TY - JOUR
T1 - Quality of life after surgical decompression for a space-occupying middle cerebral artery infarct: A cohort study
AU - van Middelaar, Tessa
AU - Richard, Edo
AU - van der Worp, H. Bart
AU - van den Munckhof, Pepijn
AU - Nieuwkerk, Pythia T.
AU - Visser, Marieke C.
AU - Stam, Jan
AU - Nederkoorn, Paul J.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - In patients with a space-occupying middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarct surgical decompression reduces the risk of death, but increases the chance of survival with severe disability. We assessed quality of life (QoL), symptoms of depression, and caregiver burden at long-term follow-up. Patients treated in two academic centres between 2007 and 2012 were included. Follow-up was at least six months. Patients and caregivers were interviewed separately. QoL was assessed with a visual analogue scale and the 36-item Short-Form health survey (SF-36); depression with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; and caregiver burden with the Caregiver Strain Index. Twenty five patients were enrolled, of whom seven had an infarct in the dominant hemisphere. After a median follow-up of 26 months (IQR 11-46) the median SF-36 mental component score was 54.4 (IQR 45-60), indicating a mental QoL comparable to that in the general population. The median SF-36 physical component score was 32.7 (IQR 22-38), indicating a worse physical QoL. Dominance of the hemisphere did not influence QoL. 79 % of patients and 65 % of caregivers would, in retrospect, again choose for surgery. 26 % of patients had signs of depression and 64 % of caregivers were substantially burdened in their daily life. Mental QoL after surgical decompression for space-occupying MCA infarct is comparable to that in the general population, whereas physical QoL is worse. Dominance of the hemisphere did not influence QoL. The majority of caregivers experience substantial burden. Most patients and caregivers stand by their decision for hemicraniectomy
AB - In patients with a space-occupying middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarct surgical decompression reduces the risk of death, but increases the chance of survival with severe disability. We assessed quality of life (QoL), symptoms of depression, and caregiver burden at long-term follow-up. Patients treated in two academic centres between 2007 and 2012 were included. Follow-up was at least six months. Patients and caregivers were interviewed separately. QoL was assessed with a visual analogue scale and the 36-item Short-Form health survey (SF-36); depression with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; and caregiver burden with the Caregiver Strain Index. Twenty five patients were enrolled, of whom seven had an infarct in the dominant hemisphere. After a median follow-up of 26 months (IQR 11-46) the median SF-36 mental component score was 54.4 (IQR 45-60), indicating a mental QoL comparable to that in the general population. The median SF-36 physical component score was 32.7 (IQR 22-38), indicating a worse physical QoL. Dominance of the hemisphere did not influence QoL. 79 % of patients and 65 % of caregivers would, in retrospect, again choose for surgery. 26 % of patients had signs of depression and 64 % of caregivers were substantially burdened in their daily life. Mental QoL after surgical decompression for space-occupying MCA infarct is comparable to that in the general population, whereas physical QoL is worse. Dominance of the hemisphere did not influence QoL. The majority of caregivers experience substantial burden. Most patients and caregivers stand by their decision for hemicraniectomy
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-015-0407-0
DO - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-015-0407-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 26311142
SN - 1471-2377
VL - 15
SP - 156
JO - BMC Neurology
JF - BMC Neurology
IS - 1
M1 - 156
ER -