Effect of Discontinuation of Anticoagulation in Patients with Intracranial Hemorrhage at High Thromboembolic Risk

Objective

There was no abundance of data on the use of anticoagulant in patients with previous high risk of thromboembolic conditions under a newly developed intracranial hemorrhage in Korean society. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of discontinuance and suggest the proper time period for discontinuance of anticoagulant among these patients.

Methods

We reviewed the medical records of 19 patients who took anticoagulant because of thromboembolic problems and were admitted to our department with newly developed anticoagulation associated intracranial hemorrhage (AAICH), and stopped taking medicine due to concern of rebleeding from January 2008 to December 2012. Analysis of the incidence of thromboembolic complications and proper withdrawal time of anticoagulant was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

Our patients showed high risk for thromboembolic complication. The CHA₂DS₂-VASc score ranged from two to five. Thromboembolic complication occurred in eight (42.1%) out of 19 patients without restarting anticoagulant since the initial hemorrhage. Among them, three patients (37.5%) died from direct thromboembolic complications. Mean time to outbreak of thromboembolic complication was 21.38±14.89 days (range, 8-56 days). The probability of thromboembolic complications at 7, 14, and 30 days since cessation of anticoagulation was 0.00, 10.53, and 38.49%, respectively.

Conclusion

Short term discontinuance of anticoagulant within seven days in patients with AAICH who are at high embolic risk (CHA₂DS₂-VASc score >2) appears to be relatively safe in Korean people. However, prolonged cessation (more than seven days) may result in increased incidence of catastrophic thromboembolic complications.     

Incidence and Risk Factors of Acute Postoperative Delirium in Geriatric Neurosurgical Patients

Objective

Postoperative delirium (POD) is characterized by an acute change in cognitive function and can result in longer hospital stays, higher morbidity rates, and more frequent discharges to long-term care facilities. In this study, we investigated the incidence and risk factors of POD in 224 patients older than 70 years of age, who had undergone a neurosurgical operation in the last two years.

Methods

Data related to preoperative factors (male gender, >70 years, previous dementia or delirium, alcohol abuse, serum levels of sodium, potassium and glucose, and co morbidities), perioperative factors (type of surgery and anesthesia, and duration of surgery) and postoperative data (length of stay in recovery room, severity of pain and use of opioid analgesics) were retrospectively collected and statistically analyzed.

Results

POD appeared in 48 patients (21.4%) by postoperative day 3. When we excluded 26 patients with previous dementia or delirium, 17 spontaneously recovered by postoperative day 14, while 5 patients recovered by postoperative 2 months with medication, among 22 patients with newly developed POD. The univariate risk factors for POD included previously dementic or delirious patients, abnormal preoperative serum glucose level, pre-existent diabetes, the use of local anesthesia for the operation, longer operation time (>3.2 hr) or recovery room stay (>90 min), and severe pain (VAS>6.8) requiring opioid treatment (p<0.05). Backward regression analysis revealed that previously dementic patients with diabetes, the operation being performed under local anesthesia, and severe postoperative pain treated with opioids were independent risk factors for POD.

Conclusion

Our study shows that control of blood glucose levels and management of pain during local anesthesia and in the immediate postoperative period can reduce unexpected POD and help preventing unexpected medicolegal problems and economic burdens.     

急性脑卒中重度瘫痪患者入NICU后下肢深静脉血栓形成的相关危险因素分析

目的探讨因脑卒中造成重度瘫痪患者入住神经科重症监护病房(NICU)后深静脉血拴形成的发生率和相关危险因素。方法连续纳入2017年10月至2019年4月入住NICU的172例首发脑卒中重度瘫痪患者,入住NICU后72h内行首次双下肢静脉超声检査,转出NICU前行第2次双下肢静脉超声检查,根据第2次超声结果分为深静脉血栓形成组和无深静脉血拴形成组。采用多中心、开放性、回顾性调査对两组患者相关临床资料进行分析比较,应用多因素Logistic回归分析进行相关危险因素分析。结果172例脑卒中重度瘫痪患者,检出深静脉血栓形成60例(34.88%),其中有临床症状4/60例(6.67%),无临床症状56/60例(93.33%)。相关分析显示:年龄、房颤、心力衰竭、肿瘤病史、GCS评分、血小板计数.D-二聚体升高趋势、入NICU前后接受氯吡格雷治疗与下肢深静脉血栓形成均呈显著相关。多因素Logistic回归分析显示:肿瘤病史(OR=14.847,95%CI:1.751-125.897)与急性脑卒中重度瘫痪患者发生深静脉血栓形成具有相关性。结论首发脑卒中重度瘫痪患者的N1CU院内下肢深静脉血栓形成发病率为34.88%,其中93.33%无明显临床症状。既往肿瘤病史是NICU发生深静脉血栓形成的危险因素。     

