Therapeutic Temperature Modulation for Fever After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background

We sought to determine whether therapeutic temperature modulation (TTM) to treat fever after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with improved hospital complications and discharge outcomes.

Methods

We performed a retrospective case–control study of patients admitted with spontaneous ICH having two consecutive fevers ≥38.3 °C despite acetaminophen administration. Cases were enrolled from a prospective database of patients receiving TTM from 2006 to 2010. All cases received TTM for fever control with goal temperature of 37 °C with a shiver-control protocol. Controls were matched in severity by ICH score and retrospectively obtained from 2001 to 2004, before routine use of TTM for ICH. Primary outcome was discharge-modified Rankin score.

Results

Forty patients were enrolled in each group. Median admission ICH Score, ICH volume, and GCS were similar. TTM was initiated with a median of 3 days after ICH onset and for a median duration of 7 days. Mean daily T _max was significantly higher in the control group over the first 12 days (38.1 vs. 38.7 °C, p ≤ 0.001). The TTM group had more days of IV sedation (median 8 vs. 1, p < 0.001) and mechanical ventilation (18 vs. 9, p = 0.003), and more frequently underwent tracheostomy (55 vs. 23 %, p = 0.005). Mean NICU length of stay was longer for TTM patients (15 vs. 11 days, p = 0.007). There was no difference in discharge outcomes between the two groups (overall mortality 33 %, moderate or severe disability 67 %).

Conclusions

Therapeutic normothermia is associated with increased duration of sedation, mechanical ventilation, and NICU stay, but is not clearly associated with improved discharge outcome.     

Prediction of Shunt Dependency After Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Intraventricular Hemorrhage

Background

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is a disease with high morbidity and mortality. Extension of the hemorrhage into the ventricles is associated with the development of acute hydrocephalus and a poor outcome. Although it can be managed by external ventricular drainage (EVD), a subset of these patients require placement of permanent ventricular shunts. This study aimed to examine the factors on admission that can predict shunt dependency after EVD management.

Methods

Seventy-two patients who underwent EVD were included in this study. Seventeen of these patients underwent placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Variables analyzed included age, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) score, bicaudate index, acute hydrocephalus, initial Glasgow Coma Scale scores, and blood volume in each ventricle.

Results

In univariate analysis, IVH score (p?=?0.020), bicaudate index (p?<?0.001), blood volume in lateral ventricles (p?=?0.025), blood volume in the fourth ventricle (p?=?0.038), and the ratio of blood volume in lateral ventricles to that in third and fourth ventricles (p?=?0.003) were significantly associated with persistent hydrocephalus. The best multiple logistic regression model included blood volume parameters and bicaudate index as predictors with the area under a receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.849. The variance inflation factor (VIF) showed that collinearity was not found among predictors. Patients diagnosed with acute hydrocephalus had less blood volume in the lateral ventricles (OR?=?0.910) and had more blood volume in the third ventricle (OR?=?3.174) and fourth ventricle (OR?=?2.126).

Conclusions

These findings may promote more aggressive monitoring and earlier interventions for persistent hydrocephalus after intraventricular hemorrhage in patients at risk.

     

