Neurocritical care
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Remote Ischemic Pre-conditioning in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Prospective Pilot Trial.
Cerebral injury from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is twofold. The initial hemorrhage causes much of the injury; secondary injury can occur from delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) is a mechanism of organ protection in response to transient ischemia within a distant organ. This pilot trial sought to apply RIPC in patients with aSAH to evaluate its effect on secondary cerebral injury and resultant outcomes. ⋯ This pilot trial did demonstrate feasibility and safety. The shortened LOS in the LPO may implicate a protective role of RIPC and warrants future study.
-
Multicenter Study
Association of Dose of Intracranial Hypertension with Outcome in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.
In patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) the burden of intracranial pressure (ICP) and its contribution to outcomes remains unclear. In this multicenter study, the independent association between intensity and duration, or "dose," of episodes of intracranial hypertension and 12-month neurological outcomes was investigated. ⋯ In two cohorts of patients with aSAH, an association between duration and intensity of episodes of elevated ICP and 12-month neurological outcomes could be demonstrated and was visualized in a color-coded plot.
-
Patients with large territorial supratentorial infarctions are at high risk of cerebral edema, increased intracranial pressure, tissue herniation and death. There is strong evidence supporting prompt decompressive craniectomy after large hemispheric ischemic stroke as a means to reduce mortality. Nevertheless, functional outcomes can vary significantly. ⋯ In the absence of decision aids, we explore insights from decision theory and propose an expected utility-inspired approach as a supplementary navigating tool in the decision-making process. Four patient case scenarios are discussed as a demonstration of using individualized rankings of outcome preferences, and deriving expected utilities for interventions such as decompressive craniectomy versus medical therapy. The ultimate aim of the suggested approach is to assure that patient values are elicited and incorporated, and possible range and nature of outcomes are discussed, and by attempting to connect best available means to patient individualized ends.
-
Multicenter Study Observational Study
Variability in Serum Sodium Concentration and Prognostic Significance in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Multicenter Observational Study.
Dysnatremia is common in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients and may contribute to mortality. However, serum sodium variability has not been studied in TBI patients. We hypothesized that such variability would be independently associated with mortality. ⋯ Our study demonstrates that daily serum sodium variability is an independent predictor of 28-day mortality in severe TBI patients. Further prospective investigations are necessary to confirm the significance of sodium variability in larger cohorts of TBI patients and test whether attenuating such variability confers outcome benefits to such patients.
-
Observational Study
Intracerebral Hemorrhage in COVID-19 Patients with Pulmonary Failure: A Propensity Score-Matched Registry Study.
Hypercoagulability in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism necessitating systemic anticoagulation. Case reports of intracerebral hemorrhages in ventilated COVID-19 patients warrant precaution. It is unclear, however, if COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with or without veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy (VV-ECMO) have more intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH) compared to other ARDS patients. ⋯ Intracerebral hemorrhage was detected in every tenth patient with ARDS. Despite statistically higher rates of antiplatelet therapy and therapeutic anticoagulation in COVID-19 patients, we found a similar rate of ICH in patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 compared to other causes of ARDS.