Pattern of Neurologic Emergencies in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2014-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Neurological emergencies are a frequent presentations and often times with devastating
short and long term consequences. Neurological disorders are increasingly prevalent in Sub-
Saharan Africa with the paucity of data on adult neurological emergencies in the region. The
objective of the study was to determine the pattern of neurologic emergencies in TASH, Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia. Medical records of 311 adult patients presented to Tikur Anbessa Specialized
University Hospital from February 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014 were reviewed retrospectively.
The mean age of the patients was 44.681.1 years. Males outnumbered Females giving a sex
ratio (M: F) of 1.22:1. Neurological emergencies accounted for 5.27% of the total medical
emergencies. The most common neurologic emergencies were cerebrovascular disorder (54%),
neurologic complications of HIV/AIDS (9%), meningitis (8.7%) and seizure disorder (7.7%).
Hemiparesis, altered mental status and convulsion were the common presenting features
accounting 44%, 19.3% and 13.1%, respectively. The overall mortality rate of neurologic
emergencies was 27.3% with the highest case fatality rate from Encephalopathy 53.8% followed
by Tetanus 50%, neurologic complications of HIV/AIDS 39.3%, meningitis 37% and
cerebrovascular disorder 27.4%. It will be very useful for health care policy makers if they focus
on planning for better management and prevention of common neurologic emergencies.
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Keywords
Neurologic Emergencies