[Withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration in severe stroke: medical, legal and ethical considerations]. / Aspects médicaux, législatifs et éthiques de l'arrêt de la nutrition et de l'hydratation artificielles dans l'accident vasculaire cérébral grave.

In the majority of cases, severe stroke is accompanied by difficulty in swallowing and an altered state of consciousness requiring artificial nutrition and hydration. Because of their artificial nature, nutrition and hydration are considered by law as treatment rather basic care. Withdrawal of these treatments is dictated by the refusal of unreasonable obstinacy enshrined in law and is justified by the risk of severe disability and very poor quality of life. It is usually the last among other withholding and withdrawal decisions which have already been made during the long course of the disease. Reaching a collegial consensus on a controversial decision such as artificial nutrition and hydration withdrawal is a difficult and complex process. The reluctance for such decisions is mainly due to the symbolic value of food and hydration, to the fear of "dying badly" while suffering from hunger and thirst, and to the difficult distinction between this medical act and euthanasia. The only way to overcome such reluctance is to ensure flawless accompaniment, associating sedation and appropriate comfort care with a clear explanation (with relatives but also caregivers) of the rationale and implications of this type of decision. All teams dealing with this type of situation must have thoroughly thought through the medical, legal and ethical considerations involved in making this difficult decision.

REACH: international prospective observational registry in patients at risk of atherothrombotic events. Results for the French arm at baseline and one year.

INTRODUCTION: Atherothrombosis is a systemic, diffuse disease associated with a high risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is the main cause of death in Western populations, a major public health concern and its prevalence will further increase in the future. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the rate of major vascular events at 1 year in French patients with confirmed atherothrombotic disease, recruited in the REACH international registry. METHODS: The REACH Registry has recruited 55.000 patients in 44 countries, aged at least 45 years and suffering from established atherothrombotic disease (EAD). In France, 713 investigators selected 3.514 patients with EAD between December 2003 and June 2004. Each investigator had to include 5 to 10 patients presenting after a first documented event of cerebrovascular disease (CVD), coronary artery disease (CAD) or lower limb peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD). The patients were followed up for 1 year with collection of major vascular events. RESULTS: Among the 3514 French patients with EAD in the REACH registry, 2.373 (68%) had documented coronary disease, 778 (22%) had an ischemic stroke and 923 (26%) had documented PAD. One quarter of CAD patients, one third of CVD patients and one half of PAD patients had another atherothrombotic disease localization. Follow-up at 1 year was documented for 3.373 patients with EAD. The 1-year event rate in patients who had EAD was a function of the number of atherothrombotic localizations: the vascular death rate was 1.8% if there was a single localization and 4.1% if there were 2 or 3 localizations, and the composite death, infarct and stroke rates were 3.8% and 7.2% respectively and 11.7% and 22.3% respectively if hospitalizations were added to the latter endpoint. CONCLUSION: The number of major vascular events during the first year is high in EAD patients although these patients were followed up on an outpatient basis and are considered to be stable. In patients with prior EAD, there was a close link between the incidence of major vascular events and the number of symptomatic arterial beds (2 or 3 sites). The risk of a major vascular event was twice as high in patients with polyvascular involvement than in those who only had one affected artery.

[Systemic sarcoidosis revealed by acute ataxic sensory polyradiculoneuropathy]. / Sarcoïdose systémique révélée par une polyradiculonévrite aiguë sensitive ataxiante.

We present the case of a 35-year-old man who developed bilateral uveitis and acute ataxic sensorial polyradiculoneuropathy with sphincter dysfunction. The patient had multiple mediastinal adenopathies. Pathology examination led to the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. The patient improved partially spontaneously and totally after oral corticosteroid therapy. This case illustrates an unusual presentation of acute polyradiculoneuritis which is usually a predominantly motor disorder in sarcoidosis. Sensorial and ataxic neuropathy is uncommon. The course is more chronic and progressive.

[Hemiplegia and return to domicile]. / Hémiplégie vasculaire et retour à domicile.

