Neurocritical care
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Cortical spreading depolarization (SD) is a propagating depolarization wave of neurons and glial cells in the cerebral gray matter. SD occurs in all forms of severe acute brain injury, as documented by using invasive detection methods. Based on many experimental studies of mechanical brain deformation and concussion, the occurrence of SDs in human concussion has often been hypothesized. However, this hypothesis cannot be confirmed in humans, as SDs can only be detected with invasive detection methods that would require either a craniotomy or a burr hole to be performed on athletes. Typical electroencephalography electrodes, placed on the scalp, can help detect the possible presence of SD but have not been able to accurately and reliably identify SDs. ⋯ Our analysis suggests that concussive (and other) SDs can be detected from the scalp, which could confirm SD occurrence in human concussion, provide concussion diagnosis on the basis of an underlying physiological mechanism, and lead to noninvasive SD detection in the setting of severe acute brain injury.
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To test the hypothesis that appearances of intracranial hematomas on diagnostic computed tomography (CT) are not idiosyncratic and reflect a biologically plausible mechanism, we evaluated the association between hematoma appearance on CT, biomarkers of platelet activity, and antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication use prior to admission. ⋯ In patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage, hematoma appearances on CT are associated with biomarkers of platelet activity and clopidogrel use prior to admission. Appearances of intracranial hematomas on CT may reflect reduced hemostasis from antiplatelet medication use.
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Patients who require readmission to an intensive care unit (ICU) after transfer to a lower level of care ("bounceback") suffer from increased mortality and longer hospital stays. We aimed to create a multifaceted standardized transfer process for patients moving from the neurointensive care unit (neuro-ICU) to a lower level of care. We hypothesized that this process would lead to improvement in provider-rated safety and a decreased rate of bouncebacks to the neuro-ICU after transfer. ⋯ Patients who bounceback to the neuro-ICU within 48 h had an increased length of hospital stay, had an increased length of ICU stay, and were more likely to be intubated for more than 96 h. Implementation of a standardized five-step transfer process from the neuro-ICU to a lower level of care resulted in improvement in multiple provider-rated safety outcomes and identification of high-risk patients but led to no difference in the patient bounceback rate or patient disposition at discharge.
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The cerebral angiography result is negative for an underlying vascular lesion in 15-20% of patients with nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Patients with angiogram-negative SAH include those with perimesencephalic SAH and diffuse SAH. Consensus suggests that perimesencephalic SAH confers a more favorable prognosis than diffuse SAH. Limited data exist to contextualize the clinical course and prognosis of diffuse SAH in relation to aneurysmal SAH in terms of critical care complications, neurologic complications, and functional outcomes. Here we compare the clinical course and functional outcomes of patients with perimesencephalic SAH, diffuse SAH, and aneurysmal SAH to better characterize the prognostic implications of each SAH subtype. ⋯ We confirm the consensus data that perimesencephalic SAH is associated with a more benign clinical course but demonstrate that diffuse SAH confers an intermediate prognosis, more malignant than perimesencephalic SAH but not as morbid as aneurysmal SAH. These results highlight the significant morbidity associated with diffuse SAH and emphasize need for vigilance in the acute care of these patients. These patients will likely benefit from continued high-acuity observation and potential support to avert significant risk of morbidity and neurologic compromise.
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The association between race and ethnicity and microvascular disease in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is unclear. We hypothesized that social determinants of health (SDOHs) mediate the relationship between race and ethnicity and severity of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and microbleeds in patients with ICH. ⋯ The association between Black non-Hispanic race and ethnicity and moderate to severe WMH lost significance after we adjusted for highest level of education, suggesting that SDOHs may mediate the association between race and ethnicity and microvascular disease.