scholarly journals EXPRESS: The use of hypnotherapy as treatment for functional stroke: A case series from a single centre in the UK

2021 ◽  
pp. 174749302199559
Author(s):  
Ranjan Sanjal ◽  
Marko Raseta ◽  
Indira Natarajan ◽  
Christine Roffe

Background: Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is defined by symptoms not explained by the current model of disease and its pathophysiology. It is found in 8.4% of patients presenting as acute stroke. Treatment is difficult and recurrence rates are high. We introduced hypnotherapy as a therapeutic option in addition to standard stroke unit care. Methods: This is an observational study of successive patients with FND presenting as acute stroke treated with hypnotherapy between 1.04.2014 and 1.02.2018. The diagnosis of FND was confirmed by clinical exam and CT/MRI imaging. Hypnosis was delivered by a hypnotherapy trained stroke physician using imagery for induction. A positive response was defined as a National Institutes of Health Stroke (NIHSS) score reduction to 0 or by ≥ 4 points post hypnotherapy. Costs were calculated as therapist time and benefits as reduction in disability/bed days. Results: 68 patients (mean age 36.4 years, 52 (76%) females, mean baseline NIHSS 5.0 (range 1-9)) were included. Two patients (3%) could not be hypnotized. Fifty-eight 58 (85%) responded, 47 (81%) required one treatment session, while 19% needed up to three sessions for symptomatic improvement. No adverse events were observed. Disability (modified Rankin Scale) reduced from a mean of 2.3 to 0.5 resulting in an average cost saving of £1,658 per patient. Most (n=50, 86%) remained well without recurrence at 6 month follow-up. Conclusions: In this case series hypnotherapy was associated with rapid and sustained recovery of symptoms. A prospective randomized controlled study is required to confirm the findings and establish generalizability of the results.

Stroke ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Timo Uphaus ◽  
Oliver C Singer ◽  
Joachim Berkefeld ◽  
Christian H Nolte ◽  
Georg Bohner ◽  
...  

Introduction: The endovascular treatment (EVT) of cerebral ischemia in the case of large vessel occlusion has been established over recent years. Randomized trials showed a positive impact on the clinical outcome of endovascular treatment in addition to thrombolysis with respect to clinical outcome and safety, so that this therapeutic option will be implemented in future guidelines. The role of EVT in patients treated with oral anticoagulants remains uncertain. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that application of EVT is safe with regard to the occurrence of intracranial bleeding and clinical outcome in patients taking anticoagulants. Methods: The ENDOSTROKE-Registry is a commercially independent, prospective observational study in 12 stroke centers in Germany and Austria launched in January 2011. An online tool served for data acquisition of pre-specified variables concerning endovascular stroke therapy. Results: Data from 815 patients (median age 70, 57% male) undergoing EVT and known anticoagulation status were analyzed. A total of 85 (median age 76, 52% male) patients (10.4%) took oral anticoagulants prior to EVT. Anticoagulation status as measured with INR was 2.0-3.0 in 24 patients (29%), <2.0 in 52 patients (63%) and above 3.0 in 7 patients (8%) of 83 patients with valid INR data prior to EVT. Patients taking anticoagulants were significantly older (median age 76 vs. 69, p < 0.001). Comparing those patients taking anticoagulants and those not, there were no differences concerning NIHSS at admission (with anticoagulants Median-NIHSS 17 vs. without Median-NIHSS 15, p = 0.492, Mann Whitney Test) and the rate of intracranial hemorrhage after intervention (with anticoagulants 11.8% vs. without 12.2%, p = 0.538). After adjustment for age and NIHSS at admission there were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to good clinical outcome, as measured with the modified ranking scale (mRS, 90d-mRS 0-2, 39.2% of patients not receiving anticoagulants; 25.9% of those receiving anticoagulants). Conclusion: The application of endovascular treatment in patients taking oral anticoagulants is safe and should be considered in acute stroke treatment as an important alternative to contraindicated intravenous thrombolysis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 160 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Coniglio ◽  
Allison M. Deal ◽  
Oam Bhate ◽  
Trevor G. Hackman

Objective To evaluate outcomes of in-office versus operating room (OR) sialendoscopy/sialolithotomy and to recognize the efficiency of outpatient salivary gland surgery with significant time and facility charge reductions. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting State hospital OR and ambulatory clinic. Subjects and Methods Retrospective review was performed of adult patients treated for inflammatory salivary diseases by a single surgeon from 2011 to 2016. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on procedure setting (office vs OR) and compared by various baseline features, including demographics, symptom onset and duration, stone size, symptomatic improvement, and recurrence. Patient time burden was compared via office procedure records and OR time charting from the electronic health record. Retrospective clinic and hospital charge sheets were tallied and similarly compared. Results The 2 cohorts (office, n = 111; OR, n = 96) were comparable in all demographics, including sialolith number and size (7.36 vs 6.69 mm, P = .45). Additional subgrouping was statistically similar. Both cohorts had similar postprocedure symptom improvement (97% vs 95.8%, P = .65) and recurrence rates (8.9% vs 14.5%, P = .22) independent of subgroup. Overall time burden for patients was 39 minutes in the office versus 277 minutes in the OR ( P ≤ .0001). Procedure and hospital charge data were tallied and compared (office, $719.21; OR, $13,956.14; P ≤ .0001). Conclusion Bothcohorts were statistically similar in all features. There was significant reduction in patient time burden and health care charges with office-based procedures while maintaining similar symptom improvement and recurrence rates.


