Biomedical subjects

Kathleen M Burger

Publications and source records attributed to Kathleen M Burger.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Brainstem vascular stroke anatomy.

Brainstem infarcts comprise approximately 10% of all first ischemic brain strokes. The extrinsic vascular supply to the stem is complex. The intrinsic vascularization of the stem may be conceptualized in terms of four relatively constant and distinct vascular territories designated anteromedial, anterolateral, lateral, and dorsal (or dorsolateral). The anatomic structures found within each intrinsic territory determine the symptomatology associated with infarction of that territory. This territorial anatomy permits the knowledgeable physician to plan an MR imaging examination tailored to the patient's history and to predict the patient's neurologic deficits from the MR imaging findings.

Brain Stem↗

PubMed2005

Thrombolytic treatment of acute cerebral infarction.

Stroke is a common cause of death and disability throughout the world. Acute neurologic deficits due to ischemic injury deserve rapid recognition and diagnosis in order to provide effective therapy. Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) provided to carefully selected patients that can be treated within 3 hours of stroke onset results in improved outcome in these patients. Intra-arterial administration of t-PA within a 6-hour window is performed at several academic centers in patients with middle cerebral and other intracranial artery occlusions based on results of one randomized clinical trial and numerous case reports. Although acute therapy of ischemic stroke has received much attention since the approval of intravenous t-PA, only a small percentage of individuals suffering a stroke actually receive t-PA. This article will review the optimal management of the acute stroke patient and discuss thrombolytic clinical trials that have been completed as well as those that are in progress.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2004

Antithrombotic trials in acute ischaemic stroke: a selective review.

Stroke is a common cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the US and the world. Given the highly disabling nature of this disease, it is important to provide acute therapy when indicated to improve individual outcomes. Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is, at present, the only approved drug for the treatment of acute strokes due to cerebral ischaemia. It can be given intravenously within a 3-h window of the onset of neurological deficits. Intra-arterial administration of rt-PA within a 6-h window is performed at several academic centres in patients with middle cerebral and other intracranial artery occlusions based on results of a randomised clinical trial. Other thrombolytic agents are being studied in randomised trials. Although acute therapy of ischaemic stroke has received much attention since the approval of rt-PA, only a small percentage of individuals actually receive rt-PA. This article will review the main thrombolytic agents and the trials performed thus far, as well as examine some important ongoing trials. How administration of acute thrombolytic therapy may evolve in the future will also be addressed.

Abciximab↗