title: Computed tomographic parameters predicting fatal outcome in large middle cerebral artery infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Large middle cerebral artery (MCA) ischaemic stroke when associated with extensive mass effect can result in brain herniation and neurological death. As yet there are few guidelines to aid the selection of patients for aggressive interventional therapies, such as decompression hemicraniectomy and/or hypothermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied a cohort of patients from seven centres with large MCA infarction requiring neurocritical care. The purpose of this analysis was to assess the use of early radiological signs on follow-up computed tomographic (CT) signs performed within 48 h of stroke onset for predicting mortality at 30 days. The CT parameters assessed included horizontal displacement of the septum pellucidum, pineal shift, complete or partial infarction of the temporal lobe, involvement of additional vascular territories, and the presence of hydrocephalus. The primary outcome measure was in-hospital death within 30 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and thirty-five patients who had follow-up CT scans within 48 h were identified from a total of 201 patients with large MCA infarction that received conventional medical therapy alone. The median age was 68 (range 29-99), 56% were female, and the median NIHSS category was 26-30 at 48 h. Among CT variables in univariable analysis, anteroseptal shift >/=5 mm, pineal shift >/=2 mm, complete temporal lobe infarction, involvement beyond the MCA territory, and moderate or severe hydrocephalus were equally predictive of death. Multivariable analysis adjusting for time to CT scan revealed the following predictors of fatal outcome: anteroseptal shift >/=5 mm (OR 10.9; 95% CI 3.2-37.6), NIHSS within 48 h >20 (OR 6.6; 95% CI 2.3-19.3), and infarction beyond the MCA territory (OR 4.9; 95% CI 1.6-15.0).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identified the role of early CT signs in predicting death following massive MCA infarction. The CT parameters anteroseptal shift (>5 versus </=5 mm), pineal shift >/=2 mm, hydrocephalus, temporal lobe infarction, and other vascular territory infarction if present were predictive of fatal outcome. These CT parameters require prospective validation before they should be considered reliable markers for decision-making.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Demchuk
authors.forename: Jinjin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Scott E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kasner
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Jorg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berrouschot
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schmutzhard
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Harms
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verro
authors.forename: Derk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krieger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed