Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
-
Comparative Study
Readmission and death after hospitalization for acute ischemic stroke: 5-year follow-up in the medicare population.
Stroke is a leading cause of hospital admission among the elderly. Although studies have examined subsequent vascular outcomes, limited data are available regarding the full burden of hospital readmission after stroke. We sought to determine the rates of hospital readmissions and mortality and the reasons for readmission over a 5-year period after stroke. ⋯ Few stroke patients survive for 5 years without a hospital readmission. Between the acute care setting and readmission to the hospital, a window of opportunity may exist for interventions, beyond prevention of recurrent vascular events alone, to reduce the huge public health burden of poststroke morbidity.
-
Comparative Study
Impairment of cerebral perfusion and infarct patterns attributable to vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a prospective MRI and DSA study.
The objective of this study was to investigate disturbance of perfusion and infarct patterns attributable to cerebral vasospasm (CVS) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). ⋯ CVS after SAH may involve the complete arterial system from the circle of Willis up to the distal vessel segments. Depending on the variable types of collateral flow, location of affected vessels segments as well as the degree of CVS may induce different infarct patterns.
-
The aim of this statement is to present current and comprehensive recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. ⋯ Evidence-based guidelines are presented for the diagnosis of intracerebral hemorrhage, the management of increased arterial blood pressure and intracranial pressure, the treatment of medical complications of intracerebral hemorrhage, and the prevention of recurrent intracerebral hemorrhage. Recent trials of recombinant factor VII to slow initial bleeding are discussed. Recommendations for various surgical approaches for treatment of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage are presented. Finally, withdrawal-of-care and end-of-life issues in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage are examined.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Long-term outcome after angioplasty and stenting for symptomatic vertebral artery stenosis compared with medical treatment in the Carotid And Vertebral Artery Transluminal Angioplasty Study (CAVATAS): a randomized trial.
The long-term outcome of endovascular intervention compared with best medical management of patients with symptomatic vertebral artery stenosis is uncertain. We therefore compared these treatments in a randomized trial with long-term follow-up. ⋯ Patients with vertebral artery stenosis were more likely to have carotid territory stroke and myocardial infarction during follow-up than have recurrent vertebrobasilar stroke. The trial failed to show a benefit of endovascular treatment of vertebral artery stenosis, but the numbers of patients included was small. Larger randomized trials are required to determine whether vertebral artery stenting is justified in patients at higher risk of vertebrobasilar stroke. Treatment of patients with vertebral artery stenosis should focus on global reduction of vascular risk, including prevention of carotid territory stroke and myocardial infarction.