Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
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Letter Meta Analysis
Do endothelin-receptor antagonists prevent delayed neurological deficits and poor outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage?: a meta-analysis.
Delayed ischemic neurological deficits (DINDs) contribute to poor outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Endothelin-1 is an important mediator involved in the development of vasospasm. ⋯ Although ETRAs reduce radiographic vasospasm and DINDs, there is currently no evidence that they improve outcomes.
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Both intraventricular fibrinolysis (IVF) and lumbar drainage (LD) may reduce the need for exchange of external ventricular drainage (EVD) and shunt surgery in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage and severe intraventricular hemorrhage. We investigated the feasibility and safety of IVF followed by early LD for the treatment of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus. ⋯ In patients with secondary intraventricular hemorrhage and posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus, the combined treatment approach of IVF and early LD is safe and feasible, avoids EVD exchange, and may markedly reduce the need for shunt surgery.
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Organized inpatient stroke care consists of a multidisciplinary approach aimed at improving stroke outcomes. It is unclear whether elderly individuals benefit from these interventions to the same extent as younger patients. We sought to determine whether the reduction in mortality or institutionalization seen with organized stroke care was similar across all age groups. ⋯ Stroke units and organized inpatient care reduce death or institutionalization with the same magnitude of effect across all age groups.
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Letter Review Meta Analysis
Reliability of the modified Rankin Scale: a systematic review.
A perceived weakness of the modified Rankin Scale is potential for interobserver variability. We undertook a systematic review of modified Rankin Scale reliability studies. ⋯ There remains uncertainty regarding modified Rankin Scale reliability. Interobserver studies closest in design to large-scale clinical trials demonstrate potentially significant interobserver variability.
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Stroke survivors are often described as apathetic. Because apathy may be a barrier to participation in promising therapies, more needs to be learned about apathy symptoms after stroke. The specific objective was to estimate the extent to which apathy changes with time over the first year after stroke and the impact of apathy on recovery. ⋯ Some degree of apathy was prevalent and persistent after stroke and was predicted by older age, poor cognitive status, and low functional status after stroke. Even a minor level of apathy had an important and statistically significant impact on stroke outcomes.