Puerperal period is commonly known as confinement. Some puerperal women will have sudden stroke, hemiplegia and other symptoms, which are mostly caused by cerebral venous thrombosis. The direct cause of cerebral venous thrombosis is puerperal infection, so its clinical symptoms are somewhat different from general stroke. The clinical manifestations of the disease mainly include the following aspects.
- Symptoms of infection. Suddenly cold, fever, take ear blood found that the white blood cell count increased significantly.
- increased intracranial pressure. Have severe headache and vomiting.
- stroke symptoms. Convulsions that are generalized or confined to one upper or lower extremity, and paralysis or hemiplegia of one upper or lower extremity.
- take cerebrospinal fluid through lumbar puncture. Red blood cells are visible, and cerebrospinal fluid pressure is significantly increased.
How should puerperal women with stroke be treated?
As the direct cause of the disease is puerperal bacterial infection, anti-inflammatory treatment should be considered first, and antibiotics can be reasonably selected according to different pathogenic bacteria. According to the clinical manifestations of high intracranial pressure, reduce intracranial pressure rapidly, and the commonly used drug is mannitol intravenous infusion. And with hormone therapy, cortisone or Flumetasone can be used, intravenous drip.
One notable study on stroke during the puerperal period
One notable study on stroke during the puerperal period is “Pregnancy-Related Stroke: A Population-Based Study” conducted by the Department of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). This study aimed to investigate the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of stroke associated with pregnancy and the postpartum period.
The study was carried out by the Department of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).
The primary focus of the study was to determine the incidence of stroke in pregnant and postpartum women within a defined population. The researchers utilized a comprehensive database to identify cases of stroke that occurred during pregnancy or within six weeks after delivery. They analyzed various factors including demographic characteristics, medical history, and clinical features to understand the risk factors associated with pregnancy-related stroke.
The study revealed that pregnancy-related stroke is a rare but serious complication, with an incidence rate of approximately 19.4 per 100,000 deliveries. The most common types of stroke were ischemic strokes, which accounted for the majority of cases. Key risk factors identified included hypertension, preeclampsia, and previous stroke history. The study also highlighted that the mortality rate associated with pregnancy-related stroke was significantly higher compared to stroke in non-pregnant women, emphasizing the urgent need for prompt diagnosis and treatment in this population.
This research not only provided critical insights into the epidemiology of stroke during the puerperal period but also underscored the importance of targeted preventive strategies and enhanced clinical vigilance in this high-risk group.
