Outcomes and Experiences of Patients and Their Caregivers After Severe Stroke Requiring Tube Feeding in Peru.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate clinical outcomes of stroke survivors in Peru discharged with artificial nutrition via a feeding tube (FT), and explore perspectives and experiences of these patients and their caregivers. METHODS: Retrospective chart review to describe the prevalence of FT placement and characteristics of patients admitted with stroke to the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas in Lima, Peru between January 2019 and 2021. Follow-up calls to stroke survivors discharged home with FTs or their caregivers included quantitative and qualitative questions to assess long-term outcome and explore perspectives around poststroke care and FT management. We analyzed quantitative data descriptively and applied thematic analysis to qualitative data using a consensus-driven codebook. RESULTS: Of 812 hospitalized patients with stroke, 146 (18%) were discharged home with FT, all with nasogastric tubes (NGTs). Follow-up calls were performed a median of 18 months after stroke with 96 caregivers and three patients. Twenty-five patients (25%) had died, and 82% of survivors (n = 61) remained dependent for some care. Four themes emerged from interviews: (1) perceived suffering (physical, emotional, existential) associated with the NGT and stroke-related disability, often exacerbated by lack of preparedness or prognostic awareness; (2) concerns around compromised personhood and value-discordant care; (3) coping with their loved-one's illness and the caregiving role; and (4) barriers to NGT care and skill acquisition. CONCLUSION: We identified a high burden of palliative and supportive needs among severe stroke survivors with NGTs and their caregivers suggesting opportunities to improve poststroke care through education, communication, and support.

Bilateral Ischemic Strokes Secondary to Moyamoya Syndrome Associated With Graves Thyrotoxicosis in a Patient of Amerindian Descent From Peru: A Case Report.

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is characterized by progressive stenosis of the distal portion of the internal carotid artery and its two main branches, the middle cerebral artery, and the anterior cerebral artery. Clinically, MMD can present with ischemic or hemorrhagic cerebrovascular events. The term Moyamoya syndrome (MMS) is used when the characteristic Moyamoya vasculopathy presents in association with other conditions such as Graves' disease (GD). We report a case of a 34-year-old, right-handed male patient of Amerindian descent. He presented to the emergency room with a two-month history of palpitation, fatigue, and weight loss associated with sudden-onset left hemiparesis, facial asymmetry, and dysarthria. His workup was remarkable for elevated levels of thyroid hormones with the presence of autoantibodies and radiological findings typical of MMS. Moyamoya syndrome in association with Graves' disease has increasingly been noted in Latin American patients and should be considered in the differential diagnosis in the appropriate clinical context.

Fighting Against Stroke in Latin America: A Joint Effort of Medical Professional Societies and Governments.

Introduction: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in Latin America, a region with countless gaps to be addressed to decrease its burden. In 2018, at the first Latin American Stroke Ministerial Meeting, stroke physician and healthcare manager representatives from 13 countries signed the Declaration of Gramado with the priorities to improve the region, with the commitment to implement all evidence-based strategies for stroke care. The second meeting in March 2020 reviewed the achievements in 2 years and discussed new objectives. This paper will review the 2-year advances and future plans of the Latin American alliance for stroke. Method: In March 2020, a survey based on the Declaration of Gramado items was sent to the neurologists participants of the Stroke Ministerial Meetings. The results were confirmed with representatives of the Ministries of Health and leaders from the countries at the second Latin American Stroke Ministerial Meeting. Results: In 2 years, public stroke awareness initiatives increased from 25 to 75% of countries. All countries have started programs to encourage physical activity, and there has been an increase in the number of countries that implement, at least partially, strategies to identify and treat hypertension, diabetes, and lifestyle risk factors. Programs to identify and treat dyslipidemia and atrial fibrillation still remained poor. The number of stroke centers increased from 322 to 448, all of them providing intravenous thrombolysis, with an increase in countries with stroke units. All countries have mechanical thrombectomy, but mostly restricted to a few private hospitals. Pre-hospital organization remains limited. The utilization of telemedicine has increased but is restricted to a few hospitals and is not widely available throughout the country. Patients have late, if any, access to rehabilitation after hospital discharge. Conclusion: The initiative to collaborate, exchange experiences, and unite societies and governments to improve stroke care in Latin America has yielded good results. Important advances have been made in the region in terms of increasing the number of acute stroke care services, implementing reperfusion treatments and creating programs for the detection and treatment of risk factors. We hope that this approach can reduce inequalities in stroke care in Latin America and serves as a model for other under-resourced environments.

COVID-19 Lockdown Effects on Acute Stroke Care in Latin America.

OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 pandemic has forced important changes in health care worldwide. Stroke care networks have been affected, especially during peak periods. We assessed the impact of the pandemic and lockdowns in stroke admissions and care in Latin America. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multinational study (7 countries, 18 centers) of patients admitted during the pandemic outbreak (March-June 2020). Comparisons were made with the same period in 2019. Numbers of cases, stroke etiology and severity, acute care and hospitalization outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Most countries reported mild decreases in stroke admissions compared to the same period of 2019 (1187 vs. 1166, p = 0.03). Among stroke subtypes, there was a reduction in ischemic strokes (IS) admissions (78.3% vs. 73.9%, p = 0.01) compared with 2019, especially in IS with NIHSS 0-5 (50.1% vs. 44.9%, p = 0.03). A substantial increase in the proportion of stroke admissions beyond 48 h from symptoms onset was observed (13.8% vs. 20.5%, p < 0.001). Nevertheless, no differences in total reperfusion treatment rates were observed, with similar door-to-needle, door-to-CT, and door-to-groin times in both periods. Other stroke outcomes, as all-type mortality during hospitalization (4.9% vs. 9.7%, p < 0.001), length of stay (IQR 1-5 days vs. 0-9 days, p < 0.001), and likelihood to be discharged home (91.6% vs. 83.0%, p < 0.001), were compromised during COVID-19 lockdown period. CONCLUSIONS: In this Latin America survey, there was a mild decrease in admissions of IS during the COVID-19 lockdown period, with a significant delay in time to consultations and worse hospitalization outcomes.

Priorities to reduce the burden of stroke in Latin American countries.

The large and increasing burden of stroke in Latin American countries, and the need to meet the UN and WHO requirements for reducing the burden from non-communicable disorders (including stroke), brought together stroke experts and representatives of the Ministries of Health of 13 Latin American countries for the 1st Latin American Stroke Ministerial meeting in Gramado, Brazil, to discuss the problem and identify ways of cooperating to reduce the burden of stroke in the region. Discussions were focused on the regional and country-specific activities associated with stroke prevention and treatment, including public stroke awareness, prevention strategies, delivery and organisation of care, clinical practice gaps, and unmet needs. The meeting culminated with the adoption of the special Gramado Declaration, signed by all Ministerial officials who attended the meeting. With agreed priorities for stroke prevention, treatment, and research, an opportunity now exists to translate this Declaration into an action plan to reduce the burden of stroke.

Infarto cerebral limítrofe secundario a enfermedad inflamatoria orbitaria idiopática / Watershed cerebral infarction secondary to idiopathic orbital inflammatory disease

Los infartos limítrofes son aquellos ubicados en regiones entre dos territorios vasculares contiguos y la enfermedad inflamatoria orbitaria idiopática es un proceso inflamatorio orbitario inespecífico. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 60 años con exoftalmos, ptosis palpebral, disminución de agudeza visual derecha y afección de los nervios oculomotores derechos. Los estudios de imágenes mostraron una masa retro ocular derecha con invasión de los senos cavernosos y esfenoidal. Durante la hospitalización, el paciente sufrió un infarto cerebral limítrofe por compresión de la arteria carótida interna derecha en su segmento intracavernoso. La exéresis y la anatomía patológica de la lesión orbitaria fueron compatibles con la enfermedad inflamatoria orbitaria idiopática. Nuestro caso muestra a la enfermedad inflamatoria orbitaria idiopática como una causa inhabitual de infarto cerebral limítrofe.

