OBJECTIVE: In patients with large middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction, space-occupying brain edema may lead to a malignant course with up to 80% mortality, under conservative treatment. As interventional treatment strategies must be started before the deterioration occurs, predictors of a malignant course are necessary. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study reports on the results of evoked potentials (brainstem auditory evoked potentials [BAEP] and median-nerve somatosensory evoked potentials [SEP]) within 24 h after onset of stroke in 30 patients suffering a large MCA infarct (14 patients with a malignant and 16 with a non-malignant course). RESULTS: Our findings indicate that pathological BAEP indicate a malignant course (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study shows that in patients suffering from large MCA infarction early assessment of EP within 24 h after onset of stroke may deliver useful information to select those patients who develop malignant edema.
OBJECTIVE: In patients with large middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction, space-occupying brain edema may lead to a malignant course with up to 80% mortality, under conservative treatment. As interventional treatment strategies must be started before the deterioration occurs, predictors of a malignant course are necessary. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study reports on the results of evoked potentials (brainstem auditory evoked potentials [BAEP] and median-nerve somatosensory evoked potentials [SEP]) within 24 h after onset of stroke in 30 patients suffering a large MCA infarct (14 patients with a malignant and 16 with a non-malignant course). RESULTS: Our findings indicate that pathological BAEP indicate a malignant course (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study shows that in patients suffering from large MCA infarction early assessment of EP within 24 h after onset of stroke may deliver useful information to select those patients who develop malignant edema.
Authors: Michel T Torbey; Julian Bösel; Denise H Rhoney; Fred Rincon; Dimitre Staykov; Arun P Amar; Panayiotis N Varelas; Eric Jüttler; DaiWai Olson; Hagen B Huttner; Klaus Zweckberger; Kevin N Sheth; Christian Dohmen; Ansgar M Brambrink; Stephan A Mayer; Osama O Zaidat; Werner Hacke; Stefan Schwab Journal: Neurocrit Care Date: 2015-02 Impact factor: 3.210