Risk factors independently associated with the maintenance of severe restriction of oral intake and alternative feeding method indication at hospital outcome in patients after acute ischemic stroke

Abstract Background and aims From a clinical point of view, post-stroke patients present difficulties in swallowing management. The purpose of this research was to identify risk factors that were independently related to the maintenance of a severe restriction of oral intake in patients affected by acute ischemic stroke. Methods The authors conducted a prospective observational cohort study of patients with dysphagia post-acute ischemic stroke who were admitted to an Emergency Room (ER). Demographic and clinical data were collected at ER admission. Swallowing data was based on The Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) and was collected at two distinct moments: initial swallowing assessment and at the patient outcome. Patients were divided into two groups according to their FOIS level assigned on the last swallowing assessment (at hospital outcome): G1 with severe restriction of oral intake and indication of feeding tube - patients with FOIS levels 1 to 4; G2 without restriction of food consistencies in oral intake - patients with FOIS levels 5 to 7. Results One hundred and six patients were included in our study. Results of the multivariate logistic regression model for the prediction of maintenance of a severe restriction of oral intake at hospital outcome in patients post-acute ischemic stroke indicated that increasing age (p = 0.006), and dysarthria (p = 0.003) were associated with higher chances of presenting severe restriction of oral intake at hospital outcome. Conclusions Patients with acute ischemic stroke in an Emergency Room may experience non-resolved severe dysphagia, indicating the need to prepare for the care/rehabilitation of these patients.

Decision-making strategies for reperfusion therapies: navigating through stroke trials gaps / Estratégias de decisão para terapias de reperfusão: navegando nas lacunas dos trials de AVC

ABSTRACT Despite there being a robust amount of literature and numerous randomized clinical trials regarding acute ischemic stroke treatment, the trials have not included some frequent controversial situations for which decision-making strategies are an urgent and unmet need in clinical practice. This article tries to summarize the current evidence about some selected situations (mechanical thrombectomy in low ASPECTS, low NIHSS with proximal occlusion, acute basilar occlusion, distal and medium vessel occlusion, among others), make suggestions on how to approach them in clinical practice and show what to expect in acute stroke research in the near future.

RESUMO Apesar de possuir um corpo de literatura robusto e inúmeros ensaios clínicos randomizados sobre o tratamento do AVC isquêmico agudo, os trials não incluíram algumas situações frequentes e controversas para as quais as estratégias de tomada de decisão são uma necessidade urgente na prática clínica. Este artigo tenta resumir as evidências atuais sobre algumas situações selecionadas (trombectomia mecânica em ASPECTS baixo, NIHSS baixo com oclusão proximal, oclusão basilar aguda, oclusão de vaso distal e médio, entre outras), propor sugestões de como abordá-las na prática clínica e mostrar o que esperar na pesquisa de AVC agudo no futuro próximo.