OBJECTIVE: We have studied the outcome after a stroke on being discharged from a department of physical medicine and rehabilitation in patients with hemiplegia, and the factors influencing the choice of the orientation. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This prospective study was based on 93 patients. The mode of discharged was patient's domicile, institution, the number of death was also noted. The potentially influential factors studied were age, the side with hemiplegia, the aetiology of the hemiplegia, co-morbidity, the delay in starting rehabilitation, the neurological damage evaluated by the Orgogozo score, the initial functional damage evaluated by Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and by the functional score carried out within the framework PMSI(1) (computerised programme of medical care), the existence of aphasia, the existence of a depressive syndrome, presence of hemineglect, presence of superficial or profound sensory disorders, incontinence at the start of rehabilitation and at one month after the stroke, the existence of cognitive or psychiatric disorders. The tests used were the non-parametric test of Mann and Whitney, the chi(2) test and the correlation test. The threshold of significance used was 0.05. RESULTS: Based on 93 patients (47 women and 46 men, average age 64.8) 81 have gone back to their previous domicile, 11 were oriented toward an institution. One patient died. The predictive factors or those linked to an absence of return to the previous domicile were the age, social situation, the delay in starting rehabilitation, presence of aphasia, the initial and final functional damage, the impossibility to walk, the presence of a depressive syndrome, urinary incontinence. CONCLUSION: The authors stress the importance of familial environment and of functional independence in establishing a prognosis for return to the domicile.

[The physiopathology of migraine]. / Physiopathologie de la migraine.

Although the neurobiological causative factors are now beginning to be understood, to a large extent the complex mechanisms involved in migraine remain an enigma, with the appearance of a transient unilateral cephalic pain, possibly preceded by a protean aura and associated with several other symptoms. The factors involved include three clinical signs or symptoms, i.e., pain, the aura (focalized neurological and neurosensory signs), and accompanying symptoms (e.g., sensory, psychological, or digestive); and three anatomical sites, i.e., the brain, the meningeal or intracranial vessel and a peripheral cranial nerve, the trigeminus (V). Familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) has led to a consideration of the genetic origin of ionic channel-dependent pathologies (channelopathies), while certain other arguments which are for the most part indirect favor the hypothesis of abnormalities, again possibly of genetic origin, in the central neurotransmitters (including serotonin), which are involved in the transmission of pain messages and in vasomotor control. However, the main point is that each of the sites involved has its specific pharmacopoeia, which can contribute towards the treatment of migraine.

[Multiple cerebral infarcts associated with livedo secondary to anti-cancer therapy with interleukin 2 and interferon alpha]. / Infarctus cérébraux multiples associés à un livedo secondaires à un traitement anticancéreux par interleukine 2 et interféron alpha.

Anticancer drugs rarely cause strokes. We report the case of a woman treated for a kidney cancer by IL2 and IFN alpha, having developed multiple strokes associated with a livedo. The responsibility of IL2 and IFN alpha seemed likely. The association with a transitory livedo suggested that the pathological process might be a cerebral angiopathy with arterial vasospasms.

Analysis of time management in stroke patients in three French emergency departments: from stroke onset to computed tomography scan.

The aim of this study was to determine and identify the factors associated with shortening or lengthening time interval from stroke onset to performance of computed tomography (CT) scan in stroke patients admitted to three French emergency departments. All suspected stroke patients were eligible (n = 317). The time intervals between stroke onset and presentation to the emergency department and between CT scan request and CT scan performance were determined. Twelve variables likely to influence time interval before presentation to the emergency department, and five variables likely to influence time interval before CT scan performance were evaluated using stepwise regression analysis. Of the 317 patients included in the study, the mean time interval from stroke onset to CT scan performance for 180 patients was 7 hours 46 minutes (466 minutes). The mean time interval between stroke onset and presentation to the emergency department was 4 hours 36 minutes (276 minutes), varying according to the study site, level of initial severity, medical contact before admission, witnesses at stroke onset, and mode of transportation. The mean time interval between request and CT scan performance was 2 hours 14 minutes (134 minutes), varying upon the site, hour of CT scan request, type of stroke and level of severity at admission. It is concluded that current delays in stroke management are often incompatible with early treatment. The public needs to be informed and admission procedures reorganized. Improved response to the urgency of ischaemic stroke is required as well as direct access to the scanner during periods of scheduled use.

