title: DESTINY-S: attitudes of physicians toward disability and treatment in malignant MCA infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) reduces mortality and improves outcome after malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction but leaves a high number of survivors severely disabled. Attitudes among physicians toward the degree of disability that is considered acceptable and the impact of aphasia may play a major role in treatment decisions.
  
  
  METHODS
  DESTINY-S is a multicenter, international, cross-sectional survey among 1,860 physicians potentially involved in the treatment of malignant MCA infarction. Questions concerned the grade of disability, the hemisphere of the stroke, and the preferred treatment for malignant MCA infarction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  mRS scores of 3 or better were considered acceptable by the majority of respondents (79.3%). Only few considered a mRS score of 5 still acceptable (5.8%). A mRS score of 4 was considered acceptable by 38.0%. Involved hemisphere (dominant vs. non-dominant) was considered a major clinical symptom influencing treatment decisions in 47.7% of respondents, also reflected by significantly different rates for DHC as preferred treatment in dominant versus non-dominant hemispheric infarction (46.9 vs. 72.9%). Significant differences in acceptable disability and treatment decisions were found among geographic regions, medical specialties, and respondents with different work experiences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Little consensus exists among physicians regarding acceptable outcome and therapeutic management after malignant MCA infarction, and physician's recommendations do not correlate with available evidence. We advocate for a decision-making process that balances scientific evidence, patient preference, and clinical expertise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, RKU - University- and Rehabilitation Hospitals Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany, hermann.neugebauer@uni-ulm.de.
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neugebauer
authors.forename: Claire J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Creutzfeldt
authors.forename: J Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hemphill
authors.forename: Peter U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Heuschmann
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jüttler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056424:Decompressive Craniectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome