Resumo O acidente vascular cerebral é responsável por elevadas taxas de mortalidade e dependência funcional em adultos. A terapia precoce com trombolítico intravenoso tem sido associada a um melhor prognóstico funcional. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a severidade do déficit neurológico de pacientes que receberam ou não terapia trombolítica após AVC. Foram avaliados 56 pacientes, 18 que receberam trombolítico (Grupo GT) e 38 que não receberam a terapia trombolítica (GNT). Os indivíduos foram avaliados na internação e na alta hospitalar (AH) quanto a severidade do déficit pela National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). A média de idade da amostra estudada foi de 65,9±11,4 anos. Os pacientes do GT apresentaram melhora significativa no escore da NIHSS entre a internação e a AH (p=0,004), além de no momento da AH apresentarem déficit neurológico menos severo quando comparado ao GNT (p=0,028). A incidência de déficit moderado a grave foi menor no GT (p<0,005), sendo que 26,7% dos pacientes estavam sem déficit no momento da AH. Conclui-se que os pacientes que receberam trombolítico apresentaram melhor recuperação dos déficits neurológicos avaliados pela NIHSS quando comparado ao grupo que não recebeu terapia trombolítica.

Objective The primary objective of this study was to identify the occurrence and factors associated with intensive care unit (ICU)–acquired weakness (ICUAW) in patients with COVID-19. Secondarily, we monitored the evolution of muscle strength and mobility among patients with ICUAW and patients without ICUAW and the association of these variables with length of stay, mechanical ventilation (MV), and other clinical variables. Methods In this prospective observational study, patients admitted to the ICU for &gt;72 h with COVID-19 were evaluated for muscle strength and mobility at 3 times: when being weaned from ventilatory support, discharged from the ICU, and discharged from the hospital. Risk factors for ICUAW were monitored. Results The occurrences of ICUAW at the 3 times evaluated among the 75 patients included were 52%, 38%, and 13%. The length of the ICU stay (29.5 [16.3–42.5] versus 11 [6.5–16] days; P ≤ .001), the length of the hospital stay (43.5 [22.8–55.3] versus 16 [12.5–24] days; P ≤ .001) and time on MV (25.5 [13.8–41.3] versus 10 [5–22.5] days; P ≤ .001) were greater in patients with ICUAW. Muscle strength and mobility were lower at all times assessed in patients with ICUAW (P &lt; .05). Bed rest time for all patients (relative risk = 1.14; 95% CI = 1.02–1.28; P = .03 per week) and use of corticosteroids (relative risk = 1.01; 95% CI = 1.00–1.03; P = .01 per day) for those who required MV were factors independently associated with ICUAW. Muscle strength was found to have a positive correlation with mobility and a negative correlation with lengths of stay in the ICU and hospital and time on MV. Conclusions The occurrence of ICUAW was high upon patients’ awakening in the ICU but decreases throughout hospitalization; however, strength and mobility remained compromised at hospital discharge. Bed rest time and use of corticosteroids (for those who needed MV) were factors independently associated with ICUAW in patients with COVID-19.

Objective: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of peripheral and respiratory muscle strength tests in diagnosing critical illness polyneuromyopathy (CIPNM), compared with an electrophysiological examination. Methods: Fifty septic patients who required mechanical ventilation for at least five days, and without a previous history of muscle weakness, were included. Peripheral muscle strength was assessed using the Medical Research Council (MRC) score, handgrip strength by dynamometry, and respiratory muscle strength with maximum respiratory pressures. Diagnosis of CIPNM was either confirmed or rejected by an electrophysiological examination. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the cut-off values with the best sensitivity (SN) and specificity (SP) of the studied variables in the presence or absence of CIPNM. Results: Patients with CIPNM were older, more critical (APACHE IV/SAPS 3), had a longer hospitalization, required mechanical ventilation for longer, and had a higher rate of intensive care unit readmission. Cutoff values identified CIPNM patients using MRC scores, dynamometry according to sex, maximal expiratory and inspiratory pressures, as well as being confirmed by the electrophysiological examination, with good sensitivity and specificity: < 40 (SN: 0.893; SP: 0.955); < 7 kg (SN: 1; SP: 0.909) for men, < 4 kg (SN: 0.882; SP: 1) for women; < 34 cmH2O (SN: 0.808; SP: 0.909) and > −40 cmH2O (SN: 0.846; SP: 0.909), respectively. Conclusion: The MRC score, dynamometry or maximum respiratory pressures can be used to identify patients with CIPNM at the intensive care bedside assessment. The healthcare professional can choose any of the methods studied to evaluate the patient, based on his experience and the resource available.

