Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Nov 2012
Previous antiplatelet use is associated with hematoma expansion in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.
Patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) often report the use of antiplatelet medications, even more commonly than the use of anticoagulants. The effect of antiplatelet drugs on the course of ICH is controversial. In this study, our aim was to determine the effects of previous antiplatelet therapy on admission hematoma volume and hematoma expansion in patients with spontaneous ICH. ⋯ Previous antiplatelet use significantly contributes to hematoma expansion in patients with ICH.
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Nov 2012
Case ReportsA patient with deep cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in whom neuroendovascular therapy was effective.
A 63-year-old man presented with aphasia. A computed tomographic scan of the head revealed hemorrhagic infarction in the left temporal lobe. Magnetic resonance venography (MRV) revealed no flow from the straight sinus and left transverse sinus to the sigmoid sinus, indicating cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). ⋯ In Western countries, neuroendovascular therapy is often aggressively performed in patients with worsening symptoms despite anticoagulation. However, in Japan, such reports are extremely rare. We recommend neuroendovascular therapy for deep CVST resistant to anticoagulant therapy.
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Nov 2012
Case ReportsAcute ischemic stroke treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator in a patient taking dabigatran with radiographic evidence of recanalization.
Dabigatran etexelate is a new oral direct thrombin inhibitor that has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to prevent stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. A 51-year-old man with a history of atrial fibrillation who was taking dabigatran presented with an acute ischemic stroke. ⋯ Recanalization of the middle cerebral artery with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator was apparent on digital subtraction angiography, and there was no evidence of intracerebral hemorrhage on the repeat computed tomographic scan. This is the first report of a patient who was taking dabigatran etexilate and who had an ischemic stroke caused by a middle cerebral artery occlusion, with an elevated thrombin time and radiographic recanalization with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator without evidence of hemorrhagic transformation.
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Nov 2012
Impact of an emergency department observation unit transient ischemic attack protocol on length of stay and cost.
This study examined the impact of an emergency department (ED) observation unit's accelerated diagnostic protocol (ADP) on hospital length of stay (LOS), cost of care, and clinical outcome of patients who had sustained a transient ischemic attack (TIA). All patients with TIA presenting to the ED over a 18-consecutive month period were eligible for the study. During the initial 11 months of the study (pre-ADP period), all patients were admitted to the neurology service. ⋯ Compared with the pre-ADP patients, the post-ADP patients (ADP and non-ADP) had a 20.8-hour shorter median LOS (95% confidence interval, 16.3-25.1 hours; P < .01) than pre-ADP patients and lower median associated costs (cost difference, $1643; 95% confidence interval, $1047-$2238). The stroke rate at 90 days was low in both groups (pre-ADP, 0%; post-ADP, 1.2%). Our findings indicate that introduction of an ED observation unit ADP for patients with TIA at a primary stroke center is associated with a significantly shorter LOS and lower costs compared with inpatient admission, with comparable clinical outcomes.
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Nov 2012
Case ReportsBilateral caudate nucleus infarction associated with a missing A1 segment.
We describe a case of bilateral caudate nucleus infarction caused by cardioembolic stroke associated with a variant circle of Willis. The patient was an 81-year-old man with atrial fibrillation who presented with a sudden disturbance of consciousness. When he became more alert a few days later, he was abulic with no spontaneous speech or activity. ⋯ The left A1 segment was absent on 3-dimensional computed tomography angiography. One year later, abulia had completely resolved. Bilateral caudate nucleus infarction with variant circle of Willis is rare.