Fabrice Vuillier

Patent Foramen Ovale Closure or Anticoagulation vs. Antiplatelets after Stroke

BACKGROUND Trials of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure to prevent recurrent stroke have been inconclusive. We investigated whether patients with cryptogenic stroke and echocardiographic features representing risk of stroke would benefit from PFO closure or anticoagulation, as compared with antiplatelet therapy. METHODS In a multicenter, randomized, open‐label trial, we assigned, in a 1:1:1 ratio, patients 16 to 60 years of age who had had a recent stroke attributed to PFO, with an associated atrial septal aneurysm or large interatrial shunt, to transcatheter PFO closure plus long‐term antiplatelet therapy (PFO closure group), antiplatelet therapy alone (antiplatelet‐only group), or oral anticoagulation (anticoagulation group) (randomization group 1). Patients with contraindications to anticoagulants or to PFO closure were randomly assigned to the alternative noncontraindicated treatment or to antiplatelet therapy (randomization groups 2 and 3). The primary outcome was occurrence of stroke. The comparison of PFO closure plus antiplatelet therapy with antiplatelet therapy alone was performed with combined data from randomization groups 1 and 2, and the comparison of oral anticoagulation with antiplatelet therapy alone was performed with combined data from randomization groups 1 and 3. RESULTS A total of 663 patients underwent randomization and were followed for a mean (±SD) of 5.3±2.0 years. In the analysis of randomization groups 1 and 2, no stroke occurred among the 238 patients in the PFO closure group, whereas stroke occurred in 14 of the 235 patients in the antiplatelet‐only group (hazard ratio, 0.03; 95% confidence interval, 0 to 0.26; P<0.001). Procedural complications from PFO closure occurred in 14 patients (5.9%). The rate of atrial fibrillation was higher in the PFO closure group than in the antiplatelet‐only group (4.6% vs. 0.9%, P=0.02). The number of serious adverse events did not differ significantly between the treatment groups (P=0.56). In the analysis of randomization groups 1 and 3, stroke occurred in 3 of 187 patients assigned to oral anticoagulants and in 7 of 174 patients assigned to antiplatelet therapy alone. CONCLUSIONS Among patients who had had a recent cryptogenic stroke attributed to PFO with an associated atrial septal aneurysm or large interatrial shunt, the rate of stroke recurrence was lower among those assigned to PFO closure combined with antiplatelet therapy than among those assigned to antiplatelet therapy alone. PFO closure was associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. (Funded by the French Ministry of Health; CLOSE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00562289.)

Impact of Emergency Room Neurologists on Patient Management and Outcome

The frequency and impact of in-patient assessment by a neurologist in the emergency room (ER) setting remain largely underestimated. The objective of our study was to analyse the impact of neurologist in-patient management. Methods: Over a period of 12 months, we prospectively recorded the demographics of patients requiring examination in the ER, the ER team’s tentative neurological diagnosis, the neurology team’s final diagnosis and patient outcomes. The time interval between admission, call for a neurologist and the assessment by the neurologist were recorded. Results: Assessments by neurologists were performed in 14.7% (1,679/11,421) of all patients admitted to the ER. The mean time between admission and examination was 32 (± 36) min, irrespective of the day of the week, and dependent on the tentative diagnosis: shorter for stroke and status epilepticus (p < 0.05) and longer for confusion and vertigo (p < 0.05). The initial causes for examination were: stroke (33.1%), epilepsy (20%), loss of consciousness (9%), headaches (9%), confusion (5.4%), peripheral nervous system disorders (4.4%), vertigo (4.2%), cognitive dysfunctions (4%), gait disorders (3.2%) and miscellaneous (7.1%). Overall, false positive or negative diagnoses were produced by the ER in 37.3 and 36.6% of ER admissions, respectively. A complete change of diagnosis by the neurologist was found in 52.5% of patients. Of the patients undergoing a neurological examination, 18.4% were able to go home, 31.8% were admitted to the stroke unit, 32.4% to the general neurology unit and 17.4% to other departments. Conclusion: Our study stresses the need for a neurologist in the ER, both in quantitative terms and for the benefit of patient management.

