Thrombolyse de l'accident vasculaire cérébral ischémique aigu: rôles du praticien et de l'hôpital périphérique [Thrombolysis of acute ischemic cerebral vascular accident: roles of the physician and the peripheral hospital]

Thrombolysis administered intravenously within 3 hours (or within 6 hours intra-arterially) after symptoms onset improves the functional outcome of acute ischemic stroke patients. In Switzerland this treatment is only performed by specialized centers. At the level of a community hospital or a general practitioner, the management is based on the appropriate selection of patients in whom thrombolysis could be indicated, followed by their immediate transfer to a reference medical center. Because of the very short therapeutic window, specific criteria have to be used. We present the guidelines of Les Cadolles Hospital in Neuchâtel established in collaboration with the Department of Neurology of the University Hospital of Lausanne and a retrospective analysis of emergency admissions for suspected stroke at Les Cadolles between January 1st 2001 and December 31st 2002.

Acidente Vascular Cerebral Hemorrágico Associado ao Consumo de Cocaína

Os autores apresentam o caso clínico de um homem de 37 anos, fumador de cocaína, que foi admitido no serviço por acidente vascular cerebral hemorrágico. Faz-se a discussão dos diagnósticos diferenciais e uma referência aos tipos, formas de administração, metabolismo, características clínicas e toxicidade da cocaína.

Desempenho motor de pacientes com acidente vascular cerebral em um jogo baseado em realidade virtual

The Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) is the leading cause of motor disability in adults and elderly and that is why it still needs effective interventions that contribute to motor recovery. Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate the performance of stroke patients in chronic stage using a virtual reality game. Method: 20 patients (10 with injury to the left and 10 to the right side), right-handed, average age 50.6 ± 9.2 years, and 20 healthy subjects with average age of 50.9 ± 8.8, also right-handed participated. The patients had a motor (Fugl-Meyer) and muscle tone assessment (Ashworth). All participants made a kinematic evaluation of the drinking water activity and then underwent training with the table tennis game on XBOX 360 Kinect®, 2 sets of 10 attempts for 45 seconds, 15 minutes rest between sets, giving a total of 30 minutes session. After training the subjects underwent another kinematic evaluation. The patients trained with the right and left hemiparect upper limb and the healthy ones with the right and left upper limb. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, t Student test and Pearson correlation. Results: There was significant difference in the number of hits between the patients and healthy groups, in which patients had a lower performance in all the attempts (p = 0.008), this performance was related to a higher level of spasticity (r = - 0.44, p = 0.04) and greater motor impairment (r = 0.59, p = 0.001). After training, patients with left hemiparesis had improved shoulder and elbow angles during the activity of drinking water, approaching the pattern of motion of the left arm of healthy subjects (p < 0.05), especially when returning the glass to the table, and patients with right hemiparesis did not obtain improved pattern of movement (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The stroke patients improved their performance over the game attempts, however, only patients with left hemiparesis were able to increase the angle of the shoulder and elbow during the functional activity execution, better responding to virtual reality game, which should be taken into consideration in motor rehabilitation

Controle circadiano e homeostático do sono-virgília em pacientes com acidente vascular encefálico e correlações com a qualidade de vida e o nível de atividade física

The cerebral vascular accident is a neurological dysfunction of vascular origin that leds to development of motor sensibility, cognitive, perceptive and language deficits. Despite the fact that the main sleep disorders in stroke patients are well known, it is still necessary to analyze which mechanisms of regulation of sleep and wakefulness are affected. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in the circadian and homeostatic control of sleep-wakefulness in stroke patients and the correlations with quality of life and level of physical activity. The study analyzed 22 stroke patients (55± 12 years old) and 24 healthy subjects (57 ±11 years old). The instruments used in this study were questionnaires on sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, quality of life, physical activity level and the actigraphy. The data were analyzed using the Student `t test, Mann-Whitney test, ANOVA and Spearman's correlation tests. The results showed stability in the sleep-wake circadian expression with changes in the amplitude of the rhythm. However, significant changes were found related to the homeostatic component characterized by increased sleep duration, increased latency, fragmented sleep and lower sleep efficiency. Additional data showed decreased quality of sleep and increased daytime sleepiness, as well as decreased quality of life and level of physical activity. The results indicate that the interaction of circadian and homeostatic control of sleep-wake is compromised and the main reason might be because of the homeostatic component and the lower activity level resulting from the brain damage. Thus, further studies may be developed to evaluate whether behavioral interventions such as increased daytime activity and restriction of sleep during the day can influence the homeostatic process and its relation to circadian component, resulting in improved quality of nocturnal sleep in stroke patients

