Background: The Dilemma of Managing Blood Pressure in Stroke Patients
Lowering systolic blood pressure is a common practice among healthcare professionals for managing patients after an acute ischemic stroke.
However, a study led by Eva Mistry, MBBS at the University of Cincinnati and UC Health, suggests this approach may not be universally beneficial.
The Study: A Different Perspective on Blood Pressure Management
The research focused on patients who underwent endovascular thrombectomy, a minimally invasive technique for removing blood clots in the brain.
Even though endovascular treatment has revolutionized acute stroke care, Mistry points out that about half of the patients remain disabled or die within 90 days post-treatment.
This has led researchers to explore additional strategies to improve patient outcomes.
The study included 120 patients and assessed whether lowering systolic blood pressure post-clot removal would be harmful or beneficial.
Despite prior research linking higher post-procedure systolic blood pressure to greater disability, this study found only marginal benefits in lowering blood pressure.
The Results: A Word of Caution
The researchers found no conclusive evidence that lowering systolic blood pressure worsens the size of a stroke or increases disability.
However, Mistry noted that there was a slight indication that it could worsen patients’ long-term disability.
The Takeaway: Individualized Treatment Over General Practice
Based on these findings, Mistry recommends allowing blood pressure to be auto-regulated after endovascular treatment.
Any intervention to lower blood pressure should be individualized, not used as a blanket practice.
For instance, some patients may need their blood pressure lowered due to other specific conditions or if there are signs of significant bleeding in the brain.
Limitations and Future Directions
The study has limitations, including its relatively small sample size and the fact that it was conducted at only three centers. This means the results may not be universally applicable.
Why It Matters: Rethinking Post-Stroke Care
The study invites healthcare professionals to rethink the conventional wisdom around blood pressure management post-clot removal in stroke patients.
It suggests more research is needed to determine the safest and most effective blood pressure management strategies post-endovascular treatment.
In summary, while the practice of lowering blood pressure after a clot-removal procedure may be well-intentioned, it may not necessarily be beneficial for all patients.
Future research should aim to provide more comprehensive guidelines, but in the meantime, a more individualized approach is recommended.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about Common high blood pressure drugs may cause memory problems and findings of Prunes can be a natural way to control blood pressure.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies that beetroot juice could help reduce blood pressure, and results showing cinnamon could help lower high blood pressure.
The research findings can be found in JAMA.
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