Role of a Stroke Data Bank in Evaluating Cerebral Infarction Subtypes: Patterns and Outcome of 1,776 Consecutive Patients from the Besançon Stroke Registry

The purpose of this study was to estimate the frequency of various risk factors, courses and outcome of infarct subtypes in a large hospital-based stroke registry. Methods: From 1987 to 1994, 1,776 stroke patients with a first-ever infarction were included in the Besançon Stroke Registry. All patients were evaluated by a standard protocol (risk factors, stroke onset, stroke courses, clinical characteristics, neuroimaging, Doppler ultrasonography and cardiac investigations). Outcome was evaluated at 30 days using the Rankin scale. Results: There were 1,012 men (mean age 67.2 ± 13.7 years) and 764 women (mean age 71.4 ± 15.6 years). At least two neuroimaging examinations were performed in 81.4% (n = 1,446) of the patients and an infarct was visible in 80.9% (n = 1,436). The second neuroimaging examination (CT or MRI) was performed after 8.2 ± 1.6 days. 85.4% of patients were admitted on the first day of the stroke: 28.3% within 3 h and 48.4% within 6 h. In addition, stroke severity was well correlated with the short time interval between stroke onset and admission. Past medical history of hypertension was the major risk factor occurring in 57.5% of all types of infarction. While diabetes was more frequently found in small deep infarct, atrial fibrillation and history of heart failure were found in anterior circulation infarcts. The distribution of clinical presentations was conventional. Hemorrhagic transformation was found in 14.9% of the patients, especially in MCA and PCA infarcts. In all patients, logistic regression analysis determined independent predictive factors for death: clinical deterioration at the 48th hour (OR 7.5, 95% CI 4.9–11.3), initial loss of consciousness (OR 3.3, 95% CI 2.1–4.9), age (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03–1.06), complete motor deficit (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.7–3.8), history of heart failure (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3–3.0), lacunar syndrome (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.10–0.60) and regressive stroke onset (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.10–0.52). However, the outcome was clearly correlated with the infarct location. The in-hospital mortality rate was lowest in patients with small deep infarct (2.9%) or border zone infarcts (3.4%) and the highest in patients with total middle cerebral artery infarct (47.4%) or multiple infarcts (27.6%). Conclusion: Our registry appears to be a useful tool to understand the course and outcome of a large group of nonselected patients with subtypes of infarction. It can also help to analyze the influence of specific stroke management in the different categories of stroke types.

Descriptive anatomy of the femoral portion of the iliopsoas muscle. Anatomical basis of anterior snapping of the hip

Abstract: Anterior hip snapping is a rare clinical observation. The physiopathological hypothesis currently held is a sudden slip of the iliopsoas tendon over the iliopectineal eminence. For symptomatic cases, a surgical technique is proposed. The aim of this work is to describe the anatomy of the femoral portion of the iliopsoas, which is the target of surgery. We have studied, through dissection of embalmed cadavers, the different components of the musculotendinous complex forming the femoral portion of the muscle and the gliding apparatus associated with it. The psoas major tendon exhibited a characteristic rotation. The iliacus tendon, more lateral, received the most medial iliacus muscular fibers, then fused with the main tendon. The most lateral fibers, starting in particular from the ventral portion of the iliac crest, ended up without any tendon on the anterior surface of the lesser trochanter and in the infratrochanteric region. The most inferior muscular fibers of the iliacus, starting from the arcuate line, joined the principal tendon of the psoas major passing around it by its ventromedial surface. An ilio-infratrochanteric muscular bundle was observed, in a deeper position, under the iliopsoas tendon; it arose from the interspinous incisure and on the anterior inferior iliac spine, ran along the anterolateral edge of the iliacus and inserted without any tendon onto the anterior surface of the lesser trochanter of the femur and in the infratrochanteric area. The iliopectineal bursa was studied on horizontal cross sections of a frozen pelvis and on 5 of the non-frozen preparations after dividing the iliopsoas tendon. The iliopectineal bursa had the shape of a 5 to 6-cm high and 3-cm wide cavity; in its upper part, it was divided into 2 compartments a medial compartment for the main tendon and a lateral compartment for the accessory tendon.

Arterial Territories of the Human Brain

We present a brain map of the areas supplied by various arteries in the brainstem, cerebellum and cerebral hemispheres. Arterial territories are depicted in a form that is directly applicable to neuroimaging slices in clinical practice. The arterial territories are outlined based on an extensive overview of anatomical studies of cerebral blood supply. For arterial territories of the hemispheres, we present the variability of the cortical territories of the three main cerebral arteries and define the minimal and maximal cortical supply areas.

Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhages in the Besançon Stroke Registry

The purpose of this study was to estimate the risk factors, early course, outcome and neuroimaging patterns in primary intracerebral hemorrhages (PIH). Using the Besançon Stroke Registry, 350 patients with first PIH documented by computed tomography (CT) between 1987 and 1993 were included in the present study. Patients with hemorrhage secondary to traumatism, brain tumor, thrombolytic treatment, vascular malformation or with hemorrhagic infarction were excluded. All CTs were evaluated to define the location, extension and volume of bleeding (55% of CT were performed within the first 12 h). Causes of death were classified and the 30-day outcome survival was evaluated with a modified Rankin scale (40 patients underwent a noncodified surgical procedure and were excluded from the outcome evaluation). Locations were lobar (36.5%), lenticular (32%), thalamic (15.7%), cerebellar (8.8%), midbrain and pons (2%), intraventricular (2%), caudate (1%) and multiple (2%). Risk factors included hypertension (54.8%), alcohol (18%) anticoagulant treatment (8.8%) and none (31.2%). The largest mean volume was in putaminal (41.7 ml) and lobar (39.8 ml) locations. Among 191 patients admitted before the 12th hour of evolution, 51 (26.7%) experienced an early clinical worsening. In this group, the percentage of patients with anticoagulant treatment (19.6%) was significantly higher (p < 0.0001). PIH enlargement was documented in 3 patients. Overall, the 30-day mortality rate was 24.2% with 48% of all deaths occurring in the first 3 days. Death and 30-day survival status were closely associated with PIH volume (p < 0.0001). Our study provides information on the natural history of PIH and especially on initial evolution. PIH volume seems to be an interesting indicator for death and functional status at 30 days.

Telemedicine in Stroke: Organizing a Network – Rationale and Baseline Principles

Telestroke is the specific term used for the application of telemedicine in stroke. It is a consultative modality that facilitates care of patients with acute stroke at underserved hospitals by specialists at stroke centers and can play a vital role in minimizing the overall medicosocial impact of stroke. Telestroke should not be viewed as a new form of stroke therapy, rather as a means of supporting the increased delivery of evidenced-based medicine in stroke. The design and implementation of a hub-and-spoke telestroke network are complex and require state-of-the-art technology and close, organized collaboration between healthcare professionals if they are to be achieved. Telestroke is becoming part of clinical practice in some regions. It provides rapid access to specialized treatment and it could also potentially lead to major improvements in basic on-site management. Telemedicine is also being used for secondary prevention, rehabilitation, education and long-term stroke care. However, for progress to continue and in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of telestroke, various medicolegal, economic and market issues need to be resolved.

The human pineal gland: Relationships with surrounding structures and blood supply

Abstract After a short overview of the history of our knowledge of the pineal gland, Its anatomy and its function, this work is primarily devoted to the relationships of the pineal gland to the nerve structures which delineate the pineal region. The complex surrounding blood vessels located in the quadrigeminal cistern are described with a special focus on the numerous venous trunks. Finally, the pineal blood supply is studied in three steps:, (1) The arterial supply obtained through several groups of pineal arteries stemming mainly from the medial posterior choroidal arteries; (2) The venous drainage by the lateral pineal veins flowing; in most cases, into the cerebral vein of Galen; (3) The intrapineal vascular architecture with specific features concerning the central part of the gland highly vascularized by large sinusoid capillaries and its peripheral part poorly vascularized by small and fine blood vessels. [Neurol Res 2000; 22: 747-790]

Side-effects of L-dopa on venous tone in Parkinson's disease: a leg-weighing assessment.

In the present study, the effects of L-dopa treatment on cardiovascular variables and peripheral venous tone were assessed in 13 patients with Parkinsons disease (PD) with Hoehn and Yahr stages 1-4. Patients were investigated once with their regular treatment and once after 12 h of interruption of L-dopa treatment. L-Dopa intake significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline in both the supine and upright (60 degrees ) positions. A significant reduction in stroke volume and cardiac output was also seen with L-dopa. The vascular status of the legs was assessed through thigh compression during leg weighing, a new technique developed in our laboratory. Healthy subjects were used to demonstrate that this technique provided reproducible results, consistent with those provided by strain gauge plethysmography of the calf. When using this technique in patients with PD, L-dopa caused a significant lowering of vascular tone in the lower limbs as shown, in particular, by an increase in venous distensibility. Combined with the results of the orthostatic tilting, these findings support that the treatment-linked lowering of plasma noradrenaline in patients with PD was concomitant with a significant reduction in blood pressure, heart rate and vascular tone in the lower limbs. These pharmacological side-effects contributed to reduce venous return and arterial blood pressure which, together with a lowered heart rate, worsened the haemodynamic status.

Main anatomical features of the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery: a 3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography at 3 T study

The purpose of our study was to determine the main anatomical features of the M1 segment of middle cerebral artery (MRA) using a 3D TOF-MRA at 3 T. Reconstructed and post-processed MRA images were independently analysed by two anatomists in order to determine the course patterns, the division patterns and the early cortical branches patterns of the M1 segments. The division patterns were defined as bipode, tripode or other. The ECB were studied according to their number and their distance from the origin of the M1 segment. The interobserver agreement, to determine the division patterns of the M1 segment, was calculated. The division of the M1 segment was bipode in 73% of the MCAs, monopode in 17%, tripode in 9%, and fan-shaped in 1. In 46% of the cases no ECB was found. In the other cases, only 1 ECB was found and it arose from the medium part of the M1 segment. Our results confirm post-mortem microdissection studies and show that strict anatomical criteria may be applied to 3D TOF MRA at 3 T.