Prognosis and enhancement of recovery in disorders of consciousness.

Disorders of consciousness after severe brain injury encompass conditions of coma, vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, and minimally conscious state. DoC clinical presentation pose perplexing challenges to medical professionals, researchers, and families alike. The outcome is uncertain in the first weeks to months after a brain injury, with families and medical providers often making important decisions that require certainty. Prognostication for individuals with these conditions has been the subject of intense scientific investigation that continues to strive for valid prognostic indicators and algorithms for predicting recovery of consciousness. This manuscript aims to provide an overview of the current clinical landscape surrounding prognosis and optimizing recovery in DoC and the current and future research that could improve prognostic accuracy after severe brain injury. Improved understanding of these factors will aid healthcare professionals in providing optimal care, fostering hope, and advocating for ethical practices in the management of individuals with DoC.

Twelve-month outcomes with a paclitaxel-eluting stent transitioning from controlled trials to clinical practice (the WISDOM Registry)

The WISDOM Registry tracked clinical outcomes in patients receiving a slow-release, polymer-based, paclitaxel-eluting stent during the transition from randomized trials to commercial use in everyday interventional cardiology practice. Although randomized trialsof drug-eluting stents have demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of these devices in less complicated, de novo lesions, observation of long-term clinical outcomes is required to monitor safety as use of this revolutionary technology expands to broader patient populations. In total, 778 patients were enrolled at 22 sites in 9 countries where the TAXUS paclitaxel-eluting stent first received market approval. Patients with de novo or restenotic coronary lesions eligible for stenting were enrolled. Clinical follow-up was conducted bytelephone at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the procedure to capture reported stent thrombosis and major cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, and reintervention on the target lesion). Clinical follow-up at 12 months was completed for 92% of patients. The 12-monthrate of physician-reported major cardiac events was 5.2%, with a target lesion reintervention rate of 2.0%. The low overall stent thrombosis rate of 0.6% included no stent thromboses >30 days after the index procedure. Low target lesion reintervention rates were also observed in the high-risk subgroups: patients with diabetes (4.0%), vessels 20 mm (3.6%), and multiple stents in a lesion (1.4%). In conclusion, the paclitaxeleluting TAXUS slow-release stent exhibits long-term safety and efficacy in uncomplicated and higher risk patients and lesions seen in everyday clinical practice.