Watershed cerebral infarctions are those located in regions between two adjacent vascular territories and Idiopathic orbital inflammatory disease is a nonspecific inflammatory process of the orbit. We report the case of a 60-year-old man who presented suddenly in the right eye: exophthalmos, ptosis, reduced visual acuity and paresis of the extraocular muscles innervated by the III, IV and VI cranial nerves. Imaging studies showed a right retro-ocular mass with invasion of the ipsilateral cavernous and sphenoid sinus. During hospitalization, suddenly he presented a watershed infarction with narrowing of the right internal carotid artery in its intracavernous portion. Surgical excision of the lesion was performed and pathology showed a characteristic infiltration of idiopathic orbital inflammatory disease. Our case shows idiopathic orbital inflammatory disease as an uncommon cause of watershed cerebral infarction.

Fistula carótido-cavernosa unilateral con síntomas neuro-oftalmológicos bilaterales e infarto cerebral venoso: Reporte de un caso / Carotid-cavernous fistula with bilateral neuro-ophthalmologic symptoms and venous ischemia: A case report

La fistula carótido-cavernosa es una comunicación anómala entre la arteria carótida y el seno cavernoso que provoca un shunt arteriovenoso patológico y cuyo origen es traumático o espontáneo. Las manifestaciones clínicas están relacionadas con el cambio de dirección del drenaje venoso y del flujo sanguíneo a través de la fístula e incluyen síntomas oculares tales como quemosis, exoftalmos y soplo orbitario, además de manifestaciones neurológicas como infartos venosos y hemorragias intracerebrales. Su presencia se confirma mediante la angiografía por sustracción digital (ASD) y la clasificación generalmente aceptada se basa en la propuesta por Barrow. El tratamiento endovascular ha sido el enfoque terapéutico preferido durante las últimas dos décadas; sin embargo, el tratamiento quirúrgico sigue siendo una opción cuando aquél falla o no está disponible. Se reporta el caso de una paciente de 71 años de edad, con antecedente de traumatismo cráneo-encefálico en la que se diagnósticó fístula carótido-cavernosa izquierda y síntomas neuro-oftalmológicos bilaterales asociados a un infarto venoso a nivel temporal izquierdo. La paciente fue intervenida quirúrgicamente y presentó una evolución clínica favorable.

The carotid-cavernous fistula is an abnormal communication between the carotid artery and the cavernous sinus that induces a pathological arterio-venous shunt, and whose origin may be traumatic or spontaneous. Its clinical symptoms are related to changes in the direction of the venous drainage and blood flow through the fistula, and include ocular symptoms as chemosis, exophthalmos and orbital murmur besides neurological manifestations such as venous infarctions and intracerebral hemorrhage. Its presence is confirmed by digital subtraction angiography and the generally accepted classification is based on Barrow'se proposal. Endovascular treatment has been the preferred treatment approach for the past two decades; however, surgical treatment remains an option when the former fails or is not possible. The case of a 71 year-old woman with a history of traumatic brain injury is reported: the patient was diagnosed with carotid-cavernous fistula and bilateral neuro-ophthalmic symptoms associated with left temporal venous infarction, and underwent surgical treatment with a favorable clinical outcome.

Monoparesia motora pura braquial como manifestación de infarto cerebral cardioembólico: Reporte de un caso / Pure motor monoparesis as a manifestation of cardioembolic cerebral infarction: Case report

La monoparesia motora pura (MMP) es un déficit motor aislado en una extremidad, superior o inferior, producido por un evento vinculado a enfermedad cerebrovascular. Es un trastorno raro y podría confundirse con otras causas de déficit motor por lo que la diferenciación con otras etiologías se debe realizar a través de una adecuada evaluación clínica y de estudios de neuroimágenes. Se reporta el caso de una paciente de 56 años de edad con antecedente de hipertensión arterial, que debuta súbitamente con una monoparesia motora pura braquial izquierda. En la IRM cerebral se evidenció hiperintensidad en los protocolos de FLAIR y difusión e hipointensidad en el coeficiente de difusión aparente (ADC) en el territorio de arteria cerebral media derecha, segmento M4, correspondiente al área prerolándica en la distribución somatotópica del miembro superior. Se discuten diferentes aspectos etiológicos y de tratamiento de este cuadro. En pacientes que presenten déficit motor agudo de una extremidad, con historia de factores de riesgo vascular, debe considerarse activamente la posibilidad diagnóstica de MMP.

