Sleep
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Continuous positive airway pressure: evaluation of a novel therapy for patients with acute ischemic stroke.
New approaches are needed to treat patients with stroke. Among acute ischemic stroke patients, our primary objectives were to describe the prevalence of sleep apnea and demonstrate the feasibility of providing auto-titrating continuous positive airway pressure (auto-CPAP). A secondary objective was to examine the effect of auto-CPAP on stroke severity. ⋯ The majority of acute stroke patients had sleep apnea. Auto-CPAP was well tolerated, appears to improve neurological recovery from stroke, and may represent a new therapeutic approach for selected patients with acute cerebral infarction.