Negligência unilateral pós-acidente vascular encefálico: atuação da Terapia Ocupacional

Unilateral Neglect Syndrome is one of the consequences of cerebral vascular accident (CVA) generally following right parietal lobe lesion, leading to the impairment of perceptive visual, spatial and attention functions. The patient affected does not realize the environmental stimuli on the contralesional hemibody. Occupational therapy plays an important role in caring for this patient, seeking the recovery of perception, attention and social engagement. This study aimed to describe and evaluate the results of occupational therapy intervention and treatment in a single Unilateral Neglect Syndrome post CVA patient. Data were obtained from a survey of the patient’s medical records and interviews of his therapist and caretaker. The analysis of the patient’s medical records and his therapist’s report showed that the patient responded satisfactorily to treatment, presenting a decrease of the left unilateral neglect at the end of the study period. The favorable outcome of the patient outlined the relevance of evaluating the effects of Occupational Therapy interventions for clinical unilateral neglect syndrome.

Safety and efficacy of low anterior en bloc resection as part of cytoreductive surgery for patients with ovarian cancer

Objective. To examine the feasibility and safety of a low anterior resection of the rectosigmoid plus adjacent pelvic tumour as part of primary cytoreduction for ovarian cancer. Methods. This study included 65 consecutive patients with primary ovarian cancer who had debulking surgery from 1996 through 2000. All patients underwent an en bloc resection of ovarian cancer and a rectosigmoid resection followed by an end-to-end anastomosis. Parameters for safety and efficacy were considered as primary statistical endpoints for the aim of this analysis. Results. Postoperative residual tumour was nil, 1 cm in 14, 34, and 14 patients, respectively. The median postoperative hospital stay was 11 days (range, 6 to 50 days). Intraoperative complications included an injury to the urinary bladder in one patient. Postoperative complications included wound complications (n=14, 21.5%), septicemia (n=9, 13.8%), cardiac complications (n=7, 10.8%), thromboembolic complications (n=5, 7.7%) ileus (n=2, 3.1%) anastomotic leak (n=2, 3.1%) and fistula (n=1, 1.5%). Reasons for a reoperation during the same admission included repair of an anastomotic leak (n=1), postoperative hemorrhage (n=1), and wound debridement (n=1). Wound complications, septicemia, and anastomotic leak formation were more frequent in patients who had a serum albumin level of less than or equal to 30 g/L preoperatively. There was one surgically related mortality in a patient who died from a cerebral vascular accident 2 days postoperatively. Conclusions. An en bloc resection as part of primary cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer is effective and its morbidity is acceptably low. (C) 2001 Academic Press.

Hemorheological and Glycemic Parameters and HDL Cholesterol for the Prediction of Cardiovascular Events

Abstract Background: Hemorheological and glycemic parameters and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are used as biomarkers of atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Objective: To investigate the association and clinical relevance of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), fibrinogen, fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and HDL cholesterol in the prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and coronary heart disease (CHD) in an outpatient population. Methods: 708 stable patients who visited the outpatient department were enrolled and followed for a mean period of 28.5 months. Patients were divided into two groups, patients without MACE and patients with MACE, which included cardiac death, acute myocardial infarction, newly diagnosed CHD, and cerebral vascular accident. We compared hemorheological and glycemic parameters and lipid profiles between the groups. Results: Patients with MACE had significantly higher ESR, fibrinogen, fasting glucose, and HbA1c, while lower HDL cholesterol compared with patients without MACE. High ESR and fibrinogen and low HDL cholesterol significantly increased the risk of MACE in multivariate regression analysis. In patients with MACE, high fibrinogen and HbA1c levels increased the risk of multivessel CHD. Furthermore, ESR and fibrinogen were significantly positively correlated with HbA1c and negatively correlated with HDL cholesterol, however not correlated with fasting glucose. Conclusion: Hemorheological abnormalities, poor glycemic control, and low HDL cholesterol are correlated with each other and could serve as simple and useful surrogate markers and predictors for MACE and CHD in outpatients.

