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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

A Thrombotic Stroke Model Based On Transient Cerebral Hypoxia-ischemia
Published on: August 18, 2015
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.
Insights
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.
Objectives:
To analyze the frequency, causes, risk factors, mortality and sequelae of stroke in children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
Design:
Single-center retrospective observational study based on a prospective database.
Setting:
Pediatric intensive care unit.
Patients:
Children between one month and eighteen years of age admitted to the PICU and diagnosed with stroke were included.
Main Variables Of Interest:
Epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic and treatment data, sequelae and mortality were recorded.
Interventions:
None.
Results:
46 patients were studied, of whom 29 (63%) had an ischemic stroke, 14 (30.4%) a hemorrhagic stroke, 1 (2.2%) venous sinus thrombosis and 2 (4.3%) mixed stroke. 11 patients (23.9%) had heart disease and 7 (15.2%) were treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or ventricular assist. 8.6% of patients were treated with fibrinolysis or thrombectomy. 9 patients (19.6%) died. Patients with heart disease and those treated with ECMO had a higher mortality rate. 23 children, 62.1% of survivors, suffered sequelae at discharge. The most frequent sequelae were hemiparesis. Sequelae were significantly more frequent in patients who presented with motor symptoms (76.2%) (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
The frequency of ischemic stroke in pediatric patients is higher than that of hemorrhagic stroke. Pediatric patients who suffer a stroke have a high mortality rate and a high rate of sequelae. Patients with heart disease and those treated with ECMO are those who present stroke most frequently and have a higher mortality rate.
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