An observational cross-sectional study of clinical profile of posterior circulation ischemic stroke in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Eastern India

Abstract

: Posterior circulation strokes account for approximately 15% of all strokes with diverse clinical presentation. They are different from anterior circulation strokes, with reference to risk factors, clinical features, management stratergy and prognosis. We conducted a study in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Eastern India to understand the clinical profile of patients with posterior circulation ischemic stroke. : The study was conducted at Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, with a total of 282 patients during the period from January 2020 to June 2021 (Eighteen months). A detailed medical history and clinical examination aided with neuro-imaging was done in all patients. : Incidence of posterior circulation ischemic stroke was 16.2%. The male to female ratio being 2.27:1, the mean age at presentation was 54.4 (± 13.6) years. Diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and tobacco use were identified as the major risk factors. The common clinical manifestations were motor disturbances, vertigo, gait ataxia, cranial nerve deficits, altered sensorium and visual disturbances. Infratentorial infarcts were seen more frequently and most common anatomical site of involvement was cerebellum (30.5%). Large artery diseases (58.8%) were the most common aetiological causes and 15.6% had cardioembolic source according to TOAST Criteria. Posterior cerebral artery involvement was the most common (43.6%) finding and the incidence of mortality was 6.3% noted in our series.