Table 3.

Univariate analysis of predictors of secondary outcomes in patients with severe anterior circulation stroke

n= 39 (total)	Gastrostomy (n=19)	Tracheostomy (n=8)	Malignant Edema (n=23)
	p value	p value	p value
Age (years)	0.53	0.93	0.24
Sex, male	0.91	0.92	0.86
NIHSS score	0.18	0.49	0.63
Infarct volume (ml)	0.85	0.34	0.01*
Nadir sodium (mmol/L)	0.45	0.56	0.82
Peak sodium (mmol/L)	0.96	0.45	0.03*
Hyperosmolar therapy	0.63	0.39	0.003*
Bolus ICP treatment	0.41	0.09	0.04*
Decompressive craniectomy	0.11	0.004*	-
GCS score decline	0.91	0.92	0.61
Hemisphere, left	0.34	0.29	0.73
Admission GCS score	0.17	0.03*	0.91
Midline shift (mm)	0.14	0.14	-
ACA involvement	0.42	0.80	0.68

^*significant

A univariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze independent predictors of secondary outcomes (including gastrostomy, tracheostomy, and malignant edema formation) in patients with severe anterior circulation stroke. Significant individual predictors of secondary outcomes included decompressive craniectomy and admission GCS (for tracheostomy), as well as infarct volume, peak sodium, hyperosmolar therapy, and bolus ICP treatment (for malignant edema). Decompressive craniectomy was not analyzed for malignant edema, as it was felt to be a treatment for the condition rather than a predictive event. Midline shift was also not analyzed for malignant edema, as it was sine qua non for the condition itself.

Abbreviations: NIHSS= National Institutes of Health stroke scale; ICP= Intracranial pressure; GCS= Glasgow coma scale; ACA= Anterior cerebral artery