Ictus maligno: funcionalidad posterior a la hemicraniectomía descompresiva

Abstract

Introduction Decompressive hemicraniectomy is a therapeutic method used in malignant. Stroke with acceptable functional outcome results in recent publications. The aim of our study is to evaluate functional outcome at six months, in patients that had a decompressive hemicraniectomy in our hospital. Materials and methods It is a descriptive prospective. We included all patients diagnosed of malignant stroke from September to May 2008. As descriptive variables we analyzed: localization of the stroke, vascular territory and side, comorbidities, age, gender, NIHSS, Barthel Index, Modified Rankin Scale, time from onset of symptoms to surgery. To evaluate six months functional outcome we used Barthel Index, Glasgow Outcome Scale, modified. Rankin scale and an observer-rated screening scale for depression applicable to aphasic patients. Results Average age was 47.2 years. Previous to stroke, all patients were functionally independent and with few comorbidities. Average follow up was 7 months. 100% surveillance at follow up. Average Barthel Index was 56, all patients scored 4 at modified Rankin Scale and 3 at GOS and 60% of patients had depression symptoms. Conclusion The results of this study show that surgical decompression in malignant stroke has a high surveillance rate although survivors have poor functional outcome at six months follow up.