title: Stroke mortality in intensive care unit from tertiary care neurological center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke is the second most common cause of death and major cause of disability worldwide. About a quarter of stroke patients are dead within a month, about a third by six months, and a half by one year. Although the most substantial advance in stroke has been the routine management of patients in stroke care units, Intensive Care Unit has remained the choice for stroke patients' care in developing countries. This study explores the mortality of stroke patients in ICU setting in tertiary care neurological centre in a developing country.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected data of stroke patients admitted in our ICU from August 2009 to August 2010 and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total 44 (10.25%) patients were admitted for acute stroke. Age ranged from 17-93 years. Low Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), uncontrolled hypertension and aspiration pneumonia were common indications for admission in ICU. Total 23 (52.3%) patients had hemorrhagic stroke and 21 (47.7%) patients had ischemic stroke. Total 13 (29.54%) patients of stroke died within seven days, nine (69.23%) patients of hemorrhagic stroke died within six days, and four patients (30.76%) of ischemic stroke died within seven days and six (13.63%) patients left hospital against medical advice. All of these patients had ischemic stroke.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stroke mortality in ICU remains high despite of care in tertiary neurological center in resource poor settings. Stroke Care Unit, which would also help dissemination of knowledge of stroke management, is an option for improved outcome in developing countries.
authors.affiliation: College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Department of Neurology, Bharatpur, Nepal.
authors.forename: Lekh Jjung
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Thapa
authors.affiliation: College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Department of Neurology, Bharatpur, Nepal.
authors.forename: Asis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.affiliation: College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Department of Neurology, Bharatpur, Nepal.
authors.forename: Baburam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pokhrel
authors.affiliation: College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Department of Neurology, Bharatpur, Nepal.
authors.forename: Raju
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poudel
authors.affiliation: College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Department of Neurology, Bharatpur, Nepal.
authors.forename: P V S
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Rana
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000401:mortality; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000401:mortality*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers