ABSTRACT
The knowledge of brain syndromes is essential for stroke physicians and neurologists, particularly those that can be extremely difficult and challenging to diagnose due to the great variability of symptom presentation and yet of clinical significance in terms of potential devastating effect with poor outcome. The diagnosis and understanding of stroke syndromes has improved dramatically over the years with the advent of modern imaging, while the management is similar to general care as recommended by various guidelines in addition to care of such patients on specialized units with facilities for continuous monitoring of vital signs and dedicated stroke therapy. Such critical care can be provided either in the acute stroke unit, the medical intensive care unit or the neurological intensive care unit. There may be no definitive treatment at reversing stroke syndromes, but it is important to identify the signs and symptoms for an early diagnosis to prompt quick treatment, which can prevent further devastating complications following stroke. The aim of this article is to discuss some of the important clinical stroke syndromes encountered in clinical practice and discuss their management.
Subject(s)
Stroke/complications , Stroke/therapy , Alien Limb Phenomenon/complications , Alien Limb Phenomenon/diagnosis , Alien Limb Phenomenon/therapy , Brain Stem Infarctions/complications , Brain Stem Infarctions/diagnosis , Brain Stem Infarctions/therapy , Horner Syndrome/complications , Horner Syndrome/diagnosis , Horner Syndrome/therapy , Humans , Lateral Medullary Syndrome/complications , Lateral Medullary Syndrome/diagnosis , Lateral Medullary Syndrome/therapy , Quadriplegia/complications , Quadriplegia/diagnosis , Quadriplegia/therapy , Stroke/diagnosis , Thalamic Diseases/complications , Thalamic Diseases/diagnosis , Thalamic Diseases/therapyABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to review current treatment options in acute ischemic stroke, focusing on the latest advances in the field of mechanical recanalization. These devices recently made available for endovascular intracranial thrombectomy show great potential in acute stroke treatments. Compelling evidence of their recanalization efficacy comes from current mechanical embolectomy trials. In addition to allowing an extension of the therapeutic time window, mechanical recanalization devices can be used without adjuvant thrombolytic therapy, thus diminishing the intracranial bleeding risk. Therefore, these devices are particularly suitable in patients in whom thrombolytic therapy is contraindicated. IV and IA thrombolysis and bridging therapy are viable options in acute stroke treatment. Mechanical recanalization devices can potentially have a clinically relevant impact in the interventional treatment of stroke, but at the present time, a randomized study would be beneficial.