Educational Placement After Pediatric Intracerebral Hemorrhage

BackgroundThis study describes educational placement of school-aged children after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage and examines whether educational placement is associated with severity of neurological deficits.MethodsChildren with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage presenting from 2007 to 2013 were prospectively enrolled at three tertiary children's hospitals. The Pediatric Stroke Outcome Measure and parental interview gathered information about neurological outcome, school attendance, and educational placement.ResultsThe cohort of 92 enrolled children included 42 school-aged children (6 to 17 years) with intracerebral hemorrhage. Four children died; one was excluded because of preexisting cognitive deficits. Thirty-seven children completed three-month follow-up, and 30 completed 12-month follow-up. At 12 months, 14 children (46.7%) received regular age-appropriate programming, 12 (40%) attended school with in-class services, three (10%) were in special education programs, and one child (3.3%) received home-based services because of intracerebral hemorrhage–related deficits. Of 30 children with three- and 12-month follow-up, 14 (46.7%) improved their education status, 13 (43.3%) remained at the same education level, and three (10%) began to receive in-class services. An increasing Pediatric Stroke Outcome Measure score predicted the need for educational modifications at three months (odds ratio, 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.4 to 7.9; P = 0.007) and at 12 months (odds ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 3.9; P = 0.025).ConclusionsMost children returned to school within a year after intracerebral hemorrhage, and many had a reduction in the intensity of educational support. However, a great need for educational services persisted at 12 months after intracerebral hemorrhage with fewer than half enrolled in regular age-appropriate classes. Worse deficits on the Pediatric Stroke Outcome Measure were associated with remedial educational placement.     

Health-Related Quality of Life and Fatigue After Transient Ischemic Attack and Minor Stroke

Background

Studies suggest that fatigue and cognitive impairment may be present after transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke, but little is known about consequences in daily life. The main aim was to explore the presence of fatigue, cognitive impairment, and consequences in daily life after minor stroke-TIA.

Emergency Neurological Life Support: Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a subset of stroke due to bleeding within the parenchyma of the brain. It is potentially lethal, and survival depends on ensuring an adequate airway, reversal of coagulopathy, and proper diagnosis. ICH was chosen as an Emergency Neurological Life Support protocol because intervention within the first critical hour may improve outcome, and it is critical to have site-specific protocols to drive care quickly and efficiently.     

Prevalence and Characterization of ECG Abnormalities After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background  

Although electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities are well known in ischemic stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage, these changes have only rarely been investigated systematically in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence and type of ECG abnormalities in a consecutive series of ICH patients, and their possible association with pre-defined neurological and radiological parameters.     

Emergency Neurological Life Support: Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a subset of stroke resulting from bleeding within the brain parenchyma of the brain. It is potentially lethal, and survival depends on ensuring an adequate airway, reversal of coagulopathy, and proper diagnosis. ICH was chosen as an emergency neurological life support (ENLS) protocol because intervention within the first critical hour may improve outcome, and it is helpful to have a protocol to drive care quickly and efficiently.     

Emergency Neurological Life Support: Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a subset of stroke due to spontaneous bleeding within the parenchyma of the brain. It is potentially lethal, and survival depends on ensuring an adequate airway, proper diagnosis, and early management of several specific issues such as blood pressure, coagulopathy reversal, and surgical hematoma evacuation for appropriate patients. ICH was chosen as an Emergency Neurological Life Support (ENLS) protocol because intervention within the first hours may improve outcome, and it is critical to have site-specific protocols to drive care quickly and efficiently.     

Health-Related Quality of Life After Epilepsy Surgery: A Swedish Multicenter Study

Summary: Purpose: To investigate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in relation to seizure outcome as part of a multicenter follow-up of epilepsy surgery in Sweden.
Methods : A battery including'the SF-36 Health Survey and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD) was distributed to all patients older than 16 years. Mean follow-up time was 4 years (range, 2–13 years) and response rate, 91% (103 of 113 patients). HRQOL data were related to seizure frequency and severity (Chalfont Seizure Severity Scale).
Results : Seventy-six percent considered their global health to be better than it was before surgery. Degree of improvement in seizure control correlated with improved satisfaction with health (Spearman's r = 0.44). Higher SF-36 scores (higher HRQOL ratings) correlated with percentage reduction of seizure frequency for all scales and was strongest for perception of general health (Spearman's r = 0.46). When the patients were divided into four categories [A, completely seizure free (n = 29); B, seizure free with aura (n = 18); C, ≥75% reduction in seizure frequency (n = 24); and D, <75% reduction in seizure frequency (n = 32)], a strong positive association was found between higher SF-36 scores (with the exception of physical functioning) and better seizure control. Health-related limitations in role performance differentiated best between the outcome categories. For patients with ≥75% reduction in seizure frequency, low seizure severity correlated with higher HRQOL ratings for scales measuring social function, vitality, and mental health. Depression levels (HAD scale scores) were on average low. Anxiety (HAD) increased significantly from A to D.
Conclusions : HRQOL seems to be scored as a continuum in relation to seizure frequency. Seizure severity measures give complementary information.     