2021 ◽  
pp. 193864002110097
Author(s):  
Suhas P. Dasari ◽  
Thomas M. Langer ◽  
Derek Parshall ◽  
Brian Law

Background: Large cystic osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) are challenging pathological conditions to treat, but particulated juvenile cartilage allografts (PJCAs) supplemented with bone grafts are a promising therapeutic option. The purpose of this project was to further elucidate the role of PJCA with concomitant bone autografts for treating large cystic OLTs with extensive subchondral bone involvement (greater than 150 mm2 in area and/or deeper than 5 mm). Methods: We identified 6 patients with a mean OLT area of 307.2 ± 252.4 mm2 and a mean lesion depth of 10.85 ± 6.10 mm who underwent DeNovo PJCA with bone autografting between 2013 and 2017. Postoperative outcomes were assessed with radiographs, Foot and Ankle Outcome Scores (FAOS), and visual pain scale scores. Results: At final follow-up (27.0 ± 12.59 weeks), all patients had symptomatic improvement and incorporation of the graft on radiographs. At an average of 62 ± 20.88 months postoperatively, no patients required a revision surgery. All patients contacted by phone in 2018 and 2020 reported they would do the procedure again in retrospect and reported an improvement in their symptoms relative to their preoperative state, especially with pain and in the FAOS activities of daily living subsection (91.93 ± 9.04 in 2018, 74.63 ± 26.86 in 2020). Conclusion: PJCA with concomitant bone autograft is a viable treatment option for patients with large cystic OLTs. Levels of Evidence: Level IV


Author(s):  
Rebecca Limb ◽  
James King

Abstract Study Objective The main purpose of this article is to address the question of whether reconstructing the sellar floor following Rathke's cleft cyst excision results in increased rates of recurrence. Methods and Design A retrospective case series was compiled from medical records and radiological investigations at a single institution over a time period spanning 25 years. Episodes of cyst recurrence were determined from magnetic resonance imaging scans and outpatient encounters. Details regarding surgical procedure and techniques were obtained from operation notes. Perioperative morbidity was also recorded. Results Twenty-three adult patients were treated surgically for a Rathke's cleft cyst at the study institution between 1992 and 2017. The overall cyst recurrence rate was 48%, with 39% of all patients requiring redo surgery within the timeframe of the study. The mean time to redo surgery for recurrence was 4 years. Cyst recurrence rates were 57% postmicroscopic procedures, and 26% postendoscopic procedures (p = 0.148). In the nonreconstructed group, the recurrence rate was 17%, and in the reconstructed group the recurrence rate was 41% (p = 0.3792). Complications arising after nonreconstructive procedures were delayed cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, pneumocephaly, and multiple episodes of meningitis. All these patients required return to theater for secondary reconstruction of the pituitary fossa floor. Conclusion The results of this small study suggest that reconstruction of the sellar floor, and microscopic rather than endoscopic techniques, may be associated with a higher rate of Rathke's cleft cyst recurrence. However, these trends did not reach statistical significance. Patients undergoing nonreconstructive procedures may be more prone to certain postoperative complications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Handelsmann ◽  
L. Herzog ◽  
Z. Kulcsar ◽  
A. R. Luft ◽  
S. Wegener

AbstractDistinct patient characteristics have been proposed for ischaemic stroke in the anterior versus posterior circulation. However, data on functional outcome according to stroke territory in patients with acute stroke treatment are conflicting and information on outcome predictors is scarce. In this retrospective study, we analysed functional outcome in 517 patients with stroke and thrombolysis and/or thrombectomy treated at the University Hospital Zurich. We compared clinical factors and performed multivariate logistic regression analyses investigating the effect of outcome predictors according to stroke territory. Of the 517 patients included, 80 (15.5%) suffered a posterior circulation stroke (PCS). PCS patients were less often female (32.5% vs. 45.5%, p = 0.031), received thrombectomy less often (28.7% vs. 48.3%, p = 0.001), and had lower median admission NIHSS scores (5 vs. 10, p < 0.001) as well as a better median three months functional outcome (mRS 1 vs. 2, p = 0.010). Predictors for functional outcome were admission NIHSS (OR 0.864, 95% CI 0.790–0.944, p = 0.001) in PCS and age (OR 0.952, 95% CI 0.935–0.970, p < 0.001), known symptom onset (OR 1.869, 95% CI 1.111–3.144, p = 0.018) and admission NIHSS (OR 0.840, 95% CI 0.806–0.876, p < 0.001) in ACS. Acutely treated PCS and ACS patients differed in their baseline and treatment characteristics. We identified specific functional outcome predictors of thrombolysis and/or thrombectomy success for each stroke territory.


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