Microsurgery has always been the main treatment for large vestibular schwannomas. With the progress of microsurgical technique and neuroimaging, the application of the intraoperative physiological monitoring technology, as well as the popularization of the concept of minimally invasive neurosurgery, the current development trend of surgery for vestibular schwannomas is to realize both the maximal tumoral resection and the maximal preservation of facial nerve function, which puts more emphasis on the improvement of quality of life. It is still a challenge for neurosurgeons to resect the tumor to the maximum extent and preserve the nerve function as well. In view of this background, the strategy of " near-total resection” and " subtotal resection” combined with stereotactic radiotherapy has been more and more accepted in the past years. However, as a neurosurgeon, the ultimate goal should be " gross-total resection of tumor” and preservation of the nerve function as well. For those tumors severely adherent to neurovascular structure, " near total resection” might be a rational choice. Meanwhile, long-term follow-up should be conducted to clarify the biological behavior of tumor residues, as well as the necessity and long-term effect of stereotactic radiotherapy.
ObjectiveTo explore the risk factors of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) in the patients with acute ischemic stroke, in order to provide effective guidance for clinical prevention and treatment.MethodsFrom November 2016 to November 2019, 330 patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to the Department of Neurology of West China Hospital of Sichuan University and the Department of Neurology of the Sixth People’s Hospital of Chengdu were selected as the research object. The clinical data of the patients were analyzed retrospectively. According to whether SAP occurred, they were divided into infected group and non-infected group. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors of SAP.ResultsA total of 71 cases of SAP occurred in patients with acute ischemic stroke, accounting for 21.52%. Logistic regression analysis showed that age≥70 years old [odds ratio (OR)=3.677, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.452, 9.311), P=0.006], chronic lung disease [OR=4.985, 95%CI (1.558, 15.952), P=0.007], disturbance of consciousness [OR=7.147, 95%CI (1.617, 31.587), P=0.009], bulbar palsy [OR=5.909, 95%CI (2.668, 13.089), P<0.001], the use of nasal feeding tube [OR=7.427, 95%CI (1.681, 32.812), P=0.008] were independent risk factors for SAP in patients with acute ischemic stroke.ConclusionsAge≥70 years old, chronic lung disease, disturbance of consciousness, bulbar paralysis and use of nasal feeding tube are independent risk factors for SAP. It is necessary to strengthen the management of these risk factors in order to identify high-risk patients with SAP early, and develop intervention strategies for risk factors, so as to improve the prognosis.
Endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke has become the main therapy for large vessel occlusion. In addition to stent thrombectomy, in recent years, the application of aspiration thrombectomy is becoming more and more common. The physical principles of aspiration and stent thrombectomy extraction are different. The thrombus is captured by the negative pressure generated by suction through the contact between the reperfusion catheter and the thrombus, thus achieving cerebrovascular recanalization. Currently, more and more researches support the application of aspiration thrombectomy. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the aspiration thrombectomy compared with the stent thrombectomy and how to apply the aspiration technology reasonably are the hot issues concerned by everyone. This paper reviews the application and research progress of aspirating thrombectomy in order to provide reference for clinical treatment decisions.
Objective To collect evidence of treatment for the patients with ocular myasthenia gravis. Methods We searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2010), PubMed (1966 to April, 2010), CNKI (1979 to April, 2010) and VIP (1989 to April 2010) to identify systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials and prospective avaicohort studies about efficacy and safety of treatment for ocular myasthenia gravis. Results We identified 2 guidelines, 5 systematic reviews and 4 observational studies on inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, immunosuppressive agents, intravenous immunoglobulin, corticosteroids, and thymectomy for ocular myasthenia gravis. The first choice for ocular myasthenia gravis was inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. When the symptom could not be remitted, the corticosteroids should be considered. Immunosuppressive agents might be added if the effect of corticosteroids was not good. Plasma exchange was not recommended. Thymectomy should be performed if the patients suffered from thymoma. Conclusion The best clinical evidence can be available by the evidence-based method.
Stroke with hereditary cerebral small vessel diseases is a rare disease. Its clinical manifestations include early-onset ischemic lacunar or hemorrhagic stroke with high disability. Its typical imaging markers include lacunes, white matter hyperintensities, microbleeds, intracerebral hemorrhages located in deep or lobe of brain, crotical microinfarcts, and enlarged perivascular spaces. As the clinical and neuroimaging signs and symptoms of hereditary cerebral small vessel diseases often overlap with sporadic cerebral small vessel diseases, it is hard to diagnose. This article summarizes the clinical features, importance of obtaining valuable family history, genetic diagnosis, and management of stroke with hereditary cerebral small vessel disease to improve its accuracy diagnosis.