Intracerebral Monitoring of Silent Infarcts After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background

Silent infarction is common in poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients and associated with poor outcome. Invasive neuromonitoring devices may detect changes in cerebral metabolism and oxygenation.

Methods

From a consecutive series of 32 poor-grade SAH patients we identified all CT-scans obtained during multimodal neuromonitoring and analyzed microdialysis parameters and brain tissue oxygen tension (PbtO2) preceding CT-scanning.

Results

Eighteen percent of the reviewed head-CTs (12/67) revealed new infarcts. Of the eight infarcts in the vascular territory of the neuromonitoring, seven were clinically silent. Neuromonitoring changes preceding radiological evidence of infarction included lactate-pyruvate-ratio elevation and brain glucose decreases when compared to those with distant or no ischemia (P ≤ 0.03, respectively). PbtO2 was lower, but this did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions

These data suggest that there may be distinct changes in brain metabolism and oxygenation associated with the development of silent infarction within the monitored vascular territory in poor-grade SAH patients. Larger prospective studies are needed to determine whether treatment triggered by neuromonitoring data has an impact on outcome.     

Hematoma Locations Predicting Delirium Symptoms After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background

Delirium symptoms are associated with later worse functional outcomes and long-term cognitive impairments, but the neuroanatomical basis for delirium symptoms in patients with acute brain injury is currently uncertain. We tested the hypothesis that hematoma location is predictive of delirium symptoms in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, a model disease where patients are typically not sedated or bacteremic.

Methods

We prospectively identified 90 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage who underwent routine twice-daily screening for delirium symptoms with a validated examination. Voxel-based lesion–symptom mapping with acute computed tomography was used to identify hematoma locations associated with delirium symptoms (N = 89).

Results

Acute delirium symptoms were predicted by hematoma of right-hemisphere subcortical white matter (superior longitudinal fasciculus) and parahippocampal gyrus. Hematoma including these locations had an odds ratio for delirium of 13 (95 % CI 3.9–43.3, P < 0.001). Disruption of large-scale brain networks that normally support attention and conscious awareness was thus associated with acute delirium symptoms.

Conclusions

Higher odds ratio for delirium was increased due to hematoma location. The location of neurological injury could be of high prognostic value for predicting delirium symptoms.

     

Predictors of Late Neurological Deterioration After Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background

Although intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a common form of cerebrovascular disease, little is known about factors leading to neurological deterioration occurring beyond 48 h after hematoma formation. The purpose of this study was to characterize the incidence, consequences, and associative factors of late neurological deterioration (LND) in patients with spontaneous ICH.

Methods

Using the Duke University Hospital Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit database from July 2007 to June 2012, a cohort of 149 consecutive patients with spontaneous supratentorial ICH met criteria for analysis. LND was defined as a decrease of two or more points in Glasgow Coma Scale score or death during the period from 48 h to 1 week after ICH symptom onset. Unfavorable outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of >2 at discharge.

Results

Forty-three subjects (28.9 %) developed LND. Logistic regression models revealed hematoma volume (OR = 1.017, 95 % CI 1.003–1.032, p = 0.019), intraventricular hemorrhage (OR = 2.519, 95 % CI 1.142–5.554, p = 0.022) and serum glucose on admission (OR = 2.614, 95 % CI 1.146–5.965, p = 0.022) as independent predictors of LND. After adjusting for ICH score, LND was independently associated with unfavorable outcome (OR = 4.000, 95 % CI 1.280–12.500, p = 0.017). In 65 subjects with follow-up computed tomography images, an increase in midline shift, as a surrogate for cerebral edema, was independently associated with LND (OR = 3.822, 95 % CI 1.157–12.622, p = 0.028).

