Post-COVID-19 syndrome in everyday clinical practice: interdisciplinary expert position statement endorsed by the Polish Society of Civilization Diseases.

Post-COVID-19 syndrome, also known as long COVID-19 syndrome, is a complex set of symptoms that persist for weeks or months after recovery from an acute phase of COVID-19. These symptoms can affect various body systems, including the respiratory, nervous, cardiovascular, and digestive systems. The most common complaints are fatigue, shortness of breath, joint pain, taste and smell disorders, as well as problems with memory and concentration.

Enhancing Patient Adherence to Newly-Prescribed Medicine for Chronic Diseases: A Comprehensive Review and Cost-Effective Approach to Implementing the New Medicine Service in Community Pharmacies in Poland.

New Medicine Service (NMS) components are an important element to improve patient compliance with medical recommendations. NMS provides support to patients prescribed new medicines, helping them to manage long-term conditions. The purpose of this service is to provide patients with advice, guidelines, and educational materials regarding the use of new medicines to increase patient compliance and therapy safety.

The use of andexanet alpha in the Polish setting: An interdisciplinary protocol. Expert consensus statement of the Polish Cardiac Society.

Andexanet alfa (AA) is a recombinant inactive analog of human activated factor X (FXa), effectively reversing the effects of its inhibitors - rivaroxaban and apixaban, which are available in Poland. The drug was approved for clinical use registration after the publication of the results of the ANNEXA-4 trial (Andexanet Alfa, a Novel Antidote to the Anticoagulation Effects of FXa Inhibitors 4), in which its efficacy in restoring hemostasis in life-threatening hemorrhages in patients receiving using the aforementioned anticoagulants was demonstrated. Hence, AA is now recommended for patients on apixaban or rivaroxaban therapy with massive and uncontrollable hemorrhages, including hemorrhagic strokes (HS) and gastrointestinal bleeding.

External quality monitoring facilitates improvement in already well-performing stroke units: insights from RES-Q Poland.

Introduction: The Registry of Stroke Care Quality (RES-Q) is used in Poland for quality monitoring by numerous hospitals participating in the Angels Initiative. Our aim was to assess the degree of improvement in highly stroke-oriented centres that report cases to the RES-Q each year.

Material And Methods: This retrospective analysis included Polish stroke units that from January 2017 to December 2020 contributed to the RES-Q at least 25 patients annually.

European Stroke Organisation guidelines on treatment of patients with intracranial atherosclerotic disease.

The aim of the present European Stroke Organisation guideline is to provide clinically useful evidence-based recommendations on the management of patients with intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD). The guidelines were prepared following the Standard Operational Procedure of the European Stroke Organisation guidelines and according to GRADE methodology. ICAD represents a major cause of ischemic stroke worldwide, and patients affected by this condition are exposed to a high risk for future strokes and other major cardiovascular events, despite best medical therapy available.

Recanalization after cerebral venous thrombosis. A randomized controlled trial of the safety and efficacy of dabigatran etexilate versus dose-adjusted warfarin in patients with cerebral venous and dural sinus thrombosis.

Background: The effect of different anticoagulants on recanalization after cerebral venous thrombosis has not been studied in a randomized controlled trial.

Methods: RE-SPECT CVT (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02913326) was a Phase III, prospective, randomized, parallel-group, open-label, multicenter, exploratory trial with blinded endpoint adjudication.

Changes in Neuroendovascular Procedural Volume During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An International Multicenter Study.

Background And Purpose: The effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on performance of neuroendovascular procedures has not been quantified.

Methods: We performed an audit of performance of neuroendovascular procedures at 18 institutions (seven countries) for two periods; January-April 2019 and 2020, to identify changes in various core procedures. We divided the region where the hospital was located based on the median value of total number of COVID-19 cases per 100,00 population-into high and low prevalent regions.

Dural Arteriovenous Fistulae After Cerebral Venous Thrombosis.

Background And Purpose: This analysis examined the frequency of dural arteriovenous fistulae (dAVF) after cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) in patients included in a randomized controlled trial comparing dabigatran etexilate with dose-adjusted warfarin (RE-SPECT CVT [A Clinical Trial Comparing Efficacy and Safety of Dabigatran Etexilate With Warfarin in Patients With Cerebral Venous and Dural Sinus Thrombosis]), who had systematic follow-up magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Methods: RE-SPECT CVT was a Phase 3, prospective, randomized, parallel-group, open-label, multicenter, exploratory trial with blinded end point adjudication. We allocated patients with acute CVT to dabigatran 150 mg twice daily or dose-adjusted warfarin, for 24 weeks and obtained a standardized MR protocol including time-of-flight MR angiography, 3-dimensional phase-contrast venography, and 3-dimensional contrast-enhanced MR venography at the end of the treatment period.

Safety and early outcomes after intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke patients with prestroke disability.

Background: There are limited data on intravenous thrombolysis treatment in ischemic stroke patients with prestroke disability.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate safety and outcomes of intravenous thrombolysis treatment in stroke patients with prestroke disability.

Methods: We analyzed 88,094 patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis, recorded in the Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke (SITS) International Thrombolysis Register between January 2003 and December 2017, with available NIHSS data at stroke-onset and after 24 h.

Management of acute ischemic stroke in patients with COVID-19 infection: Insights from an international panel.

Objective: To present guidance for clinicians caring for adult patients with acuteischemic stroke with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection.

