Stroke in Airplane Passengers: A Study from a Large International Hub

IntroductionStroke in air travelers is being increasingly recognized. We report on stroke among passengers arriving at or transiting through a busy air travel hub.MethodsThe stroke database of the sole tertiary care center for stroke in a large busy international hub was interrogated. Demographic data of transit passengers, their stroke risk factors, stroke severity, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), acute stroke interventions, discharge status and outcome utilizing the Modified Raking scale (mRS) were retrieved and compared between passengers and non-passenger controls.ResultsForty-three flight-related stroke patients were compared to 2564 non-passenger stroke patients. The mean age in the flight-related stroke group was 59.53±10.83 years, 30/43 (69.8%) were males. The stroke subtypes were ischemic in 30 (69.8%) patients, hemorrhagic in 9 (20.9%), and transient ischemic attack in 3 (7.0%), with one cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (2.3%). The mean NIHSS score was 7.79±6.44 in passengers, demonstrating moderate severity. Ten patients (23.3%) received thrombolysis, one (2.3%) received thrombectomy, and one (2.3%) received both thrombolysis and thrombectomy. Outcomes, 54.8% had a good outcome (mRS 0-2), and 45.2% had dependence/death (mRS 3-6).ConclusionAir passengers with stroke were found to be older with more severe strokes and a higher probability of receiving acute stroke treatment compared to non-passengers. Increased awareness with appropriate and timely recognition and triaging of transit passengers with stroke is warranted.     

IV thrombolysis in patients with acute stroke due to spontaneous carotid dissection

The authors reviewed the histories of 33 patients (ages 44 to 50 years) treated with IV thrombolysis for acute stroke due to spontaneous cervical carotid artery dissection. Median NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on admission was 15. No new or worsened local signs, subarachnoid hemorrhage, pseudoaneurysm formation, or rupture of the cervical ICA were observed. At 3 months, median NIHSS was 7 and median modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 2.5; mRS < or = 2 was observed in 17 patients.     

优化溶栓流程对轻型急性缺血性卒中院内延误及预后的影响

目的分析优化溶栓流程对轻型急性缺血性卒中患者院内延误及预后的影响。方法回顾性收集秦皇岛市第一医院2015年7月-2017年6月行静脉溶栓治疗的轻型缺血性卒中患者资料。按照流程优化时间前后,分为优化组和对照组。比较两组入院到溶栓时间(door to needle time,DNT)、溶栓后7 d NIHSS评分和溶栓后3个月mRS评分。结果共纳入57例轻型缺血性卒中患者,平均年龄61.7±5.4岁,男性44例(77.2%)。其中对照组24例,优化组33例。两组患者一般资料比较差异无统计学意义。与对照组比较,优化组DNT缩短(68.7±19.1 vs 88.8±23.1 min,P=0.001),DNT≤60 min的患者比例更高(42.4%vs 12.5%,P=0.015);溶栓治疗后3个月mRS评分更低[0(0～0.5)vs 0.5(0～2),P=0.017],良好预后(mRS评分≤1分)患者比例更高(87.9%vs 62.5%,P=0.024)。结论优化溶栓流程可以缩短轻型急性缺血性卒中患者的DNT,提高DNT≤60 min达标率,改善患者3个月预后。     

后循环急性缺血性卒中血管内治疗与静脉溶栓的对照研究

目的 比较后循环大血管闭塞致急性缺血性卒中患者接受血管内治疗（endovascular treatment，EVT） 与单纯静脉溶栓（intravenous thrombolysis，IVT）治疗后的临床结局。 方法 纳入2012年3月-2016年11月期间在北京天坛医院行EVT与IVT治疗的后循环大血管闭塞所致 急性缺血性卒中患者，以1∶1比例匹配两组的年龄、性别、基线NIHSS评分、发病至治疗时间及卒中亚型 （TOAST分型），匹配患者的NIHSS评分≥10分。主要疗效结局为治疗后90 d的mRS评分，安全性结局为 24 h ICH及90 d全因死亡率。 结果 共纳入328例后循环急性缺血性卒中患者，其中EVT组69例，IVT组259例，匹配后两组基线数 据相似，每组各55例。各卒中亚型比例在两组均有显著性差异（所有P <0.001），两组均以大动脉粥 样硬化型为主，其中EVT组63例（91.3%），IVT组164例（63.3%）。临床疗效结局显示匹配后EVT组90 d mRS评分≤1分比例（30.9% vs 38.2%，校正OR 0.724，95%CI 0.329～1.595，P =0.423）及mRS评分≤2 分比例（38.2% vs 50.9%，校正OR 0.596，95%CI 0.279～1.272，P =0.181）均低于IVT组，但差异均无统 计学意义。安全性结局方面，24 h症状性脑出血及治疗后90 d全因死亡率，两组比较差异也无统计学 意义。 结论 对于后循环大血管闭塞所致急性缺血性卒中患者行EVT治疗和单纯IVT治疗，在疗效及安全 性结局方面均无显著性差异。     

重组组织型纤溶酶原激活剂静脉治疗轻型缺血性卒中患者的疗效分析

目的 观察轻型缺血性卒中患者重组组织型纤溶酶原激活剂（recombinant tissue plasminogen activator,rt-PA）静脉溶栓治疗的疗效及安全性。      

A new scale for assessing patients with vertebrobasilar stroke-the Israeli Vertebrobasilar Stroke Scale (IVBSS): inter-rater reliability and concurrent validity

OBJECTIVES: Most of existing stroke scoring systems have limited ability to evaluate patients with cerebrovascular events in the vertebrobasilar territory. We devised a new scale, the Israeli Vertebrobasilar Stroke Scale (IVBSS) in order to directly and more accurately assess clinical deficits of patients with vertebrobasilar stroke. The present study measured the reliability and validity of the IVBSS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-three patients (mean age+/-S.D., 70.9+/-8.8 years, 27 males) with vertebrobasilar stroke were evaluated with the IVBSS (11 items), the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the disability modified Rankin Scale (mRS) by independent examiners. Interobserver agreement was rated by weighted kappa statistics for each item and the total IVBSS score. Validity was examined with Spearman rank coefficients to compare the IVBSS with NIHSS and mRS. RESULTS: Excellent reliability was demonstrated between the examiners for almost each item and the total score of the IVBSS (kappa>0.75). The total IVBSS score was strongly associated with NIHSS and mRS results (r=0.80 and 0.76, respectively; P<0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: The IVBSS is a valid instrument that allows the assessment of patients with vertebrobasilar stroke with high reliability. Further observations are warranted to determine the predictive value of the IVBSS for stroke outcome.     

Solitaire AB支架取栓治疗静脉溶栓禁忌的急性缺血性脑卒中

目的探讨应用Solitaire AB支架机械取栓治疗静脉溶栓禁忌的急性缺血性脑卒中的疗效和安全性。方法回顾性分析2015年1月~2016年8月在吉林大学第二医院接受Solitaire AB支架机械取栓治疗的19例静脉溶栓禁忌的急性缺血性脑卒中患者的临床资料。男性13例,女性6例,年龄30~82岁,静脉溶栓禁忌的因素为超过最佳溶栓时间窗(6 h)和(或)NIHSS评分较高(>22)。采用t检验比较患者术前和术后脑梗死溶栓分级(TICI分级)、术前和术后1 w的NIHSS评分的变化评价疗效,采用术后90 d改良的Rankin量表(mRS)评估预后。结果 19例患者中的18例责任血管均成功获得再通,再通率94.7%。从发病到血管再通时间:颈内动脉系统为(6.8±1.5)h,椎动脉系统为(10.0±2.9)h,其中从穿刺到再通时间为(83.3±39.9)min。术前NIHSS评分为(27.3±9.0)分,术后7 d时NIHSS评分为(9.71±7.98)分,较术前有明显改善(P<0.01)。术后90 d随访,预后良好者11例(mRS 0~2),预后良好率为57.89%,死亡3例,死亡率为15.79%。结论 Solitaire AB支架取栓治疗静脉溶栓禁忌的急性缺血性脑卒中安全有效,血管再通率高,可明显改善临床预后。     