Introdução: O Acidente Vascular Cerebral (AVC) é a principal causa de incapacidades neurológicas em adultos jovens e a reabilitação precoce é essencial para a recuperação desses pacientes. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o acesso aos serviços de fisioterapia após a alta hospitalar (AH) em indivíduos com AVC. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo de coorte incluindo indivíduos com AVC, que foram avaliados quanto à funcionalidade e incapacidade na AH e 60 dias após. Foi realizado contato telefônico após 30 e 60 dias da AH para verificar o seguimento da fisioterapia. Resultados: Trinta e seis indivíduos com sequelas motoras foram avaliados na AH, apenas 19% realizaram seguimento fisioterapêutico após 30 dias da AH e 39% após 60 dias. As principais barreiras encontradas, mesmo após 60 dias da AH, foram as dificuldades burocrática de acesso aos serviços de saúde (55%) e o tempo de espera (41%) para iniciar o tratamento. A funcionalidade, avaliada pela Medida Internacional de Funcionalidade e pela escala Rankin, apresentou melhora significativa após 60 dias da alta, tanto nos indivíduos que realizaram, como naqueles que não realizaram acompanhamento fisioterapêutico (p=0,001). Conclusão: O acesso à fisioterapia após a alta hospitalar para os indivíduos com AVC foi deficiente na amostra estudada devido principalmente às barreiras burocráticas e longo tempo de espera.

Objective: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of peripheral and respiratory muscle strength tests in diagnosing critical illness polyneuromyopathy (CIPNM), compared with an electrophysiological examination. Methods: Fifty septic patients who required mechanical ventilation for at least five days, and without a previous history of muscle weakness, were included. Peripheral muscle strength was assessed using the Medical Research Council (MRC) score, handgrip strength by dynamometry, and respiratory muscle strength with maximum respiratory pressures. Diagnosis of CIPNM was either confirmed or rejected by an electrophysiological examination. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the cutoff values with the best sensitivity (SN) and specificity (SP) of the studied variables in the presence or absence of CIPNM. Results: Patients with CIPNM were older, more critical (APACHE IV/SAPS 3), had a longer hospitalization, required mechanical ventilation for longer, and had a higher rate of intensive care unit readmission. Cutoff values identified CIPNM patients using MRC scores, dynamometry according to sex, maximal expiratory and inspiratory pressures, as well as being confirmed by the electrophysiological examination, with good sensitivity and specificity: < 40 (SN: 0.893; SP: 0.955); < 7 kg (SN: 1; SP: 0.909) for men, < 4 kg (SN: 0.882; SP: 1) for women; < 34 cmH 2 O (SN: 0.808; SP: 0.909) and > −40 cmH 2 O (SN: 0.846; SP: 0.909), respectively. Conclusion: The MRC score, dynamometry or maximum respiratory pressures can be used to identify patients with CIPNM at the intensive care bedside assessment. The healthcare professional can choose any of the methods studied to evaluate the patient, based on his experience and the resource available.

This study describes the pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength (RMS) at hospital discharge of severe COVID-19 patients, correlating them with peripheral muscle strength, duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), length of hospital stay, and use of medication. A cross-sectional study was conducted with COVID-19 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Assessment at hospital discharge included the following variables: RMS, pulmonary function, and peripheral muscle strength (Medical Research Council score [MRC] and handgrip dynamometry). A total of 25 patients with mean age of 48.7±12.3 years were assessed. Out of these, 72% presented restrictive ventilatory disorder, in addition to reduced RMS (maximum inspiratory pressure [MIP] of 74% and maximum expiratory pressure [MEP] of 78% of the predicted value). RMS (MIP and MEP, respectively) correlated negatively with duration of MV (r=−0.599, p=0.002; r=−0.523, p=0.007) and length of hospital stay (r=−0.542, p=0.005; r=−0.502, p=0.01); and positively with FVC (r=0.825, p=0.000; r=0.778, p=0.000), FEV1 (r=0.821, p=0.000; r=0.801, p=0.000), PEF (r=0.775, p=0.000; r=0.775, p=0.000), and handgrip strength (r=0.656, p=0.000; r=0.589, p=0.002). At hospital discharge, severe COVID-19 patients presented: reduced RMS; changes in lung function; negative correlation between RMS and duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and length of hospital stay; and a positive correlation with lung function and hand grip strength.

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O presente estudo teve por objetivo relatar os efeitos do uso da realidade virtual não imersiva através de um jogo criado para a reabilitação de membro superior pós AVC. O mesmo foi aplicado com quatro pacientes na Unidade de Cuidados Especiais do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, sendo realizado duas vezes ao dia durante a semana e uma vez ao dia nos finais de semana, desde a avaliação ao momento da alta hospitalar. Foi realizado a avaliação inicial e final da escala de Rankin modificada e selecionou-se as jogadas inicial e final para a verificação dos resultados. A análise dos dados foi realizada através de estatística descritiva. Os resultados demonstraram uma diminuição do tempo de execução do jogo com aumento da pontuação alcançada durante os desafios na maioria dos pacientes. Entende-se que jogos sérios podem ser utilizados como complemento na reabilitação pós-AVC.