ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The majority of patients presenting with an ischemic stroke arrive after the 3-4.5 h time window allowed for intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) administration. Most of the literature on heparin use in acute ischemic stroke does not describe dose-adjusted intravenous unfractionated heparin (IV UFH) without bolus, a common method of administration. This study was designed to test whether an anticoagulation regimen of intravenous dose-adjusted UFH with no bolus, in patients with a contraindication to IV TPA, administered within 24 h of an acute ischemic stroke could be effective and safe. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 273 patients over two consecutive years with acute ischemic stroke, who were outside the window for IV tPA. All patients had imaging studies on admission. The primary outcome measure of the study was to evaluate the safety of dose-adjusted IV UFH use in the setting of acute stroke. We looked at duration of heparin infusion, average partial thromboplastin time (PTT) value, and the incidence of new hemorrhagic events. RESULTS: A total of 273 patients met the inclusion criteria. These patients received heparin infusion within 24 h of symptom onset. The duration of intravenous heparin infusion ranged from 1 to 18 days with a mean of 4 days. Mean PTT value was 72.4. Hemorrhagic complications occurred in 26 patients (9.5%), and included 12 asymptomatic petechial or hemorrhagic conversion (4.3%), 2 symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages (0.7%), 5 gastrointestinal bleeds (2 requiring transfusion and interventions), 2 patients experienced benign hematuria, 4 patients with groin hematomas, and one neck hematoma. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that intravenous dose-adjusted UFH with no bolus can be administered to patients with acute ischemic stroke with relative safety.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Survivors of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are faced with a complicated recovery, which typically includes surgery, prolonged monitoring in the intensive care unit, and treatment focusing on the prevention of complications. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and feasibility of an early mobilization program for patients with aneurysmal SAH. DESIGN: This study was a retrospective analysis. METHODS: Twenty-five patients received early mobilization by a physical therapist or an occupational therapist, or both, which focused on functional training and therapeutic exercise in more progressively upright positions. Participation criteria focused on neurologic and physiologic stability prior to the initiation of early mobilization program sessions. RESULTS: Patients met the criteria for participation in 86.1% of the early mobilization program sessions attempted. Patients did not meet criteria for the following reasons: Lindegaard ratio >3.0 or middle cerebral artery (MCA) mean flow velocity (MFV) >120 cm/s (8.1%), mean arterial pressure (MAP) <80 mm Hg (1.8%), intracranial pressure (ICP) >15 mm Hg (1.8%), unable to open eyes in response to voice (0.9%), respiratory rate >40 breaths/min (0.6%), MAP >110 mm Hg (0.3%), and heart rate <40 bpm (0.3%). Adverse events occurred in 5.9% of early mobilization program sessions for the following reasons: MAP <70 mm Hg (3.1%) or >120 mm Hg (2.4%) and heart rate >130 bpm (0.3%). The 30-day mortality rate for all patients was 0%. Participation in the early mobilization program began a mean of 3.2 days (SD=1.3) after aneurysmal SAH, and patients received an average of 11.4 sessions (SD=4.3). Patients required a mean of 5.4 days (SD=4.2) to participate in out-of-bed activity and a mean of 10.7 days (SD=6.2) to walk ≥15.24 m (50 ft). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that an early mobilization program for patients with aneurysmal SAH is safe and feasible.