急性脑出血患者下肢深静脉血栓形成的危险因素分析

目的 分析急性脑出血患者住院期间下肢深静脉血栓形成（deepvenousthrombosis,DVT）发生率、发生时间及危险因素。方法 选取首都医科大学附属北京天坛医院急性卒中入院后并发症队列研究中的脑出血患者,根据患者住院期间是否发生下肢DVT分为DVT组和无DVT组,比较两组患者的临床特征,采用多因素logistic回归分析脑出血患者发生DVT的危险因素。结果 研究最终纳入314例脑出血患者,其中18例（5.7%）住院期间发生了DVT,发生脑出血至DVT确诊的中位时间为7.5(4.0～9.0)d。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示：女性（OR 3.43,95%CI 1.04～11.37,P=0.0436）、既往冠心病病史（OR 6.89,95%CI 1.90～25.04,P=0.0034）、入院NIHSS评分高（OR 1.18,95%CI 1.06～1.23,P=0.0004）、住院时间长（OR 1.07,95%CI 1.01～1.13,P=0.0273）是脑出血患者发生DVT的独立危险因素。结论 急性脑出血患者发生下肢DVT时间在卒中后1周左右,女性、既往冠心病病史、入院时病...     

神经外科患者的医院感染危险因素分析与护理对策

目的 了解神经外科医院感染的现状,分析危险因素,采取有效的护理措施,以降低医院感染的发生率.方法 采用回顾性调查方法,对2006年1月～12月我院神经外科386例出院患者中的医院感染病例进行调查分析,制定护理对策.结果 发生医院感染54例,感染率为13.99%;常见感染部位依次是呼吸道、泌尿道和胃肠道等;侵入性导管、长期使用广谱抗生素、住院天数长和高龄均是危险因素.结论 加强病房管理,严格执行消毒隔离制度,合理使用抗生素,加强基础护理和健康教育,缩短住院天数,以降低神经外科医院感染的发生率.     

蛛网膜下腔出血患者并发下肢深静脉血栓的危险因素分析

目的 分析蛛网膜下腔出血(subarachnoid hemorrhage,SAH)患者并发下肢深静脉血栓(deep venous thrombosis,DVT)的危险因素,为DVT的预防和治疗提供临床指导.方法 连续收集2017年5-12月于首都医科大学附属北京天坛医院神经内科收治的SAH患者的临床资料,根据患者住院期...     

Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients at High Risk for Physical Complications

Nineteen patients had unrelieved incapacitating or life-threatening conditions likely remediable with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). They also had coexisting medical conditions originally judged to preclude ECT because it risked unacceptable complications. ECT was administered with attempts to prevent complications, although some procedures were canceled for medical reasons. Fourteen of 19 patients completed their course of ECT; one patient died. Sixteen of 19 patients returned to baseline functioning and were discharged. Judicious attempts to treat such high-risk patients with ECT yield therapeutic gains.     

以头痛为唯一临床表现的脑静脉窦血栓形成患者的头痛特征

目的 探讨以头痛为唯一临床表现的脑静脉窦血栓形成（cerebral venous thrombosis,CVT）患者的头
痛特征。
方法 回顾性纳入2012年1月-2018年12月北京航天总医院神经内科连续收治的以头痛为唯一临床
表现的CVT患者。以头痛为唯一表现指除头痛外无提示颅内压升高的体征,且脑脊液压力正常,影像
或脑脊液检测显示无蛛网膜下腔出血。分析这类患者的头痛特征（部位、发作模式、演变和强度）。
结果 共8例患者纳入本研究,中位年龄40岁,女性6例（75%）。最常受累的静脉窦是侧窦（7例,
87.5%）。4例患者累及左侧侧窦,头痛均位于左侧;4例患者累及中线静脉窦（上矢状窦或直窦）,头痛
均为双侧性。头痛发作模式：进展性头痛7例,闪电样头痛1例;演变：持续性7例,间歇性1例;强度：严
重头痛7例,中等程度头痛1例。
结论 对于仅表现为头痛并且颅内压正常以及无蛛网膜下腔出血的CVT患者,侧窦受累很常见,尤
其是左侧。头痛部位与受累静脉窦位置一致。     

以头痛为唯一临床表现的脑静脉窦血栓形成患者的头痛特征

目的 探讨以头痛为唯一临床表现的脑静脉窦血栓形成（cerebral venous thrombosis,CVT）患者的头 痛特征。 方法 回顾性纳入2012年1月-2018年12月北京航天总医院神经内科连续收治的以头痛为唯一临床 表现的CVT患者。以头痛为唯一表现指除头痛外无提示颅内压升高的体征,且脑脊液压力正常,影像 或脑脊液检测显示无蛛网膜下腔出血。分析这类患者的头痛特征（部位、发作模式、演变和强度）。 结果 共8例患者纳入本研究,中位年龄40岁,女性6例（75%）。最常受累的静脉窦是侧窦（7例, 87.5%）。4例患者累及左侧侧窦,头痛均位于左侧;4例患者累及中线静脉窦（上矢状窦或直窦）,头痛 均为双侧性。头痛发作模式：进展性头痛7例,闪电样头痛1例;演变：持续性7例,间歇性1例;强度：严 重头痛7例,中等程度头痛1例。 结论 对于仅表现为头痛并且颅内压正常以及无蛛网膜下腔出血的CVT患者,侧窦受累很常见,尤 其是左侧。头痛部位与受累静脉窦位置一致。     

脑静脉/静脉窦血栓形成伴颅内出血患者的临床特点及相关因素

目的探讨脑静脉/静脉窦血栓形成(Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis CVST)伴颅内出血患者的临床特点及相关因素。方法回顾性分析80例CVST患者,将其分为出血及未出血两组,分析比较两组患者的一般资料、既往病史、潜在病因、临床表现及血栓部位。结果入组80例CVST患者中,出血患者35例(43.75%)。其临床表现以癫痫发作(P0.001)、感觉及运动障碍(P=0.001)、失语(P=0.033)、意识障碍(P0.001)更常见,视力下降患者(P=0.012)较少。单因素分析显示,与未出血组相比,出血组患者发病年龄较大(P=0.023),自症状出现至首次就诊时间较短(P0.001),妊娠/产褥期(P=0.037)更多,直窦/深静脉更易受累(P=0.037)。出血组与未出血组患者的CVST评分差异无统计学意义。多因素分析发现,年龄偏大、急性期入院及直窦/深静脉受累与CVST伴出血的独立相关。结论年龄较大、妊娠/产褥期和直窦受累的CVST患者更易发生颅内出血。合并出血患者局灶性神经功能障碍、癫痫和意识障碍发生率高。     

不同影像技术在表现为孤立性颅内高压的脑静脉窦血栓诊断中的应用

脑静脉窦血栓形成(cerebralvenous sinus thrombosis,CVST)是指由不同病因引起的颅内静脉窦血栓形成,引起窦腔狭窄、闭塞,脑静脉血回流受阻和脑脊液吸收障碍,进而引起颅内高压等一系列病理生理改变以及相应症状的一组疾病[1].     

Clinical Impact of Oral Anticoagulation in Patients with Atrial High-rate Episodes

Background: Atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs) are common in pacemaker patients. Our aims were to compare patients with AHREs to those without them and to assess if, in those with AHREs, the initiation of oral anticoagulation (OAC) has any clinical impact on the occurrence of ischemic and hemorrhagic events. Methods: From 2014-2017 we selected patients with pacemaker in whom AHREs were detected. AHREs were defined as episodes lasting more than 6 minutes if the electrogram was available or more than 6 hours if not. We used an age- and gender-matched population with pacemaker but no AHRE as a control group (observational study). Those with AHRE were referred to their assistant physician to decide OAC initiation, based on individual circumstances (interventional study). In interventional study, the primary outcome was a composite of systemic thromboembolism or major bleeding. Secondary outcomes were clinical relevant nonmajor bleeding, major and nonmajor bleeding, CV death, and death from all causes. Results: AHREs were detected in 86 patients: 69 patients initiated OAC and the remaining 17 patients did not. When comparing patients with and without AHRE, baseline characteristics were not different between the groups, except for indexed left atrium volume—40 mL (IQR: 34-50) in AHRE group versus 35 mL (IQR: 34-40) in control group (P?=?.014). AHREs were associated with future development of atrial fibrillation (AF) and the risk was higher if AHRE duration was superior to 6 hours. Death and cardiovascular (CV) death were not significantly different between the groups with and without AHRE. Primary outcome occurred in 4.9 per 100 person-year in OAC group versus 3.4 per 100 person-year in non-OAC group (HR 1.4, 95% CI .2-11.3, P?=?.78). Secondary outcomes were not significantly different in the groups. Conclusions: In this group of patients with pacemakers, the presence of AHREs was useful for predicting the future development of AF and the risk of AF was higher in those with a longer duration of AHRE. In the AHRE group, OAC therapy was not associated with a significant difference in the risk of thromboembolism or major bleeding.     