红细胞分布宽度对急性脑梗死患者的神经功能评分及短期预后判断的价值

目的 评价急性脑梗死患者的红细胞分布宽度(RDW)和神经功能评分的关系及其对患者短期(3个月)预后的判断价值。方法 收集本院神经内科急性发病的脑梗死患者90例作为研究组(均为非溶栓患者),同时把本院神经内科急性入院的眩晕症、血管性紧张性头痛等就诊的非脑梗死患者53例作为对照组; 对入组患者进行常规、血常规及血生化检查,同时对入组脑梗死患者的行美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表(NIHSS)评分,并根据NIHSS水平进行分组:轻度、中度和重度; 对2组患者一般临床资料进行比较,同时比较2组患者及NIHSS不同评分组的RDW值的差异,评价RDW和NIHSS评分的相关性。对入组的脑梗死患者进行脑梗死发生后3个月随访,评定患者的改良Ranking量表(mRS)评分情况,对mRS评分进行分组,即预后良好组(mRS≤2)和预后不良组(mRS>2分),比较2组的RDW值,同时采用多因素Logistic分析其预后不良的危险因素。结果 脑梗死组的RDW较对照组明显增高(P<0.01); RDW的中位值随着神经功能缺损程度的加重而增高(P<0.05); 相关性分析显示RDW与NIHSS评分呈正相关(r=0.335 P=0.001); 预后不良组的RDW较预后良好组明显增高(P<0.01); 多因素Logistic分析显示高RDW、NIHSS及2型糖尿病是急性脑梗死患者短期不良预后的危险因素。受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线图显示RDW对急性脑梗死患者不良预后预测的最佳界值为14.2%(敏感度,72.8%; 特异性,68.6%; 准确性,71.2%)。结论 急性脑梗死患者早期的RDW对评估患者的严重性及短期预后有一定价值。     

Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) for acute ischemic stroke in a local university hospital]

Thrombolytic therapy for ischemic stroke has not been approved in Japan yet. However, we have used intravenous t-PA for acute ischemic stroke patients. We reviewed the clinical data on patients who were treated with intravenous t-PA and entered in the stroke registry of our hospital between April 1999 and March 2004. Of 408 acute ischemic stroke patients, 20 patients (mean age 73.6 +/- 10.9, male 15, female 5) were given intravenous t-PA (alteplase in 18 patients and monteplase in two patients). The baseline NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Japan Stroke Scale (JSS) scores were 17.5 (median) and 13.3 +/- 7.6 (mean), respectively. The NIHSS and JSS at discharge were 12.5 and 12.1 +/- 11.8, respectively. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in one patient. The rate of favorable outcome (mRS 0-3) at 90 days was 40%. The rate of favorable outcome at 90 days in our study was lower than that in reported randomized trials of intravenous t-PA, such as the NINDS study or the ATIANTIS trial, perhaps because age and baseline severity were higher in our patients than in the subjects in these trials. Another reason may be the dose of t-PA. As we concerned about the occurrence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and there are no data on appropriate dose of t-PA for Japanese patients, the dose of t-PA that we used was 0.4 mg/kg in most patients. Although five patients died in our study, the cause of death in four patients was not hemorrhagic transformation but deteriorating ischemic infraction. The dose of t-PA that we used may have been safe but a little low for thrombolysis.     

