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A Thrombotic Stroke Model Based On Transient Cerebral Hypoxia-ischemia
Published on: August 18, 2015
14.7K
Stroke in the pediatric intensive care unit
Javier Zorrilla Abad1, Débora Sanz Álvarez2, Gema Manrique Martín2
1Departamento de Salud Pública y Maternoinfantil, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Medicina Intensiva
|February 25, 2025
Summary
Pediatric stroke, particularly ischemic stroke, is more common than hemorrhagic stroke. Children experiencing stroke face high mortality and significant long-term neurological deficits, especially those with heart conditions or on ECMO.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Stroke in children is a critical neurological event with significant morbidity and mortality.
- Understanding the specific characteristics of pediatric stroke is essential for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence, causes, risk factors, mortality, and sequelae of stroke in pediatric patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
Main Methods:
- A single-center retrospective observational study utilizing a prospective database.
- Inclusion criteria: Children aged one month to 18 years diagnosed with stroke and admitted to the PICU.
- Data collected included epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, treatment, sequelae, and mortality information.
Main Results:
- Ischemic stroke (63%) was more frequent than hemorrhagic stroke (30.4%) among 46 pediatric patients.
- Mortality was 19.6%, with higher rates in patients with heart disease or treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
- Over 62% of survivors experienced sequelae, most commonly hemiparesis, particularly in those with motor symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Ischemic stroke is more prevalent than hemorrhagic stroke in pediatric patients.
- Pediatric stroke is associated with high mortality and a substantial rate of long-term sequelae.
- Heart disease and ECMO treatment are linked to increased stroke frequency and mortality in this population.
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