Use of tissue-type plasminogen activator for acute ischemic stroke: the Cleveland area experience

Context  Little is known regarding outcomes after intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (IV tPA) therapy for acute ischemic stroke outside a trial setting. Objective  To assess the rate of IV tPA use, the incidence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and in-hospital patient outcomes throughout a large urban community. Design  Historical prospective cohort study conducted from July 1997 through June 1998. Setting  Twenty-nine hospitals in the Cleveland, Ohio, metropolitan area. Patients  A total of 3948 patients admitted to a study hospital with a primary diagnosis of ischemic stroke (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 434 or 436). Main Outcome Measures  Rate of IV tPA use and occurrence of symptomatic ICH among patients treated with tPA; proportion of patients receiving tPA whose treatment deviated from national guidelines; in-hospital mortality among patients receiving tPA compared with that among ischemic stroke patients not receiving tPA and with mortality predicted by a model. Results  Seventy patients (1.8%) admitted with ischemic stroke received IV tPA. Of those, 11 patients (15.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.1%-26.4%) had a symptomatic ICH (of which 6 were fatal) and 50% (95% CI, 37.8%-62.2%) had deviations from national treatment guidelines. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher among patients treated with tPA (15.7%) compared with patients not receiving tPA (5.1%, P<.001) and compared with the model's prediction (7.9%; P<.006). Conclusions  A small proportion of patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke in Cleveland received tPA; they experienced a high rate of ICH. Cleveland community experience with tPA for acute ischemic stroke may differ from that reported in clinical trials.      

Patient Satisfaction with Collection of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Routine Care

Introduction

Systematic collection of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) during ambulatory clinic visits can enhance communication between patient and provider, and provide the ability to evaluate outcomes of care. Little is known about patient satisfaction of PROM data collection in routine clinical care. To evaluate patient reaction to the routine collection of PROMs in the ambulatory setting.

Methods

Before all ambulatory clinic visits at our neurological institute, patients electronically complete health status questionnaires. We administered an 8-question patient satisfaction survey to a sample of patients seen across the institute after their clinical visit.

Results

Of 343 patients approached, 323 agreed to participate. The majority responded that the questionnaire system was easy to use, was an appropriate length, and benefited their care overall (strongly agree or agree = 92.3%, 87.6%, and 77.3%, respectively). Provider review of the PROMs with the patient during the clinic visit was associated with significantly higher positive responses to all questions, even those regarding logistical aspects of the collection process. There were significant age and race differences in response to perceived benefit: those in the Black/other race category had a markedly lower probability of viewing the process favorably with increasing age.

Conclusions

Systematic collection of PROMs via an electronic questionnaire appears to be well accepted by patients. A minority of patients did not feel the questionnaire content applied to their appointment or that the system was a beneficial feature of the clinical practice. The provider can significantly improve the patient’s perception of PROM collection and the patient–physician encounter by reviewing the questionnaire results with the patient.

     

缺血性卒中或短暂性脑缺血发作患者的卒中预防指南美国心脏协会/美国卒中协会卒中委员会向医疗卫生专业人员的声明心血管放射学与介入委员会共同倡导

这份新声明旨在为缺血性卒中或短暂性脑缺血发作存活者的缺血性卒中预防提供全面和及时的循证推荐.循证推荐包括对危险因素的控制、动脉粥样硬化性疾病的干预措施、心源性栓塞的抗栓治疗以及非心源性栓塞性卒中抗血小板药的应用.另外,还为其他多种特殊情况下复发性卒中的预防提供了推荐,包括动脉夹层分离、卵圆孔未闭、高同型半胱氨酸血症、高凝状态、镰状细胞病、脑静脉窦血栓形成、女性卒中(特别是与妊娠和绝经后激素替代治疗相关卒中)、脑出血后抗凝药的应用,以及该指南在高危人群中执行和应用的特殊措施.     

Stent-assisted angioplasty of intracranial vertebrobasilar atherosclerosis: an initial experience

OBJECT: Patients with intracranial vertebrobasilar artery (VBA) atherosclerotic occlusive disease have few therapeutic options. Unfortunately, VBA transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) herald a lethal or devastating event within 5 years in 25 to 30% of patients. The authors report their initial experience with eight patients in whom medically refractory TIAs secondary to intracranial posterior circulation atherosclerotic occlusive lesions were treated with stent-assisted angioplasty. METHODS: Eight patients (six men), ranging in age from 43 to 77 years, experienced signs and symptoms of VBA insufficiency despite combination therapy with warfarin and antiplatelet agents. Angiographic studies revealed severe distal vertebral (four patients), proximal basilar (one patient), or proximal and midbasilar stenoses (three patients). Aspirin and clopidogrel were administered for 3 days before primary angioplasty and stent placement, and this regimen was maintained by the patients on discharge. Patients underwent heparinization during the procedure and were given a bolus and 12-hour infusion of abciximab. A neurologist specializing in stroke evaluated all patients before and after the procedure. The VBAs in all patients were successfully revascularized with 7 to 28% residual stenosis. Six patients experienced no neurological complications. One patient died the evening of the procedure due to a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage. Two patients had groin hematomas, one developed congestive heart failure, and one had transient encephalopathy. All surviving patients are asymptomatic up to 8 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Although primary intracranial VBA angioplasty with stent insertion is technically feasible, complications associated with the procedure can be life threatening. As experience is gained with this procedure, it may be offered routinely as an alternative therapy to patients with medically refractory posterior circulation occlusive disease that may develop into catastrophic VBA insufficiency.     

卒中或短暂性脑缺血发作患者的卒中预防指南美国心脏协会/美国卒中协会为医疗卫生专业人员制定的指南

本指南旨在为缺血性卒中或短暂性脑缺血发作存活患者的卒中预防提供全面和及时的循证推荐,包括危险因素的控制、动脉粥样硬化性疾病的干预、心源性栓塞的抗栓治疗以及非心源性栓塞性卒中的抗血小板治疗.另外,还对其他许多特殊情况下的复发性卒中预防提供了推荐意见,包括动脉夹层分离、卵圆孔未闭、高同型半胱氨酸血症、高凝状态、镰状细胞病、...