Seminars in neurology
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Seminars in neurology · Jan 1998
Review Clinical TrialRecanalization therapies for acute ischemic stroke.
Angiographic studies performed within 6 hours of stroke onset have demonstrated that 75-80% of patients with an acute ischemic stroke have an angiographically visible occlusion of an extracranial and/or intracranial artery that is the cause of the ischemic stroke. The NINDS t-PA Stroke Study demonstrated that recanalization of occluded brain arteries can successfully salvage ischemic brain if intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) is initiated within 3 hours of stroke onset. The effectiveness and safety of intravenous t-PA beyond 3 hours has yet to be shown. ⋯ Thrombolytic therapy and other pharmacologic treatments of clot in cerebral vessels will likely remain a two-edged sword. Pharmacologic therapies that increase the likelihood of clot lysis and recanalization, such as thrombolytic agents, the platelet GIIbIIIa receptor blockers, defibrinogenating agents, and even the newer more potent thrombolytic agents, also concomitantly increase the risk of bleeding into the brain. What we will be searching for in the coming decade is the correct mechanical strategy, dose of a given pharmacologic agent, or combination of agents that maximizes recanalization and minimizes the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage.
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Observations on the neurologic signs and symptoms of Count Dracula, Wolfman, and Frankenstein's Monster are presented as viewed by a specialist in neuromuscular disease. Key clinical features of these horror movie figures illustrate a variety of pearls in the diagnosis of a variety of neurologic disorders, including porphyria, lead poisoning, osteosclerotic myeloma, and myasthenia gravis.
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Seminars in neurology · Jan 1997
ReviewEthical issues in the management of chronic nonmalignant pain.
Chronic pain represents a challenge to patients, families, employers, and the physicians who care for these individuals. Opioids remain the mainstay of the analgesic medications for the treatment of both acute and chronic pain. Controlled release preparations of morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl and long acting opioid agents such as methadone and levorphanol have been medically and ethically accepted in managing chronic cancer pain. ⋯ Although most patients on the opioid regimen do well, special attention must be given to patients with current addiction, a past history of addiction, or current misuse of opioid medications. Pharmacologic and conservative interventions are often warranted in those patients with significant behavioral problems. If such strategies fail, and chronic opioid therapy is deemed necessary, some treatment guidelines are offered.
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With the increasing acceptance of the right of patients to refuse life-sustaining treatment, some have argued that terminally ill patients have a corollary right to physician-assisted suicide (PAS) on request. However, there are important moral and legal distinctions between patients' refusals of therapy and requests for certain actions. Physicians must stop life-sustaining therapy when that therapy has been validly refused by patients. ⋯ The morality of PAS is debatable but it remains illegal in most jurisdictions. Advocates of legalizing PAS should fully understand three issues: (1) that such legalization would have a negative effect on the practice of palliative care and on the physician-patient relationship; (2) that legalization of voluntary euthanasia will follow the legalization of PAS; and (3) that involuntary euthanasia inevitably follows the legalization of voluntary euthanasia, as has occurred in the Netherlands over the past 12 years. Rather than suffer the harms resulting from legalizing PAS, our society should maintain its illegality and make an expanded effort to improve physicians' training and abilities to provide palliative care.