Experiencia de trombolisis sistematizada en infarto cerebral agudo en un hospital público de Chile / Thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in a Chilean public hospital

Background: The only accepted treatment for acute ischemic stroke is thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). It was implemented in Chile in 1996, although its use was mainly restricted in Chile to private clinics. Recently, at year 2009, we have implemented this treatment in a public hospital. Aim: To describe the results of treatment of acute ischemic stroke with t-PA in a public hospital in Chile. Material and Methods: Prospective analysis of all eligible patients with acute ischemic stroke that were admitted within 4 hours of its onset and had no contraindications for thrombolysis. Results: In an eight months period, a total of 19 intravenous thrombolyses were performed in 12 males and seven females aged 28 to 79 years old. The mean lapse between onset of symptoms and onset of thrombolysis was 190 ± 57 min. Results were favorable, according to Rankin and National Institute of Health Stroke scales. Ninety days after treatment, 63 percent of patients had minimal or absent disability, 26 percent had moderate disability and only one (5 percent) had severe disability. One patient had a clinically not significant intracranial hemorrhage and one patient died six days after thrombolysis. Conclusions: These results indicate that thrombolysis can be successfully implemented in Chilean public hospitals. The limitations for its use in this setting are mostly administrative.

Procedimientos endovasculares como tratamiento de la esclerosis múltiple?: la hipótesis de la insuficiencia venosa crónica cerebro medular: [revisión] / Endovascular procedures as multiple sclerosis treatment?: the hipothesis of the chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency: [review]

In this "point of view" or special article, it has been reviewed the main bibliographic antecedents related to the entity denominated as chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI), which formulation has been stated by Zamboni et col, from the Vascular Diseases Center of the University of Ferrara-Italy, who have assigned it a pathogenic role or of aggravation one in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), what has led them to propose and carry out endovascular balloon angioplasty or venous stent in MS patients as a treatment. The bibliographic review at this stage of the knowledge of CCSVI does not let us to conclude whether this hypothetical entity has any role in the development or aggravation of MS. On the other hand, we agree with most of the clinicians and neuroimaging MS researchers because of the absence of arguments to indicate, support or propose envovascular "therapeutic" procedures for MS. To advance in the knowledge of CCSVI and the eventual relation with MS it is required some multicentric controlled studies carefully led and clinical and methodological rigorous procedures approved by committee of ethic in very well informed patients invited to participate in protocols of formal investigation who should be protected by complementary pertinent insurances and responsibilities connected to the investigation expenses.

En este artículo especial de la modalidad "puntos de vista", se revisan los antecedentes bibliográficos principales relacionados a la entidad denominada "Insuficiencia venosa crónica cerebro medular (IVCCM)" cuya formulación ha sido planteada por Zamboni y col, del Centro de Enfermedades Vasculares de la Universidad de Ferrara-Italia quienes le han adjudicado un rol patogénico o de agravación en la Esclerosis Múltiple (EM), que les ha llevado a proponer y realizar procedimientos de angioplastía mediante balón endovascular o stent venoso en pacientes con EM. La revisión de la bibliografía, en esta etapa del conocimiento de la IVCCM, no permite concluir si esta hipotética entidad tiene algún rol en el desarrollo o agravación de la EM. Por otro lado, concordamos con la mayoría de los clínicos e imagenólogos dedicados al estudio y tratamiento de la EM, en la ausencia de argumentos para indicar, alentar o propiciar procedimientos "terapéuticos" endovasculares para la EM. Para avanzar, en el conocimiento de la IVCCM y de eventual relación con la EM, se requieren estudios multicéntricos cuidadosamente conducidos, clínica y metodológicamente rigurosos, aprobados por comités de ética, en pacientes que sean invitados informadamente a participar en protocolos de investigación formales, que cuenten con las protecciones de seguros complementarios pertinentes y responsabilidades del gasto a costas de los investigadores.