The relationship between cholesterol level and hemorrhagic stroke is inconclusive. We hypothesized that low cholesterol levels may have association with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) severity at admission and 3-month outcomes. This study used data obtained from a multi-center stroke registry program in Taiwan. We categorized acute spontaneous ICH patients, based on their baseline levels of total cholesterol (TC) measured at admission, into 3 groups with <160, 160–200 and >200 mg/dL of TC. We evaluated risk of having initial stroke severity, with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) >15 and unfavorable outcomes (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score >2, 3-month mortality) after ICH by the TC group. A total of 2444 ICH patients (mean age 62.5±14.2 years; 64.2% men) were included in this study and 854 (34.9%) of them had baseline TC <160 mg/dL. Patients with TC <160 mg/dL presented more often severe neurological deficit (NIHSS >15), with an adjusted odds ratio [aOR] of 1.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41–2.30), and 3-month mRS >2 (aOR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.11–1.78) using patients with TC >200 mg/dL as reference. Those with TC >160 mg/dL and body mass index (BMI) <22 kg/m2 had higher risk of 3-month mortality (aOR 3.94, 95% CI 1.76–8.80). Prior use of lipid-lowering drugs (2.8% of the ICH population) was not associated with initial severity and 3-month outcomes. A total cholesterol level lower than 160 mg/dL was common in patients with acute ICH and was associated with greater neurological severity on presentation and poor 3-month outcomes, especially with lower BMI.
Background and Purpose: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to explore the risk factors associated with mortality and unfavorable outcome of ICH in Taiwan and to compare the predictive power with the existing ICH scores. Methods: Medical records of the ICH patients consecutively admitted to a regional hospital between January 2003 and December 2006 were reviewed retrospectively. The demographics, outcome, clinical and radiological characteristics were also analyzed. Results: A total of 61 among 285 (21.4%) ICH patients died during hospitalization. Diabetes mellitus, lower scores of initial Glasgow Coma Scale, initial ICH volume >30 ml, and intraventricular hematoma were identified as major independent risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality in the logistic regression model. In comparison to the predictive power for mortality and unfavorable outcome, Barthel Index <40 at discharge, the results showed no significant difference among the scores derived from our study, the ICH score by Hemphill and the modified ICH score developed in Taiwan. Conclusions: Although these ICH scores developed with various measurements, no significant difference in predicting mortality and unfavorable functional outcomes was found. The results supporting the ICH score by Hemphill may provide a good prediction in acute outcome across ethnic groups.
KEYWORDS C-arm fluoroscopy; image-guided surgery; percutaneous vertebroplasty; radiation exposure; vertebral compression fracture Summary Background: Percutaneous vertebroplasty has gained widespread popularity to treat painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). Radiation exposure during these operations has become the major concern in recent years. Aims: Traditional percutaneous vertebroplasty for VCFs is associated with high operator radiation exposure. However, these procedures can be performed by fluoroscopy-based image guidance, which decreases the radiation exposure during vertebroplasty for VCFs. Methods: The study subjects were divided into two groups: one underwent traditional vertebroplasty and the other had the C-Arm fluoroscopy-based, image-guided procedure. Four patients in the first group underwent traditional vertebroplasty using repeated intermittent anteroposterior and lateral fluoroscopy to position the cannula used for the vertebroplasty. Six patients in the second group had C-Arm fluoroscopy-based, image-guided surgery. The dose area product values, obtained by thermoluminescent dosimeters, were measured in both groups.Results: The accuracy of the non-invasive fluoroscopy-based image-guided surgery was high, with a maximum error of 2 mm. The mean dose area product values of the operator's eyes, hands, neck and chest were 20.28 mGy, 20.34 mGy, 21.87 Gy and 18.27 mGy in the first group, and 3.51 mGy, 3.70 mGy, 3.02 mGy and 3.68 mGy in the second group, respectively, with fluoroscopy-based, image-guided surgery; the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:The results of this preliminary study showed that noninvasive, fluoroscopy-based, image-guided surgery was accurate and was associated with reduced radiation exposure to medical personnel during percutaneous vertebroplasty procedures for VCFs.
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