Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
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The use of the conventional temporal bone window for transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCCS) often results in difficulties in obtaining angle-corrected flow velocity measurements of the A2 segment of the anterior cerebral artery, the posterior communicating artery, and the midline venous vasculature because of the unfavorable insonation angle. The same applies to B-mode imaging of the frontal parenchyma. However, transorbital TCCS raises problems with the insonation of the orbital lens. To overcome these drawbacks, we studied the feasibility of frontal bone windows for TCCS examinations. ⋯ The transfrontal bone windows offer new possibilities for TCCS examinations, although the insonation quality is inferior to the conventional temporal bone window in terms of failure of an acoustic window. This can be compensated for by application of an ultrasound contrast-enhancing agent.
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Swallowing dysfunction (dysphagia) is common and disabling after acute stroke, but its impact on long-term prognosis for potential complications and the recovery from swallowing dysfunction remain uncertain. We aimed to prospectively study the prognosis of swallowing function over the first 6 months after acute stroke and to identify the important independent clinical and videofluoroscopic prognostic factors at baseline that are associated with an increased risk of swallowing dysfunction and complications. ⋯ Swallowing function should be assessed in all acute stroke patients because swallowing dysfunction is common, it persists in many patients, and complications frequently arise. The assessment of swallowing function should be both clinical and videofluoroscopic. The clinical and videofluoroscopic features at presentation that are important predictors of subsequent swallowing abnormalities and complications are videofluoroscopic evidence of delayed oral transit, a delayed or absent swallow reflex, and penetration. These findings require validation in other studies.
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In an inner-London teaching hospital, a randomized trial of "conventional" care versus early discharge to community-based therapy found no significant differences in clinical outcomes between patient groups. This report examines the economic consequences of the alternative strategies. ⋯ Overall results of this trial indicate that early discharge to community rehabilitation for stroke is cost-effective. It may provide a means of addressing the predicted increase in need for stroke care within existing hospital capacity.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Glucose potassium insulin infusions in the treatment of acute stroke patients with mild to moderate hyperglycemia: the Glucose Insulin in Stroke Trial (GIST).
Hyperglycemia following acute stroke is strongly associated with subsequent mortality and impaired neurological recovery, but it is unknown whether maintenance of euglycemia in the acute phase improves prognosis. Furthermore, the safety of such intervention is not established. ⋯ GKI infusions can be safely administered to acute stroke patients with mild to moderate hyperglycemia producing a physiological but attenuated glucose response to acute stroke, the effectiveness of which remains to be elucidated.
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Improved recognition of stroke signs and symptoms has paralleled the development of pharmacological strategies that may be examined to reduce stroke mortality and morbidity. Presently, tissue plasminogen activator is the only therapy that significantly improves outcome in acute stroke, with no agent demonstrating a significant reduction in mortality. ⋯ The use of antiplatelet therapy in acute stroke, clinical or experimental, has only recently received attention. It is likely that the use of antiplatelet agents for acute stroke therapy will be less restrictive than that currently seen for thrombolytics. Future studies should include an examination of those agents that have previously demonstrated efficacy in secondary stroke prevention, most notably, aspirin. The recognition that all platelet stimuli share a final common pathway that is dependent on the surface glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (fibrinogen) receptor has resulted in the development of various agents which block this receptor and are currently the focus for clinical trials. The role of nitric oxide in stroke therapy will depend on minimizing the hypotensive side effects of this agent. Stroke models are needed to provide preliminary data on the efficacy of antiplatelet therapy, especially as relates to the interaction of antiplatelet agents with thrombolytics.