Cerebrovascular diseases
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2013
ReviewHematoma expansion following acute intracerebral hemorrhage.
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), the most devastating form of stroke, has no specific therapy proven to improve outcome by randomized controlled trial. Location and baseline hematoma volume are strong predictors of mortality, but are nonmodifiable by the time of diagnosis. Expansion of the initial hematoma is a further marker of poor prognosis that may be at least partly preventable. ⋯ Although the biological mechanisms of hematoma expansion remain unclear, accumulating evidence supports a model of ongoing secondary bleeding from ruptured adjacent vessels surrounding the initial bleeding site. Several large clinical trials testing therapies aimed at preventing hematoma expansion are in progress, including aggressive blood pressure reduction, treatment with recombinant factor VIIa guided by CT angiography findings, and surgical intervention for superficial hematomas without intraventricular extension. Hematoma expansion is so far the only marker of outcome that is amenable to treatment and thus a potentially important therapeutic target.
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2013
ReviewStroke-associated pneumonia: major advances and obstacles.
Stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) has been implicated in the morbidity, mortality and increased medical cost after acute ischemic stroke. The annual cost of SAP during hospitalization in the United States approaches USD 459 million. The incidence and prognosis of SAP among intensive care unit (ICU) patients have not been thoroughly investigated. We reviewed the pathophysiology, microbiology, incidence, risk factors, outcomes and prophylaxis of SAP with special attention to ICU studies. ⋯ A unified definition of SAP, strict inclusion criteria, and the presence of a long-term follow-up need to be applied to the future prospective studies to better identify the incidence and prognosis of SAP, especially among ICU patients.
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2013
Review Meta AnalysisApathy secondary to stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Apathy is a disturbance of motivation, frequent in survivors of stroke. Several studies have evaluated the rate of apathy secondary to stroke and risk factors. Different conclusions and contradictory findings have been published. We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of all studies evaluating apathy secondary to stroke to better estimate its rate and risk factors, and explore associations with poorer outcomes. ⋯ Apathy secondary to stroke is a more frequent neuropsychiatric disturbance than depression. Apathetic patients are more frequently and severely depressed and cognitively impaired. A negative impact of apathy secondary to stroke on clinical global outcome cannot be ascribed. Future research should properly address its predictor factors and evaluate the impact of apathy treatment options in stroke patients.
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2013
Review Meta AnalysisUsing aerobic exercise to improve health outcomes and quality of life in stroke: evidence-based exercise prescription recommendations.
Stroke patients often suffer from poor cardiovascular health and deficits in physical, psychosocial and cognitive functioning. Aerobic exercise training may be a viable treatment approach to address these health issues. The objective of this systematic review was to determine the effects of aerobic exercise on various indicators of health, functioning and quality of life in stroke patients. It was hypothesized that the systematic review would reveal compelling support for the effectiveness of aerobic exercise in stroke patients, such that detailed evidence-based exercise prescription recommendations could be derived. ⋯ There is strong evidence that aerobic exercise (40-50% HRR progressing to 60-80%) conducted 20-40 min and 3-5 days per week is beneficial for enhancing aerobic fitness, walking speed and walking endurance in people who have had mild to moderate stroke and are deemed to have low cardiovascular risk with exercise after proper screening assessments (grade A recommendation). The effects of aerobic exercise on other health outcomes require further study.
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2013
Review Meta AnalysisUsing aerobic exercise to improve health outcomes and quality of life in stroke: evidence-based exercise prescription recommendations.
Stroke patients often suffer from poor cardiovascular health and deficits in physical, psychosocial and cognitive functioning. Aerobic exercise training may be a viable treatment approach to address these health issues. The objective of this systematic review was to determine the effects of aerobic exercise on various indicators of health, functioning and quality of life in stroke patients. It was hypothesized that the systematic review would reveal compelling support for the effectiveness of aerobic exercise in stroke patients, such that detailed evidence-based exercise prescription recommendations could be derived. ⋯ There is strong evidence that aerobic exercise (40-50% HRR progressing to 60-80%) conducted 20-40 min and 3-5 days per week is beneficial for enhancing aerobic fitness, walking speed and walking endurance in people who have had mild to moderate stroke and are deemed to have low cardiovascular risk with exercise after proper screening assessments (grade A recommendation). The effects of aerobic exercise on other health outcomes require further study.