Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
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The results of phase III trials of neuroprotective drugs for acute ischemic stroke have been disappointing. We examine the question of whether these trials may have been underpowered. ⋯ We recommend placing more emphasis on minimum clinically important differences when planning stroke trials, with these differences being derived from an assessment of the public health impact obtained in conjunction with the use of epidemiological and cost-effectiveness models. Even small benefits, when averaged over a sufficiently large number of cases, will, in total, accrue to a large positive impact on the public health.
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Sustained bilateral hemodynamic benefit of contralateral carotid endarterectomy in patients with symptomatic internal carotid artery occlusion.
We sought to investigate whether in patients with a symptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion, endarterectomy of a severe stenosis of the contralateral carotid artery can establish long-term cerebral hemodynamic improvement. ⋯ Contralateral CEA in patients with a symptomatic ICA occlusion induces cerebral hemodynamic improvement not only on the side of surgery but also on the side of the ICA occlusion.
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The impact of endovascular therapy on treatment outcomes of unruptured cerebral aneurysms has not been studied in a defined geographic area. ⋯ In California, endovascular therapy of unruptured aneurysms is associated with less risk of adverse outcomes and in-hospital death, lower hospital charges, and shorter hospital stays compared with surgery. Differences between therapies became more distinct through the years. Uncontrolled differences in prognosis of patients receiving endovascular therapy and surgery cannot be ruled out in this study of discharge abstracts.
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Benefit-risk ratios from recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) therapy for acute ischemic stroke demonstrate lack of efficacy if intravenous administration is commenced beyond 3 hours of symptom onset. We undertook to enhance therapeutic effectiveness by ensuring equitable access to rtPA for patients affected by acute ischemic stroke within a 20 000 km(2) population referral base served by a tertiary facility. ⋯ We conclude that (1) acute stroke patients in Southeastern Ontario have improved access to interventions for stroke care; (2) geography of the region is not a barrier to access to interventions for patients with acute stroke; and (3) acute ischemic stroke patients treated with rtPA account for 5% of all acute strokes and 10% of all ischemic strokes in this region.