Stroke Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Stroke, including details on treatment, recovery, rehabilitation, signs, symptoms.

Urgent intervention to reduce functional deficits after postoperative stroke.

Lee AW, Davis C, Puttgen HA, Hillis AE

Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Phipps 126, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. alee74@jhmi.edu

BACKGROUND: A 67-year-old right-handed man with a history of atrial fibrillation developed sudden aphasia after urological surgery. Initial diffusion-weighted and perfusion-weighted MRI demonstrated an area of hypoperfusion in Broca's area, with minimal infarction. INVESTIGATIONS: Neurological examination, language testing and brain MRI scans with diffusion-weighted and perfusion-weighted imaging. DIAGNOSIS: Acute cardioembolic stroke with minimal infarction in Broca's area and a surrounding region of potentially salvageable, hypoperfused cortex. MANAGEMENT: Saline-induced hypertension resulting in rapid restoration of cortical perfusion and a resolution of the initial speech and language deficits. The utility of perfusion-weighted imaging in selecting appropriate candidates for urgent treatment of stroke when thrombolysis is contraindicated is discussed.

Published 7 March 2007 in Nat Clin Pract Neurol, 3(3): 173-7.
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