Jing Hao Han1, Ka Sing Wong. 1. Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the rapid progress in stroke prevention, effective acute stroke treatment except for thrombolysis is still lacking. Hypoperfusion is related to unfavorable functional outcome, further strokes and long-term mortality. Therefore, the need for a safe and effective way of increasing the cerebral blood flow seems obvious. Currently, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that external counterpulsation (ECP) may enhance the blood supply to the brain and thus may be beneficial to patients with ischemic stroke. METHODS: A MEDLINE search in combination with a search for papers in Chinese literature in the Wan Fang and China Academic Journal databases was carried out. RESULTS: Preliminary investigations suggested that ECP may improve the clinical outcome of stroke patients. However, well-designed clinical studies exploring the therapeutic effects of ECP in ischemic stroke are very limited. CONCLUSIONS: Randomized-controlled trials with a large sample size are needed to further define the efficacy and safety of ECP in acute stroke management. Future studies should provide insight into the value of ECP in ischemic stroke as well as its possible mechanisms. (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.
BACKGROUND: Despite the rapid progress in stroke prevention, effective acute stroke treatment except for thrombolysis is still lacking. Hypoperfusion is related to unfavorable functional outcome, further strokes and long-term mortality. Therefore, the need for a safe and effective way of increasing the cerebral blood flow seems obvious. Currently, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that external counterpulsation (ECP) may enhance the blood supply to the brain and thus may be beneficial to patients with ischemic stroke. METHODS: A MEDLINE search in combination with a search for papers in Chinese literature in the Wan Fang and China Academic Journal databases was carried out. RESULTS: Preliminary investigations suggested that ECP may improve the clinical outcome of strokepatients. However, well-designed clinical studies exploring the therapeutic effects of ECP in ischemic stroke are very limited. CONCLUSIONS: Randomized-controlled trials with a large sample size are needed to further define the efficacy and safety of ECP in acute stroke management. Future studies should provide insight into the value of ECP in ischemic stroke as well as its possible mechanisms. (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Authors: Lucy A Murtha; Damian D McLeod; Debbie Pepperall; Sarah K McCann; Daniel J Beard; Amelia J Tomkins; William M Holmes; Christopher McCabe; I Mhairi Macrae; Neil J Spratt Journal: J Cereb Blood Flow Metab Date: 2015-03-31 Impact factor: 6.200
Authors: Kama Z Guluma; David S Liebeskind; Rema Raman; Karen S Rapp; Karin B Ernstrom; Andrei V Alexandrov; Reza B Shahripour; Kristian Barlinn; Sidney Starkman; Ileana D Grunberg; Thomas M Hemmen; Brett C Meyer; Anne W Alexandrov Journal: J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis Date: 2015-09-04 Impact factor: 2.136
Authors: Li Xiong; Wenhua Lin; Jinghao Han; Xiangyan Chen; Thomas Wai Hong Leung; Yannie Oi Yan Soo; Lawrence Ka Sing Wong Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2015-09-08 Impact factor: 2.692