Ictus y discapacidad: estudio longitudinal en pacientes con discapacidad moderada-grave tras un ictus incluidos en un programa de rehabilitación multidisciplinar / Disability after stroke: a longitudinal study in moderate and severe stroke patients included in a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program

Introducción. Los ictus son causa frecuente de discapacidad en el adulto; sin embargo, la repercusión que los déficits que acontecen tras un ictus moderado-grave tiene sobre el grado de discapacidad final, así como la respuesta de éstos a programas de rehabilitación, no se ha estudiado por completo. Pacientes y métodos. Se incluyeron 396 pacientes con Rankin modificado >= 3 después de un ictus isquémico (n = 221) o hemorrágico (n = 175). En todos los pacientes se evaluó su situación cognitiva, conductual, emocional, motora y funcional. Todos los pacientes fueron incluidos en un programa de rehabilitación multidisciplinar y reevaluados tras seis meses de tratamiento. Resultados. El riesgo de caída (escala de equilibrio de Berg < 45 en el 83,1% de la muestra) y los déficits funcionales (índice de Barthel < 75 en el 82,8% de la muestra) fueron los problemas más prevalentes en el momento del ingreso, mientras que los conductuales lo fueron en el del alta (55,1% de la muestra). Los problemas emocionales fueron los que más mejoraron, mientras que los conductuales fueron los que menos lo hicieron. El nivel de discapacidad global mejoró tras el tratamiento, aunque sólo un 11% de los pacientes, especialmente los que tenían buena situación cognitiva en el ingreso, lograron alcanzar una discapacidad leve. Conclusiones. Las consecuencias del ictus son multidimensionales. La afectación de las distintas esferas y el patrón de recuperación son diferenciales, con predominio a largo plazo de los problemas conductuales (AU)

Introduction. Stroke is a recognized cause of disability among adults. However the impact that the deficits that occur after a moderate/severe stroke have on long-term disability, as well as the response of the resultant deficits to rehabilitation, are not completely understood. Patients and Methods: A total of 396 patients with a modified Rankin score >= 3 after an ischemic (n = 221) or hemorrhagic (n = 175) stroke were included in this study. All patients were assessed with cognitive, behavior, emotional, motor and functional domains. All patients were assessed at baseline and six months after inclusion in a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program. Results: Risk of falling (Berg Balance Scale < 45 in 83.1% of the sample at baseline and 49.5% at follow-up) and functional problems (82.8% with a Barthel Index < 75 at baseline and 53% at follow-up) were the most prevalent deficits. Emotional disturbances were those that most improved while behavioral problems were those that did less. Although global disability improved during treatment among most patients, only 11% of our patients, especially those with preserved cognitive function at baseline, could be classified as patients with mild disability at follow-up. Conclusions: Stroke consequences are multidimensional. The symptoms that the stroke can cause in multiple domains, as well as the pattern of recovery are widely diverse, with prevalence of behavioral long-term disturbances (AU)

Study of the Recovery Patterns of Elderly Subacute Stroke Patients in an Interdisciplinary Neurorehabilitation Unit.

BACKGROUND: This study seeks to establish the facts of the improvement over time in elderly poststroke patients. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed with regard to 106 subacute stroke patients aged older than 65 years, who were treated in an interdisciplinary neurorehabilitation unit. Three assessment points were established (on admission, 6 months post-onset, and 12 months post-onset), with the scores relative to 10 assessment scales having been collected at each point. RESULTS: By means of a principal component analysis, a first component was obtained, which is taken to represent a combined index of the 10 scales and to express the overall health status of the patient. An analysis of variance of this first component enabled a clear improvement trend to be identified, with this being more marked during the first 6-month period (72.7%) than the second 6-month period (27.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The elderly stroke patients underwent an interdisciplinary rehabilitation program lasting 1 year, experimented an initial period of rapid recovery during the first 6 months followed by a less marked period of improvement. However, no stabilization period in the patients' progress was found.

