Stroke Care During the First and the Second Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Community Hospital.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection may alter a stroke course; thus, we compared stroke course during subsequent pandemic waves in a stroke unit (SU) from a hospital located in a rural area. A retrospective study included all patients consecutively admitted to the SU between March 15 and May 31, 2020 ("first wave"), and between September 15 and November 30, 2020 ("second wave"). We compared demographic and clinical data, treatments, and outcomes of patients between the first and the second waves of the pandemic and between subjects with and without COVID-19.

Cerebral Thrombolysis in Rural Residents Aged ≥ 80.

Purpose: The proportion of older people in Poland is higher in rural areas than in urban areas. Thus, we aimed to evaluate treatment rate and factors associated with outcome and safety of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in rural residents aged ≥80 years admitted to primary stroke centers.

Patients And Methods: This study was a retrospective, observational cohort study of 873 patients treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in primary stroke centers between February 1, 2009 and December 31, 2017.

Cerebral thrombolysis in patients with ischemic stroke and heart failure.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is common among patients with ischemic stroke (IS), however its impact on outcome after iv-thrombolysis has not been fully determined. Moreover, definition of HF has been recently modified, but majority of stroke studies classified patients regarding an old HF criteria. Thus, the aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between both, newly and formerly defined HF and the long-term outcome, mortality and the presence of hemorrhagic complications in patients with acute IS treated with iv-thrombolysis.

The role of additional computed tomography in the decision-making process on the secondary prevention in patients after systemic cerebral thrombolysis.

Introduction: Patients with ischemic stroke undergoing intravenous (iv)-thrombolysis are routinely controlled with computed tomography on the second day to assess stroke evolution and hemorrhagic transformation (HT). However, the benefits of an additional computed tomography (aCT) performed over the next days after iv-thrombolysis have not been determined.

Methods: We retrospectively screened 287 Caucasian patients with ischemic stroke who were consecutively treated with iv-thrombolysis from 2008 to 2012.

Length of stay in emergency department and cerebral intravenous thrombolysis in community hospitals.

Objectives: Current guidelines for the early management of patients with acute ischemic stroke recommend completion of an evaluation within 60 min of the patient's arrival at the emergency department (ED) because prolongation of ED length of stay (LOS) may reduce the efficacy of acute stroke treatment.

Aim: To evaluate the LOS in EDs at the community-based Polish stroke centers, to determine logistic, social, epidemiological, and clinical factors responsible for its prolongation, and to assess the association between increased LOS and the implementation of cerebral intravenous (IV) thrombolysis.

Materials And Methods: This study carried out an evaluation of the medical records of 8398 patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack who consecutively reported to the Pomeranian Stroke Registry from 2010 to 2012.

Intravenous Thrombolysis with Recombinant Tissue-type Plasminogen Activator for Acute Ischemic Stroke in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome.

Background: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is common in patients with acute ischemic stroke (IS); however, its impact on outcome after intravenous thrombolysis (iv-thrombolysis) remains unclear. Thus, we aimed at evaluating the relationship between MetS and functional long-term outcome, mortality, and the presence of hemorrhagic complications in patients with IS treated with iv-thrombolysis.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the demographic and clinical data of 535 Caucasian patients with acute IS who were consecutively treated with iv-thrombolysis from September 2006 to June 2013 in 2 experienced stroke centers in Poland.

Are there differences between rural and urban populations in long-term outcome after systemic cerebral thrombolysis in a hospital located in an agricultural region?

Introduction: It is generally considered that rural hospitals have a much lower capacity to adequately care for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Analysis of the demographic and logistic factors affecting the outcome of intravenous (IV) thrombolysis in patients with AIS in a rural hospital are presented.

Methods: The observational study included 300 patients with AIS who were consecutively treated with IV thrombolysis.

Intravenous thrombolysis with rt-PA for acute ischemic stroke within 24h of a transient ischemic attack.

Background: Intravenous thrombolysis (iv-thrombolysis) with the use of rt-PA in patients after recent transient ischemic attack (TIA) is an important clinical problem. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of TIA within 24h preceding acute ischemic stroke (AIS) on the safety and efficacy of iv-thrombolysis.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical and demographic data of 400 patients with AIS who were consecutively treated with iv-thrombolysis from September 2006 to May 2011 in three stroke centers.

Intravenous thrombolysis in patients aged more than 80 years in the three rural hospitals in southeast Poland: an observational study.

Aims: Approximately 30% of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) occurs in people aged over 80 years. Older patients are increasingly receiving intravenous thrombolysis (IV-thrombolysis) for AIS; however, the majority of treatments are carried out in urban hospitals. The aim of the present study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of IV-thrombolysis in patients aged older than 80 years.

[Intravenous thrombolysis patients with acute ischemic stroke--the analysis of the 100 cases. Part II. Neuroimaging, the analysis of hemorrhagic complications and deaths].

Introduction: Computed tomography (CT) remains the basic diagnostic examination in patients with ischaemic stroke. The main purpose of CT examination is distinguishing between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, exclusion of other diseases and revealing early ischemic radiological changes.

Material And Methods: The results of baseline CT scans and CT performed on 2nd and 7th days after symptom onset, in terms of patients' long-term outcome, presence of serious adverse events and deaths within 3 months were analyzed.

[Intravenous thrombolysis patients with acute ischemic stroke: the analysis of the 100 cases. Part I. Characteristic of the patients and effectiveness of treatment].

Background: Intravenous thrombolytic therapy with recombinant tissue activator (rt-PA) in treating acute ischemic stroke is effective and safe in the time window 4.5 hours after symptom onset.

Material And Methods: In the study group of patients demographic and logistic data and vascular risk factors were analysed.