Professional paper

Benefit of early rehabilitation in acute stroke treatment – real-life clinical study

Mirjana Bakran ; Neurological department, Zabok General Hospital, Croatia
Višnja Posavec ; Neurological department, Zabok General Hospital, Croatia

Abstract

Abstract
Stroke is focal disturbance of cerebral function due to local cerebral ischemia. It is third cause of disability. Acute treatment is complicated by infections.
The aim of the study was to explore whether early rehabilitation during acute stroke treatment has impact on incidence of infections, on final result after acute stroke treatment and on duration of acute hospital treatment.
Incidence of uro-infections and respiratory infections by patients who suffered acute ischemic stroke, duration of acute hospital treatment and final outcome of acute treatment (NIHSS scale and place of discharge) were analysed.
Two groups of 32 patients each (18 man and 14 women) of same age, same NIHSS by admittance and same medicament treatment were observed. First group of patients (admitted to hospital during 1999. when no rehabilitation was performed) had no early rehabilitation treatment. The second group of patients (admitted to hospital during 2010. when early rehabilitation become a routine in our neurological department) started with rehabilitation just at first day of admission. Early rehabilitation included respiratory training, drainage positions, positioning in bed and wheelchair, exercises of balance in sitting and upright position.
In the first group 24 patients suffered infections (9 patients suffered pneumonia, 7 uro-infection and 8 uro-infections and respiratory infection). An average duration of acute treatment was 16.3 days. 15 patients were referred to a rehabilitation center, 10 to geriatric hospital, 7 were discharged at home. An average NIHSS at discharge was 19.6. In the second group 10 patients suffered from infections (3 patients had pneumonia and 7 patients uro-infection). An average duration of acute treatment was 9.3 days. Seventeen patients were referred to a rehabilitation center and 15 patients were discharged at home. An average NIHSS at discharge was 10.8.
In our sample of patients with acute ischemic stroke an early rehabilitation reduces incident infections, duration of acute treatment and improves the final outcome.

Keywords

acute rehabilitation; complications; stroke

Hrčak ID:

93073

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/93073

Publication date:

2.8.2012.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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