Del estado vegetativo al estado de vigilia sin respuesta: una revisión histórica / From the vegetative state to unresponsive wakefulness: a historical review

Introducción. A lo largo de estas últimas décadas, la terminología, las técnicas diagnósticas y el tratamiento de los pacientescon niveles alterados de la conciencia han variado de forma considerable. A su vez, el porcentaje de pacientes en estasituación clínica se ha incrementado notablemente. Objetivo. Se presenta una revisión histórica de los diferentes términos que la literatura médica ha utilizado para la descripción de los pacientes con estados alterados de conciencia. El artículo incluye además los diferentes criterios diagnósticosempleados por los grupos de estudio que han centrado su interés en esta población. Desarrollo. Semiológicamente, el concepto de ‘estado vegetativo’ acuñado en los años setenta se ha transformado y se ha sustituido por términos con una connotación menos negativa, como el de ‘síndrome de vigilia sin respuesta’. Paralelamente, han surgido nuevas categorías clínicas (estado de mínima conciencia o de mínima conciencia plus) al reconocerse la existencia de pacientes con bajo nivel de conciencia pero con signos congruentes de interacción con el entorno a través de conductas inequívocamente voluntarias ante órdenes o gestos. Conclusión. El espectro semiológico de los pacientes con niveles alterados de conciencia refleja la heterogeneidad clínica y neuropatológica de estos estados. La tendencia actual es la de hacer una descripción clínica del estado, añadiendo la etiología y la fecha del evento que causó el cuadro clínico. Este artículo se centra en el contexto de un esfuerzo de la comunidad científica por hacer presente las necesidades de esta creciente población (AU)

Introduction. Over the last few decades, the terminology, diagnostic techniques and treatment of patients with alteredlevels of consciousness have varied considerably. At the same time, the percentage of patients in this clinical situation has undergone a marked increase. Aims. The purpose of this study is to present a historical review of the different terms that have been used in the medical literature to describe patients with altered states of consciousness. The article also includes the different diagnostic criteria utilised by research groups that have focused their attention on this population. Development. The concept of ‘vegetative state’, a term coined back in the sixties, has since been transformed and replaced by other terms with a less negative connotation, such as ‘unresponsive wakefulness syndrome’. In parallel, new clinical categories (minimally conscious state or minimally conscious plus) have appeared since it has been acknowledgedthat there are patients with a low level of consciousness but who nevertheless show signs that are consistent with interaction with the environment by means of unmistakeably voluntary behaviours in response to orders or gestures. Conclusions. The wide spectrum of signs and symptoms shown by patients with altered levels of consciousness reflects theclinical and neuropathological heterogeneity of these states. The current tendency is to describe the state clinically, adding the aetiology and the date of the event that caused the clinical picture. This article focuses on the context of an effort made by the scientific community to highlight the needs of this growing population (AU)

[From the vegetative state to unresponsive wakefulness: a historical review]. / Del estado vegetativo al estado de vigilia sin respuesta: una revisión histórica.

INTRODUCTION: Over the last few decades, the terminology, diagnostic techniques and treatment of patients with altered levels of consciousness have varied considerably. At the same time, the percentage of patients in this clinical situation has undergone a marked increase. AIMS: The purpose of this study is to present a historical review of the different terms that have been used in the medical literature to describe patients with altered states of consciousness. The article also includes the different diagnostic criteria utilised by research groups that have focused their attention on this population. DEVELOPMENT: The concept of 'vegetative state', a term coined back in the sixties, has since been transformed and replaced by other terms with a less negative connotation, such as 'unresponsive wakefulness syndrome'. In parallel, new clinical categories (minimally conscious state or minimally conscious plus) have appeared since it has been acknowledged that there are patients with a low level of consciousness but who nevertheless show signs that are consistent with interaction with the environment by means of unmistakeably voluntary behaviours in response to orders or gestures. CONCLUSIONS: The wide spectrum of signs and symptoms shown by patients with altered levels of consciousness reflects the clinical and neuropathological heterogeneity of these states. The current tendency is to describe the state clinically, adding the aetiology and the date of the event that caused the clinical picture. This article focuses on the context of an effort made by the scientific community to highlight the needs of this growing population.