Background Functional outcomes of patient with acute ischemic stroke are influenced by the status of the cerebral collaterals. The study aims at evaluating the influence of cerebral collaterals on clinical and radiological outcome in patients with acute anterior ischemic stroke (AAIS) treated with IV recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV-rtPA). Results Independent predictors of good functional outcomes were in the form of low NIHSS (odds ratio = 1.23, 95%CI = 1.01–2.34, p = 0.01), ASPECT ≥ 8 (odds ratio = 4.56, 95%CI = 3.40–7.89, p < 0.001), and good collateral status by Miteff grading system (odds ratio = 1.23, 95%CI = 2.22–6.79, p < 0.001). Conclusion Good collateral status is associated with milder stroke volume and good functional outcome. Also, low NIHSS, ASPECT score ≥ 8 and good collateral status by Miteff grading system were reliable independent predictors of favorable outcome in IV-rtPA treated patients with AAIS.

Aim:To determine anatomic and hemodynamic echocardiographic predictors for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) device vs coil closure. Methods:Seventy-six patients who were referred for elective transcatheter PDA closure were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent full echocardiogram including measurement of the PDA pulmonary end diameter, color flow width and extent, peak and end-diastolic Doppler gradients across the duct, diastolic flow reversal, left atrial dimensions and volume, left ventricular sphericity index, and volumes. Results:The study group was subdivided into 2 subgroups based on the mode of PDA closure whether by coil (n = 42) or device (n = 34). Using univariate analysis there was a highly significant difference between the 2 groups as regard the pulmonary end diameter measured in both the suprasternal and parasternal short-axis views as well as the color flow width and color flow extent (P < .0001). The device closure group had statistically significant higher end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes indexed, left atrial volume, and diastolic flow reversal. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed a pulmonary end diameter cutoff point from the suprasternal view > 2.5 mm and from parasternal short-axis view > 2.61 mm to have the highest balanced sensitivity and specificity to predict the likelihood for device closure (AUC 0.971 and 0.979 respectively). The pulmonary end diameter measured from the suprasternal view was the most independent predictor of device closure.