Management of Pediatric Stroke - Challenges and Perspectives from Resource-limited Settings

Clinical characteristics and quality care indicators of pediatric stroke in a referral center of Colombia: eleven-year experience (pediastroke)

Objective

This study aims to describe clinical variables and quality care indicators in pediatric stroke management at a high-complexity pediatric care center in Latin America.

Methods

Retrospective study of patients with stroke, aged 2-18 years from 2011 to 2021. The principal outcomes were the mRs and mortality. Differences between groups were assessed using Fisher's exact test and the Mann-Whitney U test. We used logistic regression to explore the association between characteristics reported as relevant in literature and mortality.

Results

One hundred thirty six patients included, with a median age of 11 years, 54% were male. 47% were hemorrhagic strokes, followed by ischemic strokes at 39%. One-third of the cases presented in hospital. 51% of the patients had no prior medical history. The most common symptoms were altered consciousness, headache, and hemiparesis. The median door-to-image time was 123 min. The most frequent etiologies in ischemic stroke were arteriopathies and cardiac pathology, while vascular malformation and coagulopathies were predominant in hemorrhagic stroke. No patient received reperfusion therapy. At discharge, 48% of patients had a favorable mRs. The mortality rate was 21%. Patients with in-hospital stroke have approximately 7.37 times the odds of dying compared to those with out-of-hospital stroke. Patients with hemorrhagic stroke have approximately 7.46 times the odds of dying compared to those with ischemic stroke.

Conclusion

Significant gaps exist in the epidemiology and quality indicators of pediatric stroke care compared to adult protocols. Implementing a "Pediatric code stroke" protocol and conducting prospective studies are crucial for improving pediatric stroke care and outcomes.

Global, Regional, and National Burdens of Stroke in Children and Adolescents From 1990 to 2019: A Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death among children, yet evidence on stroke incidence and prognosis in this population is largely neglected worldwide. The aim of this study was to estimate the latest burden of childhood stroke, as well as trends, risk factors, and inequalities from 1990 to 2019, at the global, regional, and national levels.

METHODS

The Global Burden of Disease 2019 study was utilized to evaluate the prevalence, incidence, years lived with disability, years of life lost (YLLs), and average annual percentage changes in stroke among populations aged 0 to 19 years from 1990 to 2019.

RESULTS

The global age-standardized incidence of stroke increased (average annual percentage change, 0.15% [95% uncertainty interval, 0.09%-0.21%]), while YLLs decreased substantially (average annual percentage change, -3.33% [95% uncertainty interval, -3.38% to -3.28%]) among children and adolescents between 1990 and 2019. Ischemic stroke accounted for 70% of incident cases, and intracerebral hemorrhage accounted for 63% of YLLs. Children under 5 years of age had the highest incidence of ischemic stroke, while adolescents aged 15 to 19 years had the highest incidence of hemorrhagic stroke. In 2019, low-income and middle-income countries were responsible for 84% of incident cases and 93% of YLLs due to childhood stroke. High-sociodemographic index countries had a reduction in YLLs due to stroke that was more than twice as fast as that of low-income and middle-income.

CONCLUSIONS

Globally, the burden of childhood stroke continues to increase, especially among females, children aged <5 years, and low-sociodemographic index countries, such as sub-Saharan Africa. The burden of childhood stroke is likely undergoing a significant transition from being fatal to causing disability. Global public health policies and the deployment of health resources need to respond rapidly and actively to this shift.

A Review of Current Perspectives on Motoric Insufficiency Rehabilitation following Pediatric Stroke

Pediatric stroke (PS) is an injury caused by the occlusion or rupture of a blood vessel in the central nervous system (CNS) of children, before or after birth. Hemiparesis is the most common motoric deficit associated with PS in children. Therefore, it is important to emphasize that PS is a significant challenge for rehabilitation, especially since the consequences may also appear during the child's growth and development, reducing functional capacity. The plasticity of the child's CNS is an important predecessor of recovery, but disruption of the neural network, specific to an immature brain, can have harmful and potentially devastating consequences. In this review, we summarize the complexity of the consequences associated with PS and the possibilities and role of modern rehabilitation. An analysis of the current literature reveals that Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy, forced-use therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, functional electrical stimulation and robot-assisted therapy have demonstrated at least partial improvements in motor domains related to hemiparesis or hemiplegia caused by PS, but they are supported with different levels of evidence. Due to the lack of randomized controlled studies, the optimal rehabilitation treatment is still debatable, and therefore, most recommendations are primarily based on expert consensuses, opinions and an insufficient level of evidence.

A Challenging Case of Severe Sickle Cell Crisis With Multiorgan Involvement: A Case Report

Sickle cell anemia is a chronic and debilitating hemoglobinopathy characterized by the presence of abnormal hemoglobin, resulting in the formation of sickle-shaped red blood cells. This case report presents an unusual case of a 32-year-old female patient with sickle cell anemia who had not experienced any previous sickle cell crises since her diagnosis at the age of four years. Despite a stable clinical history, the patient's condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to septic shock, multiorgan failure, and atypical complications such as neurological impairment and acute kidney injury. Intensive management strategies, including blood exchange, mechanical ventilation, and aggressive antibiotic therapy, were implemented but unfortunately failed to reverse the progressive clinical deterioration. This case underscores the importance of early recognition and a multidisciplinary approach in managing atypical sickle cell crises to optimize patient outcomes. Further research is needed to improve our understanding and management of such presentations.

Pediatric Stroke: A Review of Common Etiologies and Management Strategies

Pediatric stroke is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in children. There is a paucity of clinical trials pertaining to pediatric stroke management, and solidified universal guidelines are not established for children the way they are for the adult population. Diagnosis of pediatric stroke can be challenging, and it is often delayed or mischaracterized, which can result in worse outcomes. Understanding risks and appropriate therapy is paramount to improving care.