UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Neurology

Title: Risk Factors for Post-stroke Complications

Keywords: stroke, cerebral edema, tPA, hemorrhage, NIHSS (PubMed Search)

Posted: 10/13/2010 by Aisha Liferidge, MD (Updated: 5/4/2024)
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  • When emergently managing stroke, be vigilant about anticipating potential complications and recognizing them with expediency, regardless of whether the patient receives tPA therapy.
  • The following are associated with greater risk of developing cerebral edema and/or post-tPA hemorrhage:

              ---  High NIH Stroke Scale scores.

              ---  Large areas of infarct.

              ---  Cerebellar infarcts.

              ---  Extended time to tPA administration.

              ---  Previous stroke.

              ---  Older age.
 

References