Methods: The summary was prepared after review of systematic literature reviews,reference to previously published stroke guidelines, personal files, and expert opinionby members from 18 countries.

Results: The document includes practice implications for evaluation of stroke patientswith caution for stroke team members to avoid COVID-19 exposure, during clinicalevaluation and conduction of imaging and laboratory procedures with specialconsiderations of intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy in strokepatients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection.

Dabigatran initiation in patients with non-valvular AF and first acute ischaemic stroke: a retrospective observational study from the SITS registry.

Background And Objective: The optimal timing for initiation of dabigatran after acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) is not established. We aimed to evaluate initiation timing and clinical outcomes of dabigatran in AIS patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

Design: Retrospective study based on prospectively collected data in SITS (Safe Implementation of Treatment in Stroke) Thrombolysis and Thrombectomy Registry from July 2014 to July 2018.

Prospective multicentre study of carotid artery stenting using the MER™ Stent - the OCEANUS study - 30-day and one-year follow-up results.

Introduction: Constant technological progress in the field of carotid stenting translates into improved short- and long-term results of endovascular treatment. The introduction of a new generation, self-expanding, open-cell stent has provided a new treatment option in endovascular management of carotid stenosis.

Aim: To evaluate 30-day and 1-year clinical outcomes of non-consecutive patients with high risk of carotid endarterectomy, who underwent 5F cylinder-tapered MER™ open-cell carotid stent implantation.

Management of acute ischemic stroke in patients with COVID-19 infection: Report of an international panel.

Background And Purpose: On 11 March 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 infection a pandemic. The risk of ischemic stroke may be higher in patients with COVID-19 infection similar to those with other respiratory tract infections. We present a comprehensive set of practice implications in a single document for clinicians caring for adult patients with acute ischemic stroke with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection.

Calculation of Prognostic Scores, Using Delayed Imaging, Outperforms Baseline Assessments in Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Background and Purpose- Patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are often subject to rapid deterioration due to hematoma expansion. Current prognostic scores are largely based on the assessment of baseline radiographic characteristics and do not account for subsequent changes. We propose that calculation of prognostic scores using delayed imaging will have better predictive values for long-term mortality compared with baseline assessments.

Redefining Hematoma Expansion With the Inclusion of Intraventricular Hemorrhage Growth.

Background and Purpose- Definitions of significant hematoma expansion traditionally focus on changes in intraparenchymal volume. The presence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a predictor of poor outcome, but current definitions of hematoma expansion do not include IVH expansion. We evaluated whether including IVH expansion to current definitions of hematoma expansion improves the ability to predict 90-day outcome.

Planning of stroke care and urgent prehospital care across Europe: Results of the ESO/ESMINT/EAN/SAFE Survey.

Introduction: Adequate planning and implementation of stroke systems of care is key to guarantee a rapid healthcare response and delivery of specific reperfusion therapies among candidates. We assessed the availability of stroke care plans in Europe, and evaluated their impact on rates of reperfusion therapies for stroke.

Patients: Based on the European Stroke Organisation (ESO), the European Society of Minimally Invasive Neurological Therapy (ESMINT), the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), and the Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE) survey, we analysed specific prespecified items in the questionnaire regarding availability and adequacy of stroke care plans, organised prehospital care and their potential impact on rates of delivery of reperfusion therapies for stroke at the country level.

Cardiovascular care of patients with stroke and high risk of stroke: The need for interdisciplinary action: A consensus report from the European Society of Cardiology Cardiovascular Round Table.

Comprehensive stroke care is an interdisciplinary challenge. Close collaboration of cardiologists and stroke physicians is critical to ensure optimum utilisation of short- and long-term care and preventive measures in patients with stroke. Risk factor management is an important strategy that requires cardiologic involvement for primary and secondary stroke prevention.

Safety and Efficacy of Dabigatran Etexilate vs Dose-Adjusted Warfarin in Patients With Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Patients with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) are at risk of recurrent venous thrombotic events (VTEs). Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants have not been evaluated in randomized controlled trials in CVT.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of dabigatran etexilate with those of dose-adjusted warfarin in preventing recurrent VTEs in patients who have experienced a CVT.

New and expanding ventricular hemorrhage predicts poor outcome in acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

Objective: To describe the relationship between intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) expansion and long-term outcome and to use this relationship to select and validate clinically relevant thresholds of IVH expansion in 2 separate intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) populations.

Methods: We used fractional polynomial analysis to test linear and nonlinear models of 24-hour IVH volume change and clinical outcome with data from the Predicting Hematoma Growth and Outcome in Intracerebral Hemorrhage Using Contrast Bolus CT (PREDICT)-ICH study. The primary outcome was poor clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score 4-6) at 90 days.

Access to and delivery of acute ischaemic stroke treatments: A survey of national scientific societies and stroke experts in 44 European countries.

Introduction: Acute stroke unit care, intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular treatment significantly improve the outcome for patients with ischaemic stroke, but data on access and delivery throughout Europe are lacking. We assessed best available data on access and delivery of acute stroke unit care, intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular treatment throughout Europe.

Methods: A survey, drafted by stroke professionals (ESO, ESMINT, EAN) and a patient organisation (SAFE), was sent to national stroke societies and experts in 51 European countries (World Health Organization definition) requesting experts to provide national data on stroke unit, intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular treatment rates.