanentes de treinamento com controle de qualidade, caracterizados pela correta identificação de pacientes com AVCiA devem ser realizados nos hospitais em parceria com o SAMU para elevar as taxas de tratamento trombolítico no Brasil.

A Clinical Study of Naoxing Nasal Spray for Acute Ischemic Stroke / 中药新药与临床药理

0.05), and Naoxing Nasal Spray can improve blood rheology, increase cerebral blood flow, promote the removal of free radical, reduce lipid peroxidation, correct TXA 2/PGI 2 imbalance and counteract thrombus formation.

Secondary prevention of stroke with antiplatelets - An economics analysis

The burden of stroke therapy has been ameliorated to a great extent with the use of anti-platelet agent for secondary prevention. The cost of health care in general is rising. Economic factors play a significant role in the cost of hospitalization for stroke patients in general and in the choice of anti-platelet agents in particular. The goal of this study is (1) to compare the total costs associated with prescription of anti-platelet drugs, (2) to determine the number-needed-to-treat (NNT) with each of the different anti-platelet drugs in the market: aspirin, dipyridamole, ticlopidine, cilostazol and clipidogrel; and (3) determine the direct cost incurred with the use of each anti-platelet drug. To do this, a cost-minimization analysis of total costs was done. Data were collected from all randomized control trials published evaluating drug treatment vs. placebo. Event rates, absolute risk reduction and NNT were calculated. Cost computation was done from direct medication and additional expenses were included for treatment or monitoring of adverse effects. Transportation and professional fees were excluded. The results of the study showed the following: NNT for ASA: 33; DP: 50; DP-ASA: 17; Ticlopidine: 33; Cilostazol: 17 and Clopidogrel: 100. Direct cost for two years treatment for ASA: Php13,678.90; DP: Php18,615.00, DP-ASA: Php3l,615.00, Ticlopidine: Php77,060.00, Cilostazol: Php64,240.00 and Clopidogrel: Php64,240,00. Total costs to prevent 1 stroke in two years treatment for ASA: Php451,403.70, DP: Php930,750.00, DP-ASA: Php537,455.00, Ticlopidine: Php2,542,980.00, Cilostazol: Phpl,092,080.00 and Clopidogrel: Php6,424,000.00. We conclude that aspirin should be the mainstay of therapy in preventing secondary stroke. (Author)