What Researchers Did
Researchers performed extra-intracranial arterial bypass surgery on 50 patients who had experienced a chronic ischemic stroke and used hyperbaric oxygenation as a diagnostic tool to help select suitable candidates.
What They Found
Neurological improvement was observed in 43 of the 50 patients, and this improvement persisted over time in 40 cases. A detailed evaluation of motor performance in 21 patients confirmed a highly significant degree of improvement. The study also found that a temporary neurological improvement after hyperbaric oxygenation helped predict a positive surgical outcome.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study suggests that surgical revascularization can offer lasting neurological benefits for patients living with chronic ischemic stroke. It also highlights the potential of hyperbaric oxygenation as a diagnostic tool to identify patients most likely to benefit from such surgery.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This study's findings are based on research from 1987, and medical practices for stroke have advanced considerably since then.