Incidence and Risk Factors of Infection Caused by Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus Colonization in Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit Patients

Objective

This study was aimed to identify the incidence and risk factors of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) colonization in neurosurgical practice of field, with particular attention to intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods

This retrospective study was carried out on the Neurosurgical ICU (NICU), during the period from January. 2005 to December. 2007, in 414 consecutive patients who had been admitted to the NICU. Demographics and known risk factors were retrieved and assessed by statistical methods.

Results

A total of 52 patients had VRE colonization among 414 patients enrolled, with an overall prevalence rate of 6.1%. E. faecium was the most frequently isolated pathogen, and 92.3% of all VRE were isolated from urine specimen. Active infection was noticed only in 2 patients with bacteremia and meningitis. Relative antibiotic agents were third-generation cephalosporin in 40%, and vancomycin in 23%, and multiple antibiotic usages were also identified in 13% of all cases. Multivariate analyses showed Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score less than 8, placement of Foley catheter longer than 2 weeks, ICU stay over 2 weeks and presence of nearby VRE-positive patients had a significantly independent association with VRE infection.

Conclusion

When managing the high-risk patients being prone to be infected VRE in the NICU, extreme caution should be paid upon. Because prevention and outbreak control is of ultimate importance, clinicians should be alert the possibility of impending colonization and infection by all means available. The most crucial interventions are careful hand washing, strict glove handling, meticulous and active screening, and complete segregation.     

Identifying Depressed Patients With a High Risk of Comorbid Anxiety in Primary Care

BACKGROUND: Depressive and anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in the primary care setting. There is evidence that patients with depression and comorbid anxiety are more severely impaired than patients with depression alone and require aggressive mental health treatment. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of comorbid anxiety in a primary care population of depressed patients. METHOD: 342 subjects diagnosed with a DSM-IV-defined major depressive episode, dysthymia, or both were asked 2 questions about the presence of comorbid anxiety symptoms (history of panic attacks and/or flashbacks). Patient groups included depression only (N = 119), depression and panic attacks (N = 51), depression and flashbacks (N = 97), and depression and both panic attacks and flashbacks (N = 75). Groups were compared on demographics, mental health histories, and health-related quality-of-life variables. Data were gathered from January 1998 to March 1999. RESULTS: Those patients with depression, panic attacks, and flashback symptoms as compared with those with depression alone were more likely to be younger, unmarried, and female. The group with depression, panic attacks, and flashbacks was also more likely to have more depressive symptoms, more impaired health status, worse disability, and a more complicated and persistent history of mental illness. Regression analysis revealed that the greatest impact on disability, presence of depressive symptoms, and mental health outcomes was associated with panic attacks. CONCLUSION: By asking 2 questions about comorbid anxiety symptoms, primary care providers evaluating depressed patients may be able to identify a group of significantly impaired patients at high risk of anxiety disorders who might benefit from collaboration with or referral to a mental health specialist.     

丁苯酞对华法林治疗心源性卒中患者抗凝作用的影响

目的 探讨心源性卒中患者使用丁苯酞对华法林抗凝作用的影响。 方法 前瞻性连续纳入成都医学院第一附属医院神经内科2019年6月—2021年12月期间收治的心源性卒中患者,患者入组后随机分为试验组（华法林+丁苯酞）和对照组（华法林）。监测两组患者的国际标准化比值（international standardized ratio,INR）变化情况并收集两组患者的临床资料,比较分析两组患者的INR达标时间、2周内达标率和90 d mRS评分的差异。 结果 本研究共纳入101例心源性卒中患者,试验组51例,对照组50例。两组基线数据（年龄、性别、用药前INR、收缩压和舒张压）差异无统计学意义,入院时试验组的NIHSS评分[10（3.0～15.0）分 vs. 0（0～6.5）分,P<0.001],溶栓率（27.5% vs. 8.0%,P=0.011）与取栓率（25.5% vs. 2.0%,P=0.001）均高于对照组。试验组INR 2周内达标率与对照组相比差异无统计学意义（43.1% vs. 44.0%,P=0.930）。试验组达标时间较对照组明显缩短[（6.50±2.41）d vs.（9.64±4.40）d,P=0.015]。试验组90 d mRS评分与对照组相比,差异无统计学意义[3（0.5～4.0）分 vs. 2（0～3.0）分,P=0.175]。 结论 丁苯酞联合华法林治疗心源性卒中可能缩短华法林的达标时间,需进一步的研究来验证,但对于INR的达标率和90 d mRS评分无影响。     

Risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in bedridden or wheelchair-bound multiple sclerosis patients: A prospective study

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) often causes progressive loss of mobility, leading to limb paralysis. Venous and lymphatic stasis is a risk condition for venous thromboembolism (VTE). There is, however, no data on the frequency of VTE complicating the progression of MS. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with late-stage MS attending a neurology center for rehabilitation.

Patients and Methods

A total of 132 patients with MS were enrolled, 87 women and 45 men, mean age 58 ± 11 years. The disease had started on average 18.7 years before; patients reported 9.6 hours bedridden per day or 14.3 hours wheelchair-bound. Only 25 patients reported a residual ability to walk alone or with help. Lower limb edema was present in 113 patients, bilateral in 41 cases. At admission all patients underwent extended compression ultrasonography. Their plasma D-dimer levels were measured. No antithrombotic prophylaxis was given.

Results

DVT was found in 58 patients (43.9%); 32 had a history of VTE. Forty of these patients (69%) had chronic lower limb edema, in 19 cases bilateral. D-dimer levels in the DVT patients were significantly higher than in patients without DVT (553 ± 678 vs. 261 ± 152 ng/mL, p = 0.0112, Mann-Whitney Test). Nearly half the DVT patients (26, 45%) had high D-dimer levels (701 ± 684 ng/mL). Of the 74 patients without DVT, 48 had normal D-dimer (193.37 ± 67.28 ng/mL) and 26 high (387.61 ± 187.42 ng/mL).

Conclusions

The frequency of DVT in late-stage MS may be over 40%. The long history of the disease means the onset of each episode cannot be established with certainty. A number of patients with positive CUS findings had negative D-dimer values, suggesting a VTE event in the past. However, the level of DVT risk in this series should lead physicians to consider the systematic application of long-term preventive measures.     

Specificity of Incident Diagnostic Outcomes in Patients at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis

It is not well established whether the incident outcomes of the clinical high-risk (CHR) syndrome for psychosis are diagnostically specific for psychosis or whether CHR patients also are at elevated risk for a variety of nonpsychotic disorders. We collected 2 samples (NAPLS-1, PREDICT) that contained CHR patients and a control group who responded to CHR recruitment efforts but did not meet CHR criteria on interview (help-seeking comparison patients [HSC]). Incident diagnostic outcomes were defined as the occurrence of a SIPS-defined psychosis or a structured interview diagnosis from 1 of 3 nonpsychotic Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) groups (anxiety, bipolar, or nonbipolar mood disorder), when no diagnosis in that group was present at baseline. Logistic regression revealed that the CHR vs HSC effect did not vary significantly across study for any emergent diagnostic outcome; data from the 2 studies were therefore combined. CHR (n = 271) vs HSC (n = 171) emergent outcomes were: psychosis 19.6% vs 1.8%, bipolar disorders 1.1% vs 1.2%, nonbipolar mood disorders 4.4% vs 5.3%, and anxiety disorders 5.2% vs 5.3%. The main effect of CHR vs HSC was statistically significant (OR = 13.8, 95% CI 4.2–45.0, df = 1, P < .001) for emergent psychosis but not for any emergent nonpsychotic disorder. Sensitivity analyses confirmed these findings. Within the CHR group emergent psychosis was significantly more likely than each nonpsychotic DSM-IV emergent disorder, and within the HSC group emergent psychosis was significantly less likely than most emergent nonpsychotic disorders. The CHR syndrome is specific as a marker for research on predictors and mechanisms of developing psychosis.