Articles: cations.
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We sought to identify predictors of death or discharge to home for patients with nontraumatic subdural hematoma (NT-SDH). ⋯ In this study, GCS score was the major predictor of outcome. Patients with NT-SDH who were male or with good GCS score were less likely to die and more likely to be discharged home. Unlike patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH),lesion size did not predict outcome for patients with NT-SDH. Extent of involvement (on the right side) was a predictor of death.
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Sep 2004
Determining the appropriateness of selected surgical and medical management options in recurrent stroke prevention: a guideline for primary care physicians from the National Stroke Association work group on recurrent stroke prevention.
Despite a decade of successful clinical trials for stroke prevention, substantial gaps exist in the application and implementation of this information in community practice. The frequency of guideline use is low, and there remains controversy regarding the standard of practice. Patients with stroke may have multiple risk factors and concomitant stroke mechanisms, factors that are not addressed in stroke clinical trials and guideline statements. ⋯ Appropriateness was less where bleeding or surgical risk was excessive. Using consensus evidence from clinical trials, we have developed recurrent stroke prevention guidelines for routine and more complex patient scenarios according to appropriateness methodology. Broad application of these guidelines in primary practice promises to reduce the burden of recurrent stroke.
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Children with sickle disease are at high risk for ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attacks, usually secondary to intracranial arteriopathy involving the terminal internal carotid and proximal middle cerebral and anterior cerebral arteries, which may be diagnosed using transcranial Doppler ultrasound or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Other central nervous system (CNS) complications include seizures and coma, which may be secondary to ischemic stroke, sinovenous thrombosis, reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy, or acute demyelination. The immediate priority after an acute CNS event is to improve cerebral oxygenation with oxygen supplementation to maintain peripheral saturation measured using pulse oximetry between 96% and 99%, and a simple transfusion of packed cells within an hour of presentation if the patient's hemoglobin is less than 10 g/dL. ⋯ Emerging primary prophylaxis regimens being tested include citrulline and arginine, aspirin, and overnight oxygen supplementation. Physicians caring for children with sickle cell disease also should ensure adequate nutrition, including five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. The role of vitamin supplementation is controversial, particularly when patients must take daily penicillin prophylaxis.
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Bmc Pregnancy Childb · Jul 2004
Myomectomy at time of cesarean delivery: a retrospective cohort study.
Myomectomy at time of cesarean delivery is traditionally discouraged because of the risk of hemorrhage. A retrospective cohort study was performed to determine whether myomectomy at time of cesarean delivery leads to an increased incidence of intrapartum and short-term postpartum complications. ⋯ In selected patients, myomectomy during cesarean delivery does not appear to result in an increased risk of intrapartum or short-term postpartum morbidity.
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The use of epidural steroid injections as a treatment for patients with degenerative lumbar scoliotic spinal stenosis and radiculopathy has received sparse attention in the literature. Even though it has been reported that patients with scoliosis may respond differently than other patient groups to conservative therapeutic interventions for low back pain and radiculopathy, patients with scoliosis have rarely, if ever, been excluded from clinical studies of epidural steroid injections. To date, there are no studies investigating the efficacy of fluoroscopic transforaminal epidural steroid injections as a treatment for patients with radiculopathy and radiographic evidence of degenerative lumbar scoliotic stenosis. ⋯ Fluoroscopic transforaminal epidural steroid injections appear to be an effective nonsurgical treatment option for patients with degenerative lumbar scoliotic stenosis and radiculopathy and should be considered before surgical intervention.