The 30-day survival rate and 90-day consciousness rate were chosen as the primary outcomes. Mortality data were obtained from medical records or by telephone contact with primary care physicians or family members. Consciousness was determined based on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (item 1a: value 0, 1, or 2 for consciousness, value 3 for unconsciousness), which was obtained from a clinic visit at 90-day follow-up or by telephone contact by two trained neurosurgeons blinded to research data.
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