[Long term outcome of perinatal stroke]

Abstract

Neonatal Arterial Ischemic Stroke (NAIS) affects 6-17 newborns on 100 000-birth term neonates, most of these children keeping long-term motor and cognitive impairments. Based on a literature review, the objectives of this paper are to describe motor and cognitive outcomes after a NAIS and to propose a consensual monitoring of these children to improve their management. About 30 % of children after a NAIS will develop a unilateral cerebral palsy requiring a management by a team with expertise in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Unlike adults, especially after a left NAIS, children will not present aphasia but between 50 and 90 % will present disorders of speech and language in expression and/or reception. After NAIS, the global intellectual efficiency is usually preserved except when the size of the lesion is very important or when severe epilepsy occurs. Several studies are also in favor of vulnerability in visuospatial functions. To quantify impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions resulting from this NAIS, early and at least yearly evaluations with reliable tools must be carried out systematically until puberty. A multidisciplinary team with a longitudinal follow-up, in all the different developmental dimensions, must conduct these evaluations in term of motor skills, cognitive impairment, behavior, autonomy, quality of life, and participation. Consequences on family functioning need to be evaluate in order to help children and family coping with this event.