[Optimism or pessimism in the treatment of cerebral infarct]

The aim of the study was to analyse the effects of drug and rehabilitation treatment of cerebral stroke. Material consists of 2,500 patients with focal brain ischemia. About three-fourths (68.7%) of patients with cerebral stroke improved receiving complex drug treatment, rehabilitation and psychological care. 54.9% of the whole group of patients had a neurological deficit score below 150, i.e. more than one half of the whole group (n = 2,500) left the hospital practically in good health capable of carrying on in their original occupation. Only 11.9% of patients died, but 48.9%, i.e. practically one half of them showed an extracerebral cause of death. The results of treatment are dependent on age. In the higher age group, the number of deteriorated cases as well as the number of death increases. The results of treatment are dependent on an early initiation of treatment after the onset of brain ischemia. In the 2nd time-period, the results of treatment are better in comparison to the 1st period due to new strategies of treatment, i.e. due to drugs that improve heart failure, rheological properties of the blood and brain metabolism and due to intensive rehabilitation care. The results have shown the improvement not only in movement possibilities of the patients, but also the improvement in majority of the psychological parameters (IQ, emotionality, sociability scale etc.).