فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Background: Stroke is considered as a lethal condition associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Afterstroke, complications are common and cause devastating effects on rehabilitation. The present study was designedto study the frequency of complications in acute stroke patients in Peshavar, Pakistan.Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted from March 2006 to February 2007 in the GeneralSurgery and Neurosurgery Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lady Reading Hospital and Department of GeneralMedicine of Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar, Pakistan in a tertiary health care facility. The studywas conducted on 100 consecutive patients of acute stroke, presenting within 7 days of the onset of stroke. Allpatients fulfilling WHO definition of acute stroke were admitted. The patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage wereexcluded from study. After initial assessment for the degree of neurological defect and functional disabilities, thepatients were investigated for stroke types and cause. Daily assessment of all patients for occurrence of complicationswas done till discharge from hospital or death of the patient.Results: Fift-eight (58%) patients were male and 42 (42%) were female with a mean age of 59.98 (±11.95)years. The patients with intra-cerebral bleeding were 32 while those with cerebral infarction were 64 and caseswith lacunar infarction, were 4. The median hospital stay was 6 days. The main complications were aspirationpneumonia in 28 (28%), constipation in 28 (28%), chest infection in 27 (27%), dehydration in 21 (21%) and urinarytract infection (UTI) in 12 (12%). 16 patients (16%) had no complications and seven patients died. Aspirationpneumonia was the cause of death in four patients (57%) during their hospital stay.Conclusion: Post-stroke complications are very common and these can alter the outcome of stroke patients.Multidisciplinary stroke management is needed to decrease the complications of acute stroke.