BACKGROUND: Most stroke-related deaths occur shortly after the onset of symptoms. Analysis of early deaths after stroke is important, since some deaths may be preventable. It also helps to improve the quality of stroke management. We investigated the early mortality and the causes of death in acute ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of six hundred fifty-one consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients who admitted to HLMC (Hallym University Medical Center) between January 1993 and December 1996. The 30-day mortality rate and the cause of death in each case were assessed. RESULTS: Fifty patients (mean age, 67.7 years, male : female=1 : 1.3) of total 651 patients (mean age, 65.4 years, male : female=1:0.78) died within 30 days (7.7%). Thirty-three (7%) patients of the 471 patients who had supratentorial lesion and sixteen (10.5%) of the 151 patients who had infratentorial lesion died within 30 days. The 30-day mortality rate according to each stroke subtype were 8.2% in large-artery atherosclerosis (n=21), 26.4% in cardioembolism (n=14), 1.2% in small-vessel occlusion (n=3), 33.3% in strokes with other determined etiology (n=1), 12.1% in strokes with undetermined etiology (n=11). Twenty-eight patients (56%) died due to direct stroke-related causes such as herniation, evolving stroke and massive hemorrhagic transformation. Twenty-two patients (44%) died from indirect stroke-complicated causes such as sepsis (n=7, 14%), heart disease (n=6, 12%), pneumonia (n=5, 10%), massive bleeding at tracheostomy site (n=1, 2%), pulmonary edema (n=1, 2%) and unknown cause (n=2, 4%). Forty patients (80%) died in the first 10 days and the main causes of death were herniation and evolving stroke. After the first 10 days, ten patients (20%) died of relative immobility (pneumonia, sepsis, pulmonary embolism). CONCLUSION: To reduce the early mortality within the first 10 days after the onset, aggressive control of IICP with the amelioration of brain edema must be emphasized. Whilst, to reduce the early mortality after the first 10 days, vigorous efforts to prevent and treat complications, such as pneumonia, pulmonary embolism and sepsis should be done.
Atherosclerosis ; Brain Edema ; Cause of Death* ; Cerebral Infarction ; Heart Diseases ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality* ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Edema ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Sepsis ; Stroke* ; Tracheostomy

BACKGROUND: As a complication of iron deficiency anemia, only a few cases of the infarction involving major cerebral artery territory area have been reported. Although the reactive thrombocytosis secondary to iron-deficiency anemia may be suggested as a cause, the exact mechanism is unclear. Until now, the sole possible level of thrombocytosis associated with iron deficiency anemia for cerebrovascular accident has been reported as more than 8.0 x 105/mm3. Case Description : We present a case of young woman with mild reactive thrombocytosis(5.95 x 105/mm3) secondary to iron deficiency anemia who developed left middle cerebral artery territorial infarction. We did not find any other precipitating factors despite of all possible etiological evaluations including cerebral angiography. After the treatment of iron supplement and antiplatelet agent, the recovery was relatively good and no definite neurological deficits were remained. CONCLUSION: We suggest that this large territorial infarction might be related to the severe iron deficiency anemia and the reactive thrombocytosis associated with iron deficiency anemia and the correction of anemia and antiplatelet therapy is a reasonable approach.
Anemia ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* ; Cerebral Angiography ; Cerebral Arteries ; Female ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Iron* ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Precipitating Factors ; Stroke ; Thrombocytosis*

BACKGROUND: The upper respiratory tract is the primary target organ of various airborne pollutants and is easily accessible part of the respiratory tract, and also is the predominant structure where chronic cough originates. The nasal peak inspiratory flow(PIFn), which is the peak inspiratory flow via nose with nasal mask and spirometry, could be a reliable parameter of nasal obstruction. The validity of PIFn has been evaluated in several studies by assessing the correlation between PIFn measurements and other parameters of nasal air flow. This study was designed to show the reproducibility of PIFn, the difference of PIFn between patients with chronic cough and normal subjects, and the usefulness of PIFn in the evaluation of nasal obstruction in patients with chronic cough. METHODS: PIFn was measured by spirometry with nasal mask, twice a day for 3 consecutive days in 7 young normal subjects to evaluate validity of the test. In 32 patients with chronic cough and 25 age-matched normal subjects, PIFn and pulmonary function test(FEV1, FEV1%pred, FVC, and FVC%pred) were measured at first visiting. RESULTS: Values of PIFn, FEV1, and FVC were nearly constant in 7 young normal adults. Patients with chronic cough were 32 (14 males and 18 females) and the mean age was 41.4+/-15.9 years. Normal subjects were 32 (22 males and 10 females) and the mean age was 39.8+/-18.6 years. There was no significant difference of age and pulmonary function test between patients with chronic cough and normal subjects(p<0.05). The PIFn values in patients with chronic cough was significantly lower than those of normal subjects(2.25+/-0.68 L/sec vs. 2.75+/-1.00 L/sec; p=0.02). The postnasal drip syndrome(PNDS) comprised the majority of patients with chronic cough(27). The PIFn in patients with PNDS was significantly lower than that of normal subjects(meanD; 2.18+/-0.66 vs. 2.75+/-1.00 L/sec, p=0.006). CONCLUSION: There was a significant difference of PIFn between patients with chronic cough and normal subjects. Among the patients with chronic cough, patients with PNDS showed the most significant difference with normal subjects in PIFn. The PIFn could be a useful parameter of nasal obstruction in patients with chronic cough, especially in patients with PNDS.
Adult ; Cough* ; Humans ; Male ; Masks ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nose ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory System ; Spirometry