Diminution de la performance motrice du membre ipsilatéral au site de l’accident vasculaire cérébral lors de tâches bilatérales

Suite à un accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC), des déficits au membre controlatéral et ipsilatéral à la lésion cérébrale sont observés chez les personnes avec un AVC. La performance du membre ipsilatéral est déterminée par l’importance de la sévérité clinique du membre controlatéral ainsi que par l’adéquation du traitement bihémisphérique des informations sensori-motrices. L’objectif de la présente étude est de comparer la performance motrice de la main ipsilatérale lors de diverses tâches nécessitant un niveau plus ou moins complexe de traitement de l’information chez une clientèle hémiplégique ayant une faible sévérité clinique. Les résultats démontrent que les forces de pinces entre le pouce et l’index du membre ipsilatéral sont modulées et anticipées adéquatement chez les personnes avec un AVC ayant une faible sévérité clinique tel que démontré par des scores de cinq ou plus au Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment (modules bras et main). La performance motrice du membre ipsilatéral lors de l’exécution d’une tâche de coordination bilatérale est comparable à celle du membre dominant des sujets sains lorsque la tâche est réalisée sans interaction entre les membres supérieurs (deux objets) et elle est perturbée lorsqu’elle implique une action coordonnée et réciproque des membres supérieurs sur un même objet. Ces personnes, ayant une bonne récupération motrice, ont donc une problématique centrale d’intégration et de traitement de l’information sensori-motrice lorsqu’il y a une complexification de la tâche à réaliser. Ces résultats suggèrent donc que les cliniciens devraient porter une attention plus particulière aux activités unilatérales et de coordination bilatérales lors le l’exécution de tâches complexes nécessitant un niveau d’intégration sensori-motrice élevé.

Fatores de risco para morte em pacientes diabéticos e não diabéticos em tratamento hemodialítico

A mortalidade dos pacientes diabéticos, quando iniciam tratamento hemodialítico, ainda é muito elevada, significativamente maior do que a dos pacientes não diabéticos. As doenças cardíacas são a principal causa de morte nestes pacientes. O diabetes, por si só, está associado a uma alta prevalência de hipertensão, doença cardiovascular e insuficiência cardíaca, resultando em morbi-mortalidade significativas. Tradicionalmente, a mortalidade tem sido associada à cardiopatia isquêmica. A mortalidade cardiovascular, entretanto, não está relacionada apenas à isquemia, mas também à insuficiência cardíaca e à morte súbita. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o papel da doença cardiovascular como fator prognóstico para a morte de pacientes diabéticos e não diabéticos, que iniciam hemodiálise, levando em consideração outros fatores. Este foi um estudo prospectivo de uma coorte de 40 pacientes diabéticos e 28 não diabéticos, que iniciaram programa de hemodiálise, de agosto de 1996 a junho de 1999, em 5 hospitais de Porto Alegre, Brasil. O tempo total de acompanhamento foi de 4,25 anos. A avaliação inicial, realizada entre o 20 e o 30 mês de hemodiálise, incluiu: um questionário com características demográficas, história do diabetes e suas complicações, história de hipertensão e acidente vascular cerebral; o exame físico incluindo avaliação nutricional e exame oftalmológico; e avaliação laboratorial com medidas de parâmetros nutricionais, bioquímicos, hormonais, perfil lipídico, e controle metabólico do diabetes, além da avaliação da adequação da diálise. Para a avaliação cardiovascular foram utilizados: questionário Rose, ECG em repouso, cintilografia em repouso e sob dipiridamol, e ecocardiograma bi-dimensional e com Doppler. A mortalidade foi analisada ao final dos 51 meses, e as causas de morte, definidas pelos registros médicos, atestados de óbito ou informações do médico assistente ou familiar. Na análise estatística, foram empregados o teste t de Student, o qui-quadrado (χ2) ou teste exato de Fisher. Para a análise da sobrevida, o método de Kaplan-Meier foi utilizado, e, para identificar os principais fatores associados à mortalidade, construiu-se um modelo de regressão múltipla de Cox. O nÍvel de significância adotado foi de 5%. Ao final do estudo, os pacientes diabéticos tiveram um índice de mortalidade significativamente mais elevado do que os pacientes sem diabetes (47,5% vs. 7,1%; P=0,0013, log rank test). Na análise de Cox, o padrão pseudonormal ou restritivo de disfunção diastólica esteve associado a um risco de 3,2 (IC 95%:1,2-8,8; P=0,02), e a presença de diabetes, a um risco de 4,7 (IC 95%:1,03-21,4; P=0,04) para a morte. Concluiu-se que a disfunção diastólica do ventrículo esquerdo foi o principal preditor de mortalidade nesta coorte de pacientes que estão iniciando tratamento hemodialítico.

