Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect on cerebral vasospasm of coil embolization followed by microcatheter intrathecal urokinase infusion into the cisterna magna: a prospective randomized study.
Vasospasm remains the leading cause of death and permanent neurological disability in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The objective of our prospective randomized trial of coil embolization followed by intrathecal urokinase infusion into the cisterna magna (ITUKI therapy) was to test its effectiveness in preventing or alleviating the severity of ischemic neurological deficits caused by vasospasm. ⋯ Our results demonstrate that ITUKI therapy significantly reduced the occurrence of symptomatic vasospasm. Although it did not completely prevent vasospasms, ITUKI therapy resulted in a lower rate of permanent neurological deficits.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Stroke unit care combined with early supported discharge: long-term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.
Early supported discharge from a stroke unit reduces the length of hospital stay. Evidence of a benefit for the patients is still unknown. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the long-term effects of an extended stroke unit service (ESUS), characterized by early supported discharge. The short-term effects were published previously. ⋯ Stroke service based on treatment in a stroke unit combined with early supported discharge appears to improve the long-term clinical outcome compared with ordinary stroke unit care. Patients with moderate to severe stroke benefit most.