Substantial progresses have been made in cerebral vascular diseases in 2017. By retrospectively analyzing the clinical researches which Chinese experts participated in or were in charge of, this article briefly summarizes the update of stroke epidemiology, explorations of stroke-related risk factors, early management of acute stroke, secondary prevention and prognosis of stroke. These researches include the problems about the dose of thrombolysis medicine, new type of antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs, prognosis of intracranial hemorrhage and signs of intracranial hematoma enlargement, which have close connection with clinical work and are valuable in practice.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical value of soluble suppression of tumorigenesis-2 (sST2) in replacement of N-terminal fragment of the brain natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-proBNP) in cardiac function evaluation in renal failure patients after cardiac surgery.MethodsSixty patients with renal insufficiency after cardiac surgery from January 2019 to June 2019 were divided into a test group, including 34 males and 26 females, with an average age of 49-78 (63.3±4.5) years. Another 60 patients with normal renal function were divided into a control group, including 37 males and 23 females, with an average age of 53-77 (61.7±3.8) years. The perioperative left ventricular ejection fraction, cardiac troponin T, creatine kinase-MB, sST2 and NT-proBNP were compared.ResultsIn patients of the test group, the NT-proBNP level increased significantly during perioperative period, and the change range was different from other cardiac function indexes. The change of sST2 in perioperative period was similar to other cardiac function indexes, which could reflect the change degree of cardiac function after operation.ConclusionsST2 is more important to reflect the change degree of cardiac function in patients with renal dysfunction after cardiac surgery than NT-proBNP.
Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of edaravone for acute cerebral infarction. Methods We searched The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials ( Issue 2, 2005 ), MEDLINE ( 1966 to Aug. 2005), EMBASE ( till Aug. 2005 ), the China Biological Medcine Database ( till Aug. 2005 ), the Chinese Stroke Clinical Trials Database ( till August 2005 ) and the reference lists of related articles. Two reviewers independently selected studies, assessed quahty of studies and extracted data. The RevMan 4.2 software was used for statistical analysis. Results We identified 12 randomized controlled trials, of which 9 ( n = 948 ) were included. The level of methodology quality was B. Since the conventional therapy was different among some studies, the improvement of disability and long-term death rate and incidence of adverse reactions were not included by meta-analysis. Meta-analysis on the improvement of neurological deficit showed a better effectiveness of edaravone than control with statistical significance [ OR2.98, 95% CI ( 1.39,6.39 ) ]. Possible adverse reactions to edaravone included abnormal liver function and skin rash. Conclusions With relatively poor quality of most included trials and small sample size, insufficient evidence is obtained to support the conclusion that edaravone is safe or effective in the treatment of acute cerebral infarction. Further high quality and large sample randomized controlled trials should be carried out.
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) is an important type of antihypertensive drug. Much evidence shows that ACEI not only decreases the blood pressure but also has the protective effect on the cardiac and cerebral vessels. ACEI may prevent the stroke. To provide the best evidence for the clinical practice, we electronically searched RCTs and systematic reviews from MEDLINE and The Cochrane Library to evaluate the mechanisms and the effects of ACEI in stroke treatment and prevention.
Objective To learn if appropriate methods and clinically relevant outcomes were used by analyzing methods of outcome assessment in Chinese acute stroke trials. Method Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials on acute stroke published before March 2003 in 6 Chinese neurological journals were included. Types of outcome measures, blinding of outcome assessment, duration of follow up, statistical methods used for data analysis and the significance of the results were evaluated. Types of outcomes were classified as death and four levels: ① Pathology. ② Impairment. ③ Disability. ④ Handicap/quality of life. Results Two hundreds and ten trials were included in this analysis. 57% of the trials used outcomes in pathology level, 77% in impairment level, 12% in disability level and none in the quality of life level. No dichotomous data was analyzed for disability measures. Only 16% of the trials reported number of death but few of them designed death as an outcome measure. Duration of follow up ranged from 3h to 3 years (median 17 d, interquartile range 14-30 d). Most trials did not assess outcomes blindly. Results in 95% of the trials were favorable to the tested interventions. Conclusions In Chinese acute stroke trials, outcome measures used were mainly in pathology and impairment levels and very few trials used functional outcome or death. Blinding of outcome assessment was not commonly used. The average duration of follow up was short.