A Novel Approach to Assessing the Severity of Acute Stroke and Neurological Deficits in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Using Myocardial Work Echocardiography.

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and performance of myocardial work echocardiography in assessing the severity of acute stroke and neurological deficits in patients with acute ischemic stroke. A total of 176 patients were examined by echocardiography within 24-48 hours of symptom onset with the measurement of global and regional myocardial work. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of each patient was documented. With the increase of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, myocardial constructive work or positive work decreased (P 15 or not. The optimal cutoff value was 3.89, with a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 93.0%, a positive predictive value of 84.9%, a negative predictive value of 100%, and an accuracy of 95.7%. Noninvasive myocardial work is highly competent in assessing the severity of acute stroke and neurological deficits, which can be used as a powerful supplement to the conventional scoring system.