Stroke and disorders of consciousness

Incidence and Outcomes of Patients With Early Cardiac Complications After Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Report From VISTA

BACKGROUND

The incidence and outcomes of early cardiac complications in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are poorly understood. These cardiac complications may be part of the so-called stroke-heart syndrome in patients with ICH. We investigated this issue in an individual patient data pooled analysis from an international repository of clinical trial data.

METHODS

We used the Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive to investigate the incidence of cardiac complications within 30 days post-ICH or acute ischemic stroke (AIS). These complications included acute coronary syndrome encompassing myocardial injury, heart failure/left ventricular dysfunction, atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter, other arrhythmia/ECG abnormalities, and cardiorespiratory arrest. We used propensity score matching to compare the incidence of patients with stroke-heart syndrome in patients with ICH with those following AIS. Factors associated with 90-day mortality were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis in the ICH cohort.

RESULTS

We pooled data from 8698 participants recruited in acute stroke trials (mean age, 68±12 years; 56% male), of whom 914 (11%) were patients with ICH. Among the patients with ICH, 123 (13%) had stroke-heart syndrome in patients with ICH. Following propensity score matching, a total of 1828 patients (914 for each of the cohorts) were analyzed. While the overall incidence of cardiac events tended to be lower in the ICH group compared with the AIS group (the cumulative incidence freedom from the event, 86.3% [95% CI, 84.1-88.6] versus 83.6% [95% CI, 81.2-86.0]; P=0.100), the incidences cardiac events other than atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter were comparable between the 2 matched groups. The incidence of atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter was significantly lower in the ICH group than in the AIS group (P<0.001). The multivariate-adjusted analysis found that stroke-heart syndrome in patients with ICH was associated with 90-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.06-1.19]; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac events are common and negatively affect prognosis in patients with ICH, just as seen in AIS.

Evaluation and Management of Disorders of Consciousness in the Acute Care Setting

Acute disorders of consciousness (DOC) are impairments in arousal and awareness that occur within 28 days of an initial injury and can result from a variety of insults. These states range from coma, unresponsive wakefulness, covert consciousness, minimal consciousness, to confusional state. It is important to perform thorough, serial examinations with particular emphasis on the level of consciousness, brainstem reflexes, and motor responses. Evaluation of acute DOC includes laboratory tests, imaging, and electrophysiology testing. Prognostication in the acute phase of DOC must be done cautiously, using open, frequent communication with families, and by acknowledging significant multidimensional uncertainty.

Stimulation of vagus nerve for patients with disorders of consciousness: a systematic review

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of stimulating the vagus nerve in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOCs).

Methods

A comprehensive systematic review was conducted, encompassing the search of databases such as PubMed, CENTRAL, EMBASE and PEDro from their inception until July 2023. Additionally, manual searches and exploration of grey literature were performed. The literature review was conducted independently by two reviewers for search strategy, selection of studies, data extraction, and judgment of evidence quality according to the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) Study Quality Scale.

Results

A total of 1,269 articles were retrieved, and 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. Among these, there were three case reports, five case series, and only two randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Preliminary studies have suggested that stimulation of vagus nerve can enhance the levels of DOCs in both vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness state (VS/UWS) and minimally conscious state (MCS). However, due to a lack of high-quality RCTs research and evidence-based medical evidence, no definitive conclusion can be drawn regarding the intervention's effectiveness on consciousness level. Additionally, there were no significant adverse effects observed following stimulation of vagus nerve.

Conclusion

A definitive conclusion cannot be drawn from this systematic review as there was a limited number of eligible studies and low-quality evidence. The findings of this systematic review can serve as a roadmap for future research on the use of stimulation of vagus nerve to facilitate recovery from DOCs.

Prognosis prediction for impaired consciousness recovery in stroke patients using videofluoroscopic swallowing study: A retrospective observational study

Prognosis prediction of impaired consciousness is clinically important for establishing therapeutic strategies, determining a rehabilitative goal and functional outcome, and estimating rehabilitative therapy duration. In this study, we investigated the prognosis prediction value of videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) in recovery of impaired consciousness in stroke patients. Fifty-one patients with impaired consciousness who underwent VFSS during the early stage of stroke between 2017 and 2021 were recruited in this retrospective study. VFSS were performed using modified Logemann protocol, and bonorex was used as the liquid contrast medium. The penetration-aspiration scale (PAS) was graded for all patients, and they were classified into 2 groups depending on the presence of aspiration on liquid material: the aspiration-positive group with a PAS score ≥ 6, and the aspiration-negative group with a PAS score < 6. The coma recovery scale-revised (CRS-R) was used to evaluate patients' conscious state at the time of VFSS and 3 months after. Statistical analysis was performed using independent t test and Pearson's correlation. The increase in total CRS-R score from time of VFSS to 3 months later was greater in aspiration-negative group than in aspiration-positive group (P < .05). A moderate negative correlation was observed between liquid PAS score and the increase in total CRS-R score (r = -0.499, P < .05). Among 6 CRS-R subscales, a strong negative correlation was observed between liquid PAS score and the communication score increase (r = -0.563, P < .05), while moderate negative correlations were detected between liquid PAS score and the increases in auditory (r = -0.465, P < .05), motor (r = -0.372, P < .05), oromotor (r = -0.426, P < .05), and arousal (r = -0.368, P < .05) scores. We observed that patients without aspiration on videofluoroscopic swallowing study showed better recovery of impaired consciousness, and the degree of penetration and aspiration had a predictive value for impaired consciousness prognosis in the early stage of stroke.