Avaliação eletromiográfica de músculos inspiratórios em hemiparéticos / Eliete Moreira Colaço

The objective was measured by surface electromyography (EMGs), the activity of inspiratory muscles during incremental test in subjects with hemiparesis and show its correlation with the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Were included in the study 32 individuals hemiparetics and 14 healthy as control group. We performed an evaluation of lung function and anthropometric data. The EMGs were performed during the incremental test with Threshold ® (15, 30, 45 and 60% of MIP) and during maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). The electromyographic findings were calculated by the signal amplitude (RMS). All data were initially analyzed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov, the anthropometric characteristics of both groups were tested with the Levene and then intra-subject analysis (hemiparetic hemithorax and healthy hemithorax) and inter-group analysis (experimental group and control group) by paired and non-paired Student t tests and Pearson correlation. In intra-subject comparison was observed less activation (p <0.01) of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, scalene and diaphragm paretic side in both sexes - for the Threshold ® incremental test (15, 30, 45 and 60% of the MIP) and during maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). In inter-group comparison, there was reduced activity in the diaphragm and the scalene, in hemiparetics males and females, respectivelly, during the same test. Our results demonstrate the existence of reduced electromyographic activity of inspiratory muscles in hemiparetics, including changes between different genders and suggests the need of further studies to assess the effects of specific training of inspiratory muscles.

Optimized Duration of Clopidogrel Therapy Following Treatment with the Endeavor Zotarolimus-Eluting Stent in Real-World Clinical Practice (OPTIMIZE) Trial: Rationale and design of a large-scale, randomized, multicenter study

Background Current recommendations for antithrombotic therapy after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation include prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and clopidogrel >= 12 months. However, the impact of such a regimen for all patients receiving any DES system remains unclear based on scientific evidence available to date. Also, several other shortcomings have been identified with prolonged DAPT, including bleeding complications, compliance, and cost. The second-generation Endeavor zotarolimus-eluting stent (E-ZES) has demonstrated efficacy and safety, despite short duration DAPT (3 months) in the majority of studies. Still, the safety and clinical impact of short-term DAPT with E-ZES in the real world is yet to be determined. Methods The OPTIMIZE trial is a large, prospective, multicenter, randomized (1: 1) non-inferiority clinical evaluation of short-term (3 months) vs long-term (12-months) DAPT in patients undergoing E-ZES implantation in daily clinical practice. Overall, 3,120 patients were enrolled at 33 clinical sites in Brazil. The primary composite endpoint is death (any cause), myocardial infarction, cerebral vascular accident, and major bleeding at 12-month clinical follow-up post-index procedure. Conclusions The OPTIMIZE clinical trial will determine the clinical implications of DAPT duration with the second generation E-ZES in real-world patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. (Am Heart J 2012;164:810-816.e3.)

