Surgical left atrial appendage closure: success rate and its relationship with cerebrovascular accident

Background: Several surgical procedures such as excision or exclusion are recommended for the closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA). This study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the success rate of different surgical techniques for LAA closure, their respective complications, and the rate of post-surgical cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Methods: This retrospective study included 150 consecutive patients who underwent LAA closure most commonly after mitral valve surgery within 3 to 6 months after surgery. An expert echocardiographic fellow collected the data on patients’ surgical LAA closure methods and history of CVA, types of prosthetic valves, mortality, and bleeding. Results: The failure rate for complete LAA closure was 36.7% (55 patients) in our study. The greatest success rate of complete LAA closure was seen in purse-string method (75.5%), followed by resection method (71.4%), while the lowest success rate (≈ 33.3%) was observed in ligation method. A significant relationship was observed between clots on the surface of metallic valve and postoperative CVA (P = 0.001; likelihood ratio: 32). significant relationship between partial LAA closure and the incidence of post-surgical CVA (P > 0.050). Conclusion: We observed the highest success rate of complete LAA closure in purse-string method followed by resection method. Interestingly, our results showed that despite the higher rate of residual LAA clot in cases of partial LAA closure, the occurrence of post-surgical CVA was mostly related to the presence of clots on the surface of metallic mitral prostheses rather than the presence of partial LAA closure.

Unsolved Issues of Atherosclerosis Prevention and of Adequate Lipid-lowering Therapy in Patients with Acute Ischemic Cerebrovascular Accident

The existing system of medical care for patients with acute cerebrovascular accident of atherothrombotic genesis, namely lipid metabolism disorders, the modern evidence base for lipid-lowering therapy in this category of patients and the feasibility of interdisciplinary interaction of cardiologists and neurologists were discussed at a meeting of the expert council of cardiologists and neurologists in Moscow on 2021 July 7.

Specific health-related quality of life in Cerebrovascular accident survivors: associated factors

ABSTRACT Objectives: to identify factors associated with specific health-related quality of life in cerebrovascular accident, or stroke, survivors. Methods: cross-sectional study, carried out with 160 cerebrovascular accident survivors. Data were collected using the Barthel Index, Cerebrovascular Accident Specific Quality of Life Scale, and semi-structured instruments for sociodemographic and clinical data, analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: health-related quality of life was associated with work activity (p=0.027), physical activity (p=0.007), functional capacity (p=0.001), presence of caregiver (<0.001), motor alteration (p = 0.001) and rehabilitation (p=0.003). The functionally dependent people were 14.61 times more likely to present low health-related quality of life, and those with motor impairment were 3.07 times more likely. Conclusions: it was evidenced that functional dependence and motor impairment increase the chance of low health-related quality of life in cerebrovascular accident survivors.

Temporarily Abled: How Exoskeleton Experience Reinvents Bodies in Spinal Cord Injury and Cerebrovascular Accidents

Recent achievements in rehabilitative robotics modify essential parameters of the human body, such as motility. Exoskeletons used for persons with neurological impairments like spinal cord injury and stroke enter this category by rehabilitating and assisting damaged motor patterns, achievements thought impossible until not long ago. Unlike other examples leading to similar dysfunctions, such as diseases or tumors, the experience of an accident causing a spinal cord injury or the occurrence of a cerebrovascular accident is sudden and perceived as a radical event. This often leads to deep consequences for one’s own body capacities. Exoskeletons attempt to alter this condition, contributing to forge a temporary abled body, although this currently happens in the restricted space of a clinic or a lab and under very controlled conditions for the predominance of users. Using qualitative empirical material from an ongoing study in sociology, including expert and narrative interviews as well as ethnographic visits in labs and centers that design and test exoskeletons, this article addresses the challenges and gains that people with stroke and spinal cord injury experience during their training with exoskeletons. The discussed cases contribute to reassess categories from the phenomenological paradigm, disability studies, and the role medical technologies play in contemporary body worlds.

Cerebrovascular Accident Complicating Diabetic Ketoacidosis in a Nigerian Adolescent: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is a rare neurological complication of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in the paediatric population. The risk of developing CVA in DKA patients is often increased due to abnormalities in coagulation factors, platelet activation, blood volume and flow, and vascular reactivity. Cerebral oedema, the most common neurological complication of DKA, may also predispose to CVA. We report the case of a -12-year-old adolescent with DKA complicated by CVA. She developed features of right hemispheric CVA while on admission and had radiological confirmation of an ischaemic CVA. This report highlights that cerebrovascular accidents in DKA can easily be missed or confused with cerebral oedema.

AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine: A possible risk factor for Stroke, Case Series

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is one of the commonest neurological deficits. There is a well-known association between COVID-19 and stroke. We present a case series of Sudanese patients who developed CVA after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine suggesting a relationship between the vaccine and CVA.

SOME ASPECTS OF ACUTE CEREBROVASCULAR PATHOLOGY IN POSTPARTUM WOMEN

В данной статье, представлены результаты обследования 17 женщин, перенесших острое нарушение мозгового кровообращения в послеродовом периоде, с 2017 по 2021 годы, в возрасте от 19 до 39 лет. Показано, что у женщин в послеродовом периоде, перенесших острое нарушение мозгового кровообращения, выявлено преобладание ишемического инсульта над геморрагическим, что составило 64,7% и 35,3% соответственно. Неврологические признаки церебрального инсульта в послеродовом периоде характеризуются двигательными, речевыми расстройствами, нарушением чувствительности, а также часто психоэмоциональными проявлениями. Генерализованные тонико-клонические приступы чаще наблюдались у пациенток с геморрагическим инсультом (33,3%), в сравнении с ишемическим инсультом (9,1%). У женщин в послеродовом периоде, перенесших острое нарушение мозгового кровообращения, наиболее значимыми факторами риска являются: наличие хронических заболеваний, в том числе отягощенный акушерско-гинекологический анамнез, прием пероральных контрацептивов, а также курение. Биоэлектрическая активность головного мозга характеризовалась выраженной дельта и тета активностью, эпилептиформными разрядами в виде острых волн, спайков и комплексов «пик-волна», с преобладанием у пациенток с геморрагическим инсультом. Более значительное повышение индекса когерентности в дельта и тета диапазонах у пациентов, перенесших геморрагический инсульт, может указывать на более грубые межполушарные нарушения, в сравнении с ишемическим инсультом. Отмечено повышение интегрального индекса диапазона медленно-волновой активности и преобладание процентного отношения спектральных мощностей медленных волн (дельта, тета) к быстрым волнам (альфа, бета), особенно выраженное у больных с геморрагическим инсультом (р < 0,05), в сравнении с ишемическим инсультом. Наиболее тяжелое течение послеродового периода наблюдалось у пациенток с геморрагическим инсультом, именно в этом случае было 2 летальных исхода. This article presents the results of a survey of 17 women with acute cerebrovascular accident in the postpartum period, from 2017 to 2021, aged 19 to 39 years. It is shown that the period in women in the postpartum period, who underwent acute cerebrovascular accident, revealed the prevalence of ischemic stroke over hemorrhagic, which amounted to 64,7% and 35,3%, respectively. Neurological signs of cerebral stroke in the postpartum period are characterized by movement, speech disorders, impaired sensitivity, and often psychoemotional manifestations. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures were more often observed in patients with hemorrhagic stroke (33,3%) in comparison with ischemic stroke (9,1%). In postpartum women who have suffered acute cerebrovascular accident, the most significant risk factors are: the presence of chronic diseases, including a burdened obstetric and gynecological history, taking oral contraceptives, as well as smoking. The bioelectrical activity of the brain was characterized by pronounced delta and theta activity, epileptiform discharges in the form of sharp waves, spikes and peak-wave complexes, with a predominance in patients with hemorrhagic stroke. A more significant increase in the coherence index in the delta and theta ranges in patients after hemorrhagic stroke may indicate more severe interhemispheric disorders in comparison with ischemic stroke. An increase in the integral index of the range of slow-wave activity and a predominance of the percentage of the spectral powers of slow waves (delta, theta) to fast waves (alpha, beta), especially pronounced in patients with hemorrhagic stroke (p <0,05), in comparison with ischemic stroke. The most severe postpartum period was observed in patients with hemorrhagic stroke, in this case there were 2 deaths.

Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Using Robotic Magnetic Navigation Reduces the Incidence of Silent Cerebral Embolism

Background: The incidence of silent cerebral embolisms (SCEs) has been documented after pulmonary vein isolation using different ablation technologies; however, it is unreported in patients undergoing with atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation using Robotic Magnetic Navigation (RMN). The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the incidence, risk predictors and probable mechanisms of SCEs in patients with AF ablation and the potential impact of RMN on SCE rates.Methods and Results: We performed a prospective study of 166 patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF who underwent pulmonary vein isolation. Patients were divided into RMN group (n = 104) and manual control (MC) group (n = 62), and analyzed for their demographic, medical, echocardiographic, and risk predictors of SCEs. All patients underwent cerebral magnetic resonance imaging within 48 h before and after the ablation procedure to assess cerebral embolism. The incidence and potential risk factors of SCEs were compared between the two groups. There were 26 total cases of SCEs in this study, including 6 cases in the RMN group and 20 cases in the MC group. The incidences of SCEs in the RMN group and the MC group were 5.77 and 32.26%, respectively (X2 = 20.63 P &lt; 0.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that ablation technology, CHA2DS2-VASc score, history of cerebrovascular accident/transient ischemic attack, and low ejection fraction were significantly associated with SCEs, and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that MC ablation was the only independent risk factor of SCEs after an AF ablation procedure.Conclusions: Ablation technology, CHA2DS2-VASc score, history of cerebrovascular accident/transient ischemic attack, and low ejection fraction are associated with SCEs. However, ablation technology is the only independent risk factor of SCEs and RMN can significantly reduce the incidence of SCEs resulting from AF ablation.Clinical Trial Registration: ChiCTR2100046505.