Orientation des patients après un accident vasculaire cérébral : approche éthique de l’allocation des lits de soins de suite et réadaptation neurologique

Introduction: Specialized neurorehabilitation has been demonstrated to be very effective in the care of post-acute phase of stroke. However, only 33% of stroke patients were admitted for rehabilitation in France, among which, 23% in general or geriatric rehabilitation and only 10% in neurorehabilitation center (NRC).Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the representations of neurologists (NV) and of physical and rehabilitation specialists (MPR), along with their practices concerning the referral of stroke patients. A reflection on the allocation of NRC beds and on the ethical issues inherent to this matter is also presented.Method: Two surveys were sent to MPR and NV. The questions were about the availability of NRC beds, the referral choices and the admission criteria of stoke patient. Four clinicals stickers were given for illustrating complex situations.Results: NV (91%) and MPR (63%) responded that they perceive an insufficient number of NRC beds. They pointed out that the lack of space is major for certain patients who are more difficult to refer (severe stroke, patient with psycho-social fragility, severe psychiatric pathology ...). A difficulty of patient orientation is reported by 80% of MPR and 58% of NV. In the free comments, societal constraints with the increasing emphasis on cost control in care delivery are highlighted.Discussion: The physicians perceived a scarcity of NRC beds. This study showed that physicians have to make choices, involving sorting practices, for patient admission in NRC. These sorting practices depend on the role and perception of each physician. These difficult and complex choices are guided by the ethical approach of theses medical decisions.Introduction : La rééducation neurologique spécialisée a prouvé son efficacité dans la prise en charge des patients après un AVC. Pourtant en France, tous les patients victimes d’un AVC ne peuvent être admis en Soins de Suite et Réadaptation (SSR) neurologique (seuls 10% le sont) et ce pour des raisons multiples et complexes.L’objectif de cette étude est d’analyser les pratiques et les représentations des médecins neurologues (NV) et rééducateurs (MPR) sur l’orientation des patients après un AVC et d’apporter une réflexion sur l’allocation des lits en SSR neurologique en Ile-de-France et d’en discuter les enjeux éthiques.Méthode : Deux questionnaires portant sur la rareté de la ressource et les choix d’orientation, avec 4 vignettes cliniques illustrant des situations complexes et des questions ouvertes ont été envoyés aux médecins par mails.Résultats : Les NV (91%) et les MPR (63%) disent percevoir un nombre de lits insuffisant en SSR neurologique. Ils soulignent que le manque de place est majeur pour certains profils de patients qui sont plus difficiles à orienter (AVC sévère, patient avec fragilité psycho-sociale, pathologie psychiatrique sévère,…). Les MPR (80%) et les NV (58%) rapportent une difficulté d’orientation des patients après un AVC, en particulier pour les patients précédemment cités. Dans les commentaires libres, les contraintes sociétales sont mises en avant avec l’importance croissante accordée à la maîtrise des coûts dans la prestation de soin.Discussion : Les médecins de la filière perçoivent une certaine rareté de la ressource. Les médecins sont donc amenés à faire des choix qui nécessitent un triage plus ou moins implicite à l’entrée des SSR neurologique. L'approche éthique de ces décisions médicales, permet de guider ces choix difficiles et complexes

Urogenital dysfunction in male patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth: a systematic review

Aims Purposes of this study were to describe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and related urodynamic patterns in patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), and to characterize LUTS management and associated uronephrological complications. Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical files of HSP patients, consecutively followed in our Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department between 1999 and 2016. Clinical, urodynamic, and radiological data were collected and analyzed. Different treatments which have been prescribed and uronephrological complications were also recorded. Patients with other neurological or urological diseases were excluded. Results Thirty-three patients with HSP were included. Mean duration of follow-up was 8.1 ± 5 years, mean age 62 ± 14 years, and 70% were men. The most frequent LUTS was urgency and voiding dysfunction (both 69.7%). Incontinence and retention with a significant postvoid residue above 100 mL accounted for 66.7% and 57.6% of initial symptoms respectively. Neurogenic detrusor overactivity was diagnosed in 80.7% of patients. Two-thirds of our cohort were treated with anticholinergics and 9.1% required intradetrusor botulinum-toxin injections. Only 27.3% of patients performed clean intermittent self-catheterization. Febrile urinary tract infections (21.2%), urolithiasis (15,1%), hydronephrosis (6%), and chronic renal failure (9.1%) were found. Conclusion Given their high prevalence and the risk of uronephrological complications, LUTS should be systematically assessed in HSP patients. The systematic screening of urological dysfunction in this population would improve its management, decrease the incidence of uronephrological complications, and increase the quality of life

Recurrent ischemic stroke and bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation who suffered an acute stroke while on treatment with nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants: the RENO-EXTEND study

Background: In patients with atrial fibrillation who suffered an ischemic stroke while on treatment with nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants, rates and determinants of recurrent ischemic events and major bleedings remain uncertain. Methods: This prospective multicenter observational study aimed to estimate the rates of ischemic and bleeding events and their determinants in the follow-up of consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation who suffered an acute cerebrovascular ischemic event while on nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant treatment. Afterwards, we compared the estimated risks of ischemic and bleeding events between the patients in whom anticoagulant therapy was changed to those who continued the original treatment. Results: After a mean follow-up time of 15.0±10.9 months, 192 out of 1240 patients (15.5%) had 207 ischemic or bleeding events corresponding to an annual rate of 13.4%. Among the events, 111 were ischemic strokes, 15 systemic embolisms, 24 intracranial bleedings, and 57 major extracranial bleedings. Predictive factors of recurrent ischemic events (strokes and systemic embolisms) included CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score after the index event (odds ratio [OR], 1.2 [95% CI, 1.0–1.3] for each point increase; P =0.05) and hypertension (OR, 2.3 [95% CI, 1.0–5.1]; P =0.04). Predictive factors of bleeding events (intracranial and major extracranial bleedings) included age (OR, 1.1 [95% CI, 1.0–1.2] for each year increase; P =0.002), history of major bleeding (OR, 6.9 [95% CI, 3.4–14.2]; P =0.0001) and the concomitant administration of an antiplatelet agent (OR, 2.8 [95% CI, 1.4–5.5]; P =0.003). Rates of ischemic and bleeding events were no different in patients who changed or not changed the original nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants treatment (OR, 1.2 [95% CI, 0.8–1.7]). Conclusions: Patients suffering a stroke despite being on nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant therapy are at high risk of recurrent ischemic stroke and bleeding. In these patients, further research is needed to improve secondary prevention by investigating the mechanisms of recurrent ischemic stroke and bleeding

Risk of recurrent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with oral anticoagulants alone or in combination with anti-platelet therapy

Introduction: Ischaemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are at high risk of stroke recurrence despite oral anticoagulation therapy. Patients with cardiovascular comorbidities may take both antiplatelet and oral anticoagulation therapy (OAC/AP). Our study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of OAC/AP therapy as secondary prevention in people with AF and ischaemic stroke. Patients and methods: We performed a post-hoc analysis of pooled individual data from multicenter prospective cohort studies and compared outcomes in the OAC/AP cohort and patients on DOAC/VKA anticoagulation alone (OAC cohort). Primary outcome was a composite of ischaemic stroke, systemic embolism, intracranial bleeding, and major extracranial bleeding, while secondary outcomes were ischaemic and haemorrhagic events considered separately. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors for outcome events. To compare the risk of outcome events between the two cohorts, the relation between the survival function and the set of explanatory variables were calculated by Cox proportional hazard models and the results were reported as adjusted hazard ratios (HR). Finally another analysis was performed to compare the overall risk of outcome events in both OAC/AP and OAC cohorts after propensity score matching (PSM). Results: During a mean follow-up time of 7.5 ± 9.1 months (median follow-up time 3.5 months, interquartile range ±3), 2284 stroke patients were on oral anticoagulants and 215 were on combined therapy. The multivariable model demonstrated that the composite outcome is associated with age (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04 for each year increase) and concomitant antiplatelet therapy (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.48-3.27), the ischaemic outcome with congestive heart failure (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.02-2.36) and concomitant antiplatelet therapy (OR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.19-3.13) and the haemorrhagic outcome with age (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.06 for each year increase), alcoholism (OR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.06-4.39) and concomitant antiplatelet therapy (OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.23-4.02). Cox regression demonstrated a higher rate of the composite outcome (hazard ratio of 1.93 [95% CI, 1.35-2.76]), ischaemic events (HR: 2.05 [95% CI: 1.45-2.87]) and bleeding outcomes (HR: 1.90 [95% CI, 1.06-3.40]) in OAC/AP cohort. After PSM analysis, the composite outcome remained more frequent in people treated with OAC + AP (RR: 1.70 [95% CI, 1.05-2.74]). Discussion: Secondary prevention with combination of oral anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy after ischaemic stroke was associated with worse outcomes in our cohort. Conclusion: Further research is needed to improve secondary prevention by investigating the mechanisms of recurrent ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation