Neurocritical care
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Elevated levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) have been associated with cardiac dysfunction and adverse neurological outcomes after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We sought to determine whether elevated levels of BNP are independently associated with radiographic cerebral infarction after SAH. ⋯ Elevated levels of BNP are strongly and independently associated with cerebral infarction, and the association is most pronounced in patients without angiographic vasospasm. These results provide further evidence that other mechanisms can contribute to infarction, and BNP may be a useful biomarker in detecting patients at risk for adverse outcomes without large vessel vasospasm.
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Case Reports
Outcome in patients with H1N1 influenza and cerebrovascular injury treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Although intracranial hemorrhage and infarction have been reported in patients with H1N1 influenza infection treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), the clinical outcomes of these patients are not well described. ⋯ Frequent and early surveillance imaging should be obtained in patients with H1N1 influenza infection undergoing ECMO, although the presence of diffuse cerebral injury, including intraparenchymal hemorrhage and multifocal punctate susceptibility effect, does not necessarily portend a poor prognosis.
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Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a common condition in children. Little is known in this condition regarding the frequency of seizures, the factors associated with increased risk of seizures, or the association of seizures with outcome. We sought to determine frequency and risks for in-hospital seizures after AHT. ⋯ Specific neuroradiologic findings identify children at greater risk for seizures, both clinical and subclinical, following AHT. Clinical and subclinical seizures are common in the initial hospitalization for AHT.
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Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor implicated in the pathogenesis of vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ET-1 levels and angiographic vasospasm and DCI. ⋯ Based on these results we conclude that ET-1 concentrations are elevated in a sub-group of patients and that the acute (72 h prior to angiography and clinical neurological deterioration), but not chronic, elevations in CSF ET-1 concentrations are indicative of the pathogenic alterations of vasospasm and DCI in aSAH patients.
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Case Reports
Multimodality neuromonitoring and decompressive hemicraniectomy after subarachnoid hemorrhage.
We report the case of a young woman with delayed cerebral infarction and intracranial hypertension following subarachnoid hemorrhage requiring hemicraniectomy, who underwent multimodality neuromonitoring of the contralateral hemisphere before and after craniectomy. ⋯ Delayed rescue hemicraniectomy can be life-saving after poor grade SAH. The role of multimodality brain monitoring for determining the optimal timing of hemicraniectomy deserves further study.