高龄急性轻型缺血性卒中早期阿替普酶静脉溶栓疗效观察

目的 探讨高龄轻型缺血性卒中3 h内行阿替普酶静脉溶栓治疗的疗效及安全性。 方法 将我院2015年10月-2017年10月连续收治入院的发病3 h内48例高龄急性轻型缺血性卒中患者 随机分为阿替普酶静脉溶栓组24例和未溶栓组24例。比较两组患者入院时的一般情况,基线美国 国立卫生研究院卒中量表（National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale,NHISS）评分,治疗24 h后颅内出 血转化率,治疗后90 d改良Rankin量表（modified Rankin Scale,mRS）评分及90 d病死率。 结果 阿替普酶静脉溶栓组和未溶栓组患者一般临床资料、基线NIHSS评分比较,差异无统计学意 义。阿替普酶静脉溶栓组和未溶栓组治疗24 h后颅内出血转化率分别为4.17%和0（P =1.000）,两组 90 d病死率均为4.17%（P =1.000）,阿替普酶静脉溶栓组及未溶栓组90 d mRS评分为0～2分的比率 分别为83.33%和54.17%（P =0.029）。 结论 早期阿替普酶静脉溶栓治疗高龄急性轻型缺血性卒中不增加急性期颅内出血转化的风险, 可以改善高龄轻型缺血性卒中患者预后,不增加病死率。     

Upper Limb Ischemic Postconditioning as Adjunct Therapy in Acute Stroke Patients: A Randomized Pilot

Objective

This study aims to observe the clinical effect of upper limb ischemic postconditioning (LIPostC) as an adjunct to treatment with acute stroke patients, possibly due to increased cerebral perfusion.

Effect of inpatient rehabilitation facility care on ninety day modified Rankin score in ischemic stroke patients

ObjectiveTo determine Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) treatment effect on modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at 90 days in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients.Materials and methodsThis prospective cross-sectional study included 738 AIS patients admitted 1/1/2018-12/31/2020 to a Comprehensive Stroke Center with a Stroke Rehabilitation program. We compared outcomes for patients who went directly home versus went to IRF at hospital discharge: (1) acute care length of stay (LOS), (2) National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, (3) mRS score at hospital discharge and 90 days, (4) the proportion of mRS scores ≤ 2 from hospital discharge to 90 days.ResultsAmong 738 patients, 499 went home, and 239 went to IRF. IRF patients were more likely to have increased acute LOS (10.7 vs 3.9 days; t-test, P<0.0001), increased mean NIHSS score (7.8 vs 4.8; t-test, P<0.0001) and higher median mRS score (3 vs 1, t-test, P<0.0001) compared to patients who went home. At 90 days, ischemic stroke patients who received IRF care were more likely to progress to a mRS ≤ 2 (18.7% increase) compared to patients discharged home from acute care (16.3% decrease). Home patients experienced a one-point decrease in mRS at 90 days compared to those who received IRF treatment (median mRS of 3 vs. 2, t-test, P<0.05).ConclusionsIn ischemic stroke patients, IRF treatment increased the likelihood of achieving mRS ≤ 2 at 90 days indicating the ability to live independently, and decreased the likelihood of mRS decrease, compared with patients discharged directly home after acute stroke care.     

Efficacy of intraarterial thrombolysis of basilar artery stroke.

Background: Stroke from basilar artery (BA) occlusion is a devastating neurological event with reported mortality rates of up to 90%. This series reports our experience in 15 cases using intraarterial (IA) thrombolysis to treat basilar artery stroke at the Oregon Stroke Center. Methods: Over a 4-year period, consecutive cases of basilar artery stroke were treated with IA urokinase (UK) if they met the following criteria: had a baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score greater than 6; symptoms began within 48 hours; had no or minimal early infarct signs on computed tomography (CT) scan; and angiogram confirmed basilar occlusion. Patients were treated with UK infused via a microcatheter directly into the clot. Angiographic efficacy was assessed by a repeat angiogram at the end of infusion and clinical efficacy was determined by NIHSS evaluation at 48 hours and 3 months. Results: Fifteen patients, mean age 59 (16 to 78) and baseline NIHSS of 30 (7 to 40), were treated at a mean of 12 hours (4 to 48). An average dose of 500,000 (150,000 to 1,250,000) units of UK was given over 1 to 2 hours. Excellent vessel recanalization occurred in 12 of 15 (80%) patients. All three cases without recanalization died within 48 hours (100%). Of the 12 patients with recanalization, 2 died (16.7%), whereas the 9 of 10 remaining had mild or moderate neurological deficits (mean NIHSS of 5) at 3 months. Conclusion: IA thrombolysis has the potential to decrease mortality and improve outcome in cases with severe basilar artery stroke even when administered after 6 hours.     