Transiente Globale Amnesie versus Transiente Ischämische Attacke – Klinik und Schlaganfallrisiko

Transient global amnesia versus transient ischaemic attack: clinical presentation and cerebral vascular accident risk Transient global amnesia is an acute, benign, isolated and temporarily limited disturbance of memory, that can occur repeatedly but shows no increased risk of cardiovascular events or stroke in particular. Therefore, patients with the typical clinical presentation and a normal brain magnetic resonance-scan require neither further diagnostic nor therapeutic interventions. Since the differential diagnosis of transient global amnesia is wide, and transient ischaemic attacks can present similarly, a careful clinical evaluation and neuroimaging is recommended. In any case of doubt further diagnostic steps according to stroke workup should be initiated. In contrast, a transient ischaemic attack represents a neurological emergency where clinical and diagnostic evaluation must be introduced fast. The rapid establishment of therapeutic and secondary preventive measures decreases the clearly elevated stroke risk and prevents disability.

Cuidador familiar de seqüelados de acidente vascular cerebral: significado e implicações

O acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) está entre as principais causas de morte no mundo. Diante das incapacidades impostas pelo AVC, surge o cuidador familiar. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar o significado e as implicações de se tornar cuidador de um indivíduo seqüelado de AVC. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, realizado com cinco cuidadores, em Londrina-PR, no período de agosto a dezembro de 2005. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas semi-estruturadas e submetidos à análise de discurso proposta por Martins e Bicudo. Da análise das entrevistas emergiram sete categorias: voltando-se para o Ser cuidado, descrevendo os cuidados, apresentando as mudanças, o apoio da espiritualidade, compreendendo o significado do cuidado, expressando as necessidades para cuidar e perspectivas para o futuro. Os resultados revelaram que ser cuidador familiar é um fenômeno complexo, que gera nos sujeitos sentimentos de alegria e felicidade concomitantes aos sentimentos de medo, ansiedade e revolta.

A problemática do cuidador familiar do portador de acidente vascular cerebral

Objetivou-se identificar a problemática da família de pessoas acometidas de acidente vascular cerebral hospitalizadas e discutir as dificuldades do cuidador familiar para o cuidado no âmbito domiciliar. A amostra constou de 154 famílias de pacientes internados em um hospital da rede pública de saúde, Fortaleza-CE. Conforme os resultados denotam, a maioria dos cuidadores são mulheres, 104 (67,5%); 122 casos (79,2%) apresentam comprometimento familiar e alterações na vida diária em 115 dos acompanhantes (74,7%); 150 (97,4%) não receberam orientações acerca dos cuidados, mas 143 (92,9%) sentem-se seguros para acompanhá-los. O sentimento predominante foi a tristeza, 125 (81,2%), e as dúvidas principais foram: alimentação, 64 (41,6%), administração de medicamentos, 49 (29,9%), e possíveis complicações clínicas após a alta, 49 (29,9%). Estes resultados alertam para o papel do enfermeiro como educador, não somente na prevenção das doenças crônico-degenerativas, mas, também, na orientação aos cuidadores familiares sobre os cuidados dispensados após a alta hospitalar.

Estado neurológico e cognição de pacientes pós-acidente vascular cerebral

Objetivou-se investigar por meio de uma equipe multidisciplinar o estado neurológico e o desempenho cognitivo de pacientes pós-AVC mediante um estudo transversal com 45 pacientes em processo de reabilitação após um AVC agudo. Utilizaram-se como instrumentos de coleta de dados uma ficha de avaliação, o Mini Mental-MEEM e o National International Health Stroke Scale-NIHSS. Amostra mostrou-se predominantemente feminina (55,6%), AVC Isquêmico (86,7%), hemisfério cerebral direito (60%) e Escolarizados (68,8%). A média do MEEM para escolarizados e analfabetos foi de 19,3 ± 5,0 e 15,92 ± 3,7, respectivamente. A média geral do estado neurológico encontrado foi 13,0±4,8. Houve diferença significativa entre as médias cognitivas dos pacientes quanto à escolaridade (p valor=0,017) e relação significativa entre o estado neurológico e o desempenho cognitivo (r=-0,44 p valor=0,002). O estado neurológico e o nível cognitivo de pacientes pós-AVC agudo parecem estar diretamente relacionados, o que evidencia a necessidade de maior atenção à questão cognitiva envolvida no início do processo de reabilitação.