Siriraj Acute Stroke Unit : The Experience of 614 Patients

Authors

  • Niphon Poungvarin Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
  • Naraporn Prayoonwiwat Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
  • Varapun Senanarong Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
  • Rungsun Chaisevikul Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
  • Chotipat Danchaivijitr Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
  • Yongchai Nilanont Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University

Keywords:

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Abstract

Background : Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Establishing a stroke unit is one of the most recent advance in an acute stroke management. A number of trials have shown the benefit of stroke unit. In Thailand, the Siriraj Acute Stroke Unit ( SASU) is the first and only unit in the country. It has been established since May 1997.
Methods : We analysed the data from the acute stroke patients admitted to the SASU from May 1997 to January 2001. The main criteria for admission to the SASU were stroke patients of either sex, aged over 13 years, with a Glasgow Coma Scale over 11/ 15 , and those who did not require ventilation.
Results : The total number of patients admitted to the SASU was 614. There were 310 males (50.49 per cent) and 304 females (49.51 per cent). The mean age of all patients was 63.79 years (range19-94 yrs ). CT or MRI brain scans were done on 580 patients (94.46%). Stroke subtypes were classified as cerebral infarction in 488 patients (79.40% ) and cerebral haemorrhage in 102 patients (16.61% ). Fifteen patients (3.07% ) were diagnosed with a transient ischaemic attack .Seven patients (1.14% ) initially diagnosed as having a stroke were found to have a brain tumour ( 4 primary and, 3 metastatic tumours). Risk factors for stroke were as follows :- hypertension (57.32% ), diabetes mellitus (30.94%), hyperlipidaemia ( 30.13% ), heart disease ( 24.08% ), and smoking ( 23.28% ). The mortality rate of acute stroke patients in SASU was 1.95 percent (12 patients) mainly due to brain herniation ( 6 patients ). The mean total hospital stay of stroke patients at the SASU was15.64 days ( ranging from 1-120 days ).
Conclusion : The mortality rate of acute stroke patients in SASU was very low. The main cause of death was brain herniation. The hospital stay in the SASU is reduced by half in comparision with a general medical ward. An acute stroke patient admitted to the SASU has a better chance of survival as well as a shorter length of stay.

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Published

01-03-2002

How to Cite

Poungvarin, N. ., Prayoonwiwat, N. ., Senanarong, V. ., Chaisevikul, R. ., Danchaivijitr, C. ., & Nilanont, Y. . (2002). Siriraj Acute Stroke Unit : The Experience of 614 Patients. Siriraj Medical Journal, 54(3), 151–158. Retrieved from https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/sirirajmedj/article/view/245006

Issue

Vol. 54 No. 3 (2002): March

Section

Original Article

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