The pure motor monoparesis (PMM) is an isolated motor deficit in an upper or lower extremity usually related to a cerebro-vascular disease. It is a rare condition that can be easily confounded with other pathologies, reason for which should be carefully differentiated through clinical assessment and neuroimaging studies. We report the case of a 56 year-old woman who suddenly presented pure left brachial monoparesis as a manifestation of a right middle cerebral artery stroke. Brain MRI showed a hyperintensity in FLAIR and diffusion protocols, and a subintensity in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the territory of M4 segment of the right middle cerebral artery, corresponding to the prerolandic area in the somatotopical distribution of the upper limb. Different etiologies of an management strategies for this condition are discussed. The diagnosis of PMM due to ischemic stroke should be considered in patients presenting an acute motor deficit in one extremity, braquial or crural, and with history of vascular risk factors.

Arteritis de Takayasu: Etiolog¡a inhabitual de infarto cerebral. Reporte de un caso / Takayasu arteritis: an unusual etiology of ischemic stroke. A case report

La arteritis de Takayasu (AT) es una vasculitis crónica de grandes vasos que afecta a la aorta y a sus principales ramas. La presentación clínica inicial generalmente se manifiesta con síntomas constitucionales inespecíficos, perode forma ocasional puede debutar con isquemia de un órgano determinado. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 31años de edad sin ascendencia japonesa, sin factores de riesgo vasculares, que presentó de forma súbita déficit motoren hemicuerpo derecho y alteración del lenguaje. Al examen físico se encontró ausencia de pulso en una arteriadistal y una diferencia en la presión arterial en los miembros superiores. La angiografía por sustracción digital mostró oclusión de la arteria subclavia y carótida común izquierda, así como estenosis severa de la arteria subclavia derecha en su parte media.Se diagnosticó AT de acuerdo a los criterios diagnósticos del Colegio Americano de Reumatólogos de 1990 ylos Criterios modificados de Ishikawa. La paciente recibió tratamiento médico y de la rehabilitación con buena respuesta. La AT debe considerarse como posibilidad etiológica en todos los pacientes jóvenes que presenten uninfarto cerebral. Su diagnóstico precoz es crucial, ya que esta patología es sensible al tratamiento médico y se asociacon buenos resultados clínicos.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic large vessel vasculitis that affects the aorta and its main branches. The initialclinical presentation is generally with non-specific constitutional symptoms, but occasionally it may debut with aparticular organ ischemia. We report the case of a 31-year-old woman, who presented suddenly a motor deficit inthe right hemibody and language impairment. Physical examination revealed the lack of a pulse in a distal artery and the difference in blood pressure between upper limbs. Digital subtraction angiography showed occlusion of the left subclavian artery and left common carotid artery and severe stenosis of the right subclavian artery in the middle portion. AT was diagnosed according to the diagnostic criteria of the American College of Rheumatologists, 1990. The patient received medical treatment and rehabilitation with good response. AT as an etiologic possibility should be considered in all young patients who have a stroke. Early diagnosis is crucial because this pathology is sensitive to medical treatment and it is associated with good clinical results.

Enfermedad de Moyamoya: reporte de un caso / Moyamoya disease: a case report

La enfermedad de Moyamoya es una patología caracterizada por la estenosis progresiva de la arteria carótida interna y sus ramas principales. Es de etiología desconocida, tiene como forma de presentación a la enfermedad cerebrovascular isquémica o hemorrágica, siendo la primera más frecuente, y afecta en mayor proporción a niños y adultos jóvenes constituyendo un reto diagnóstico. Su presencia se confirma mediante la angiografía por sustracción digital (ASD) y el manejo es médico y/o quirúrgico, siendo el último el que se asocia a un mejor pronóstico. Comunicamos el caso de un paciente peruano de ascendencia japonesa, sin factores de riesgo, con una hemorragia intracraneal cuyo diagnóstico final fue enfermedad de Moyamoya...

Moyamoya disease is characterized by progressive stenosis of the internal carotid artery and its main branches. The cause of the disease is unknown, ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke are the main manifestations (the former is more common) that disproportionately affect children and young adults, and is consider a diagnostic challenge. Its presence is confirmed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and the management may be medical or surgical, being the latter associated with a better prognosis. We report the case of a Peruvian male of Japanese ancestry without risk factors, with an intracranial hemorrhage who was finally diagnosed with Moyamoya disease...