Treatment of cerebrovascular accidents in an intensive care unit. 230 cases
Woimant, F.; de Liège, P.; Dupuy, M.; Haguenau, M.; Pépin, B.
Presse Medicale 13(35): 2121-2124
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0755-4982 PMID: 6238314 Document Number: 230480
Over a 20 mo. period, 230 patients were treated in an intensive care unit for acute cerebral vascular accident. There were 157 ischemic accidents and 73 hemorrhages. The mean age of the patients was 61.7 yr. Mechanical ventilation was used in a quarter of the cases, and tracheotomy was performed in 7%. Surgery was considered necessary in only less than 5%. The overall mortality in the unit was 20% for patients with established ischemia and 44% for those with cerebral hemorrhage. After 6 mo., 64% of patients with ischemia and 44% of patients with hemorrhage were still alive; 82% were independent, usually without sequelae, and 6% were bed-ridden; 15% of those who had mechanical ventilation survived. Prognostic factors are analyzed and the role of intensive care units in the management of cerebral vascular accidents is discussed.