Major complications associated with unfavorable outcome in right-sided large hemisphere infarctions: A single-center study

Abstract

Objectives: To identify the major complications independently associated with unfavorable outcomes in right-sided large hemisphere infarction (RLHI) patients. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled consecutive patients admitted within 24 h with the diagnosis of RLHI. The unfavorable outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 4–6 at 3 months. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the major complications independently associated with 3-month unfavorable outcomes. Results: Of the 171 cases with RLHI included, 126 (73.7%) had unfavorable outcomes at 3 months: A total of 64 (37.4%) cases died, and 62 (36.3%) lived with severe disability. Stroke-related complications occurred in 168 (98.2%) patients during hospitalization. The five most common stroke-related complications were pulmonary infection (75.4%), electrolyte disorder (61.4%), hypoalbuminemia (49.1%), malignant brain edema (MBE) (48.5%), and hemorrhagic transformation (48.0%). RLHI patients with unfavorable outcomes had more frequent MBE (58.7% vs. 21.4%, p