小剂量rt-PA静脉溶栓治疗急性脑梗死临床分析

目的美国及欧洲缺血性脑卒中治疗指南建议0.9mg.kg-1为重组组织型纤维酶原激活剂(rt-PA)静脉溶栓标准治疗剂量。鉴于国人尤其是我国南方人在种族、体质及脑梗死危险因素等方面的不同,也按0.9mg.kg-1国际标准剂量治疗是否完全适合,有很大争议。本试验比较小剂量rt-PA 0.7mg.kg-1与0.9mg.kg-1标准剂量治疗急性脑梗死的疗效、安全性及预后。方法 28例急性脑梗死患者,发病时间窗为4.5h内,具有溶栓指征,无溶栓禁忌症。随机分为小剂量组rt-PA(0.7mg.kg-1,最高剂量50mg)和对照组(0.9mg.kg-1,最高剂量90mg)。比较两组治疗前、治疗后24h及14d的NIHSS评分,颅内出血率、死亡率以及90d mRS评分。结果两组治疗前的基本临床资料比较差异无统计学意义。各组均能有效改善神经功能,各组治疗后NIHSS评分与治疗前相比有显著差异。但治疗后24h及14d时两组比较差异无统计学意义。两组90d mRS评分比较差异无统计学意义。小剂量0.7mg.kg-1组颅内出血发生率为7.1%,0.9mg.kg-1组为14.3%,两组比较差异无统计学意义。0.9mg.kg-1组死亡1例,小剂量组无死亡病例,两组死亡率比较差异无统计学意义。结论 rt-PA静脉溶栓0.7mg.kg-1剂量安全有效,该剂量可能更适合国人,尤其是南方人。     

动静脉联合溶栓治疗大脑中动脉闭塞引起的急性缺血性脑卒中

目的研究动静脉联合溶栓治疗大脑中动脉闭塞引起的急性缺血性脑卒中的安全性和有效性。方法回顾分析我院采用静脉溶栓或动静脉联合溶栓病例23例。卒中严重程度采用NIHSS评分评估,CTA,MRA或全脑血管造影评估再通情况,溶栓治疗后72 h内观察溶栓后非症状性和症状性出血,临床预后通过改良RS评分进行评估。结果静脉溶栓组14例,动静脉联合溶栓组9例,两组患者入院后NISS评分无统计学差异,动静脉联合溶栓后大脑中动脉再通率明显高于静脉溶栓组(77.8 vs.28.6%,P=0.036),而术后出现症状性及非症状性颅内出血与静脉溶栓比较无明显差异,90 d达到mRS 0-2分患者比例与静脉组比较无统计学差异,联合溶栓组高于静脉组。结论与静脉溶栓比较,应用动静脉联合溶栓治疗大脑中动脉闭塞引起的急性缺血性脑卒中是一种安全、有效的方法。     

青年卒中患者重组组织型纤溶酶原激活剂静脉溶栓治疗后临床预后不良的危险因素

目的 探讨青年卒中患者重组组织型纤溶酶原激活剂(rt-PA)静脉溶栓治疗后临床预后不良的危险因素.方法 回顾性、连续性纳入胜利油田中心医院2018年1月至2019年12月收治的首次发病并接受rt-PA静脉溶栓的青年卒中患者114例.根据发病90 d mRS评分,将青年卒中患者分为预后良好组(90 d mRS评分0～2分...     

超声助溶治疗急性大脑中动脉闭塞性脑梗死的临床研究

目的 探讨经颅多普勒超声联合rt-PA静脉溶栓治疗急性大脑中动脉闭塞性脑梗死的有效性及安全性,同时探索超声助溶的合适时间。方法 急性大脑中动脉闭塞性脑梗死患者73例,所有患者均行rt-PA静脉溶栓治疗,并按照超声助溶的时间随机分为3组,2 h超声助溶组24例、1.5 h超声助溶组25例和对照组24例。采用脑缺血溶栓血流分级判断血管再通情况,用美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表评分评估患者神经功能缺损程度,以溶栓后有无症状性颅内出血来评定其安全性,溶栓后3个月用改良Rankin量表及Barthel指数评分评定远期预后。结果 2 h助溶组与1.5 h助溶组治疗后2 h血管再通率以及治疗后3个月BI值显著高于对照组(P<0.05),而2助溶组之间血管再通率无明显差异(P>0.05); 2 h助溶组与1.5 h助溶组治疗24 h后NIHSS评分、治疗后3个月mRS评分显著低于对照组(P<0.05),而2助溶组之间无明显差异(P>0.05); 3组患者治疗后24 h均未出现症状性颅内出血。结论 超声助溶治疗急性大脑中动脉闭塞性脑梗死安全、有效、远期预后良好,而针对于助溶时间选择上建议将时间缩短至1.5 h。     

阿替普酶静脉溶栓治疗急性脑梗死的疗效及安全性

目的研究重组组织型纤溶酶原激活物(rt-PA)静脉给药溶栓治疗急性脑梗死的临床效果。方法回顾性分析发病在4.5h内,具有溶栓指征的急性脑梗死患者105例,其中对照组56例仅给予抗血小板聚集、调脂稳定斑块等常规治疗方案,观察组49例给予rt-PA静脉溶栓治疗,24h后若无明显出血,开始给予脑梗死常规治疗。比较2组治疗后90d美国国立卫生院卒中量表(NIHSS)评分、Barthel指数(BI)评分及改良Rankin量表(mRS)评分改善情况,以评价rt-PA治疗急性脑梗死临床疗效。结果 2组治疗前NIHSS评分差异无统计学意义(P0.05),观察组溶栓后2h、24h、7d时NIHSS评分显著低于对照组(P0.05);观察组90d时mRS评分显示预后良好的患者较对照组明显增多,2组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05);与对照组比较,观察组90d时Barthel指数评分明显升高(P0.05)。虽然观察组总体出血事件较对照组增高(P0.05);但2组症状性脑出血比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论发病4.5h以内,静脉给予rt-PA溶栓治疗急性脑梗死具有显著的临床疗效,且安全性较高,值得临床推广应用。     

血清L-Arg,ADMA水平与急性脑梗死患者静脉溶栓疗效的相关性分析

目的 探究血清L-精氨酸(L-Arg)、非对称性二甲基精氨酸(ADMA)水平与急性脑梗死患者行重组组织型纤溶酶原激活剂(rt-PA)静脉溶栓疗效的相关性.方法 选取2017年10月-2019年10月在本院神经内科接受rt-PA静脉溶栓治疗的急性脑梗死患者80例为研究对象,随访90 d,根据随访的mRS评分分为预后良好(...     

Cilostazol combined with aspirin prevents early neurological deterioration in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a pilot study

Recent randomized trials have shown that cilostazol is superior to aspirin for secondary stroke prevention. We hypothesized that combining cilostazol with aspirin is more effective than aspirin alone in patients with acute ischemic stroke. This randomized study compared the effects of oral aspirin alone to aspirin plus cilostazol in patients with non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke within 48 h of stroke onset. NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores were checked before and after 14 days and 6 months of drug administration. The primary and secondary endpoints were neurological deterioration or stroke recurrence (NIHSS score ≥ 1) within 14 days and 6 months, respectively. For statistical analysis, on-treatment analysis was conducted. Seventy-six patients were enrolled in the study. The primary endpoint was significantly higher in the aspirin group than in the aspirin plus cilostazol group (28% vs. 6%, relative risk (RR): 0.21, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.05-0.87, p=0.013). Among the patients who did not reach these endpoints, the mean improvement in the NIHSS score at day 14 tended to be better (-1.8 ± 1.2 vs. -1.2 ± 1.0, p=0.078) and the frequency of the favorable functional status of mRS 0-1 at month 6 was significantly higher (RR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.07-2.06, p=0.0048) in the aspirin plus cilostazol group than in the aspirin group. Patients treated with aspirin plus cilostazol during the acute phase of stroke had less neurological deterioration and more favorable functional status than those treated with aspirin alone.