[Clinical diagnosis of cerebral ischemic accidents]. / Diagnostic clinique des accidents ischémiques cérébraux.

The diagnosis of stroke is relatively easy in the elderly. However, this is not the case for transient ischemic attacks or when misleading or unusual symptoms are present. Clinical examination remain an essential step: being fast, inexpensive and always possible by the family doctor, it permits to decide quickly how to handle the patient and to estimate the localization and the mechanism of the vascular lesion, which is necessary in order to guide and interpret complementary examinations. Given the now available treatments, it seems essential to inform the public on the cerebral vascular signs and symptoms. Indeed, recognition of transient ischemic attacks and hospital admission delays for strokes have to be improved.

[Angioplasty of atheromatous hemodynamic stenoses of intracranial vertebral arteries]. / Angioplastie de sténoses athéromateuses hémodynamiques des artères vertébrales intracrâniennes.

We describe three patients presenting transient ischemic attacks or minor stroke, relapsing despite anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy, in relation to tight stenosis of the intracranial vertebral arteries, without functional communicating arteries. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was successfully performed. We have a 6, 24 and 36 months follow-up. After a review of the literature, we discuss indication and risks of this procedure.

Reappraisal of Rasmussen's syndrome with special emphasis on treatment with high doses of steroids.

Eight patients with Rasmussen's syndrome and epilepsia partialis continua were treated with high doses of steroids, including pulses of methylprednisolone and prednisone in decreasing doses. Three patients exhibited clinical, radiological, or histological evidence of bilateral involvement. Epilepsy and focal deficit decreased within six months in seven patients. Only five patients, in whom steroid treatment had begun less than 15 months after the onset of epilepsia partialis continua, experienced a lasting effect although they had periodic episodes of transient relapse. Treatment with high doses of steroids seems advisable during the first year after onset of epilepsia partialis continua, before hemiplegia has developed and in cases with bilateral involvement.

Down-beat nystagmus: case report with magnetic resonance imaging and surgical treatment.

A woman with down-beat nystagmus (DBN) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which showed a syringomyelic cyst in the medulla. Surgical treatment of the cyst ended the abnormal eye movement. This case demonstrates the use of MRI for the diagnosis of DBN. It also shows the value of surgical treatment when a cyst is responsible for this symptom, as in Arnold-Chiari malformation.

[Results of 40 interfascicular grafting on peripheral nerve trunks]. / Résultats de 40 greffes fasciculaires sur les gros troncs nerveux périphériques.

The authors report 40 cases of interfascicular nerve grafts carried out since 1976 on the main peripheral nerves: 10 grafts of the median nerve, 21 grafts of the ulnar nerve, 8 grafts of the radial nerve and 1 graft of the sciatic nerve. In all cases, these are secondary grafts: either or first intention when the nervous section has been observed in emergency, the nervous ends being only brought together in these cases; or during an exploratory operation when faced by a lesion of unknown anatomical mechanism, These are interfascicular nerve grafts, according to Millesi, the donor nerve being represented by the sural nerve. The results, interpreted according to the criteria of the British Medical Research Council, are firstly analysed nerve by nerve, after discussion of age, level of injury, cause of injury, and above all, the delay between injury and the graft. The importance of associated damages is also discussed, specially vascular lesions. Several factors are influencing the quality of the results and among these are age, level and mechanism of the injury, the delay between injury and the graft, the length of the graft and number of cables. For that study, it is possible to conclude that the results are best when the patient is young, the delay short, the level distal, the length of the defect moderate and the number of cables is maximum. Finally, it appears from electrophysiological statements that this study is necessary to evaluate the quality of nervous regeneration, particularly at the median nerve, where the reinnervation is often supplied by the ulnar nerve (50% in our serie).