Effect of early mobilization in patients with stroke and severe disturbance of consciousness: Retrospective study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of early mobilization with a physiatrist and registered therapist Operating rehabilitation (PROr) for patients with stroke and severe disturbance of consciousness (DoC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively screened records from patients with stroke admitted to our hospital from January 2015 to June 2021. Eligible patients with severe DoC were classified into two groups: patients who received standard rehabilitation (control group) and patients who received PROr (PROr group). We studied longitudinal change in the level of consciousness using the Japan Coma Scale (JCS) during hospital stay and compared in-hospital mortality, the incidence of respiratory complication, and modified Rankin Scale of discharge between the two groups.

RESULTS

Among the 2191 patients screened for inclusion, 16 patients were included in the PROr group, and 12 patients were included in the control group. Early mobilization was more promoted in the PROr group compared to the control group, but there were no significant differences in in-hospital mortality, the incidence of respiratory complication, or modified Rankin Scale at discharge between the two groups. In patients who survived during their hospital stay, JCS scores 2 weeks after the onset of stroke and JCS scores at discharge significantly improved from the start of rehabilitation in the PROr group, but not in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Early mobilization provided with the PROr program appears to be a safe treatment and may contribute to the improvement of consciousness level for patients with acute stroke and severe DoC.

A Review of Pharmacologic Neurostimulant Use During Rehabilitation and Recovery After Brain Injury

OBJECTIVE

To describe the efficacy and safety of pharmacologic neurostimulants after neurological injuries such as ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI), critically evaluate the available literature, and make recommendations regarding which neurostimulants should be considered for use in clinical practice.

DATA SOURCES

A literature search of PubMed was performed (1953 to October 2020) to identify relevant articles. Search terms included the following: "neurostimulant, neurorehabilitation" AND "traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular accident, or stroke." This review is limited to prospective studies and observational trials.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

Relevant English-language studies conducted in humans were considered.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Cognitive and motor deficits caused by stroke and TBI account for high rates of long-term disability. Although not well-established, pharmacologic agents, broadly characterized as neurostimulants, may be prescribed after brain injury to treat these deficits. When prescribing these medications, it is imperative to be aware of the supporting evidence in order to accurately gauge the risk-benefit profile of each agent.

RELEVANCE TO PATIENT CARE AND CLINICAL PRACTICE

The following presents a literature review critically evaluating clinical studies that investigate neurostimulant use after brain injury. The intent of this review is to serve as an evidence-based guide for clinicians.

CONCLUSIONS

The pharmacologic agent with the most supporting literature is amantadine used for cognitive improvement after TBI. Other neurostimulants with positive, despite more limited, evidence include methylphenidate, modafinil, levodopa, and citalopram. Caution is warranted with other neurostimulants given higher rates of adverse effects or lack of benefit observed in clinical trials.

Use of analgesics in acute stroke patients with inability to self-report pain: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Pain is a common and burdensome complication in patients with acute stroke. We assessed the impact of impaired communication in stroke patients on pain assessment and treatment.

METHODS

We included 909 (507 male, mean age 71.8 years) patients admitted to our stroke unit from 01/2015 to 12/2015 in the analysis. Patients were assigned to four groups: able to communicate (AC), not able to communicate prior to index stroke (P-NAC), due to focal symptoms of index stroke (S-NAC), due to a reduced level of consciousness (C-NAC). Pain prevalence, documentation of pain and use of analgesics were evaluated. C-NAC patients were excluded from analyses regarding analgesic treatment due to relevant differences in patient characteristics.

RESULTS

746 patients (82.1%) were classified as AC, 25 (2.8%) as P-NAC, 90 (9.9%) as S-NAC and 48 (5.3%) as C-NAC. Pain was documented on the Numeric Rating Scale and in form of free text by nurses and physicians. Nurses documented pain more frequently than physicians (p < 0.001). Pain prevalence was 47.0% (n.s. between groups). The use of analgesic medication increased from 48.7% in the AC group, to 76.0% in the P-NAC group, and 77.8% in the S-NAC group (p < 0.001). Opioid use was significantly more frequent in NAC patients (p < 0.001). The response to the treatment was poorly documented with significantly lowest rates in S-NAC patients (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that post-stroke pain in patients with inability to communicate is not attended enough, not systematically assessed and therefore not sufficiently treated.