Conclusions

LND is a common phenomenon in patients with ICH; further, LND appears to affect outcome. Independent predictors of LND include hematoma volume, intraventricular hemorrhage, and blood glucose on admission. Progression of perihematomal edema may be one mechanism for LND.     

脑出血后迟发性脑水肿的磁共振波谱分析

目的：了解脑出血后迟发性脑水肿的磁共振波谱特点，探讨其可能的发生机制。方法：对12例脑出血14d后发生迟发性脑水肿患者的MRS检查，观察血肿周围迟发性脑水肿组织的MRS谱线，与脑出血后1周水肿的谱线进行对照研究，定量分析相关代谢物峰值的变化。结果：9例患者获得满意谱线，14d时血肿周围水肿区N-乙酰天门冬氨酸／肌酸（NAA／Cr）较7d时显著降低[（13．7±3．2）％对（18．34-4．4）％，P〈0．05]。7例检测到乳酸峰，8例患者检测到甘露醇峰。结论：脑出血后迟发性水肿区MRS的NAA／Cr降低和乳酸峰的出现表明水肿区神经元受损或缺血，迟发性水肿区甘露醇峰的存在在迟发性脑水肿中起着重要作用，提示局部血脑屏障破坏。     

Men Experience Higher Risk of Pneumonia and Death After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background

Infectious complications worsen outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We investigated the impact of sex on post-ICH infections and mortality.

Methods

Consecutive ICH patients (admitted to a single hospital between 1994 and 2015) were retrospectively assessed via chart review to ascertain the following in-hospital infections: urinary tract infection (UTI), pneumonia, and sepsis. Adjusted logistic regression was performed to identify associations between sex, infection, and mortality at 90 days.

Results

Two thousand and four patients were investigated, 1071 (53.7%) males. Men were more likely to develop pneumonia (21.9 vs 15.5% p < 0.001) and sepsis (3.4 vs 1.6%, p = 0.009), whereas women had higher risk of UTI (19.9 vs 11.7% p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses confirmed association between male sex and pneumonia (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08–1.74, p = 0.011). Male sex (OR 1.40; CI 1.07–1.85; p = 0.015) and infection (OR 1.56; CI 1.11–1.85; p = 0.011) were independently associated with higher 90-day mortality.

Conclusions

Types and rates of infection following ICH differ by sex. Male sex independently increases pneumonia risk, which subsequently increases 90-day mortality. Sex-specific preventive strategies to reduce the risk of these complications may be one strategy to improve ICH outcomes.

     

Intracerebral Hemorrhage Specific Intensity of Care Quality Metrics

Background  

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) care can vary among centers and previous studies have demonstrated differences in ICH outcome based on variations in patient care in various settings. The purpose of this paper is to present the design of an evidence-based dataset of elements of a new ICH specific intensity of care quality metrics.     

Impact of Perihemorrhagic Edema on Short-Term Outcome After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating disease with ICH volume being the main predictor of poor outcome. The prognostic role of perihemorrhagic edema (PHE) is still unclear; however, available data are mainly derived from analyses during the first days after symptom onset. As PHE growth may continue up to 14 days after ICH, we evaluated PHE over a longer period of time and investigated its impact on short-term clinical outcome.

Methods

In this monocentric retrospective cohort study, patients with spontaneous supratentorial ICH were identified from our institutional data base. Different time points of CT scans were merged to time clusters for better comparison (day 1, 2–3, 4–6, 7–9, 10–12). Absolute volumes of ICH and PHE were obtained using a validated semiautomatic volumetric algorithm. Clinical outcome at discharge was assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (0–3 = favorable, 4–6 = poor).

Results

220 patients (83 with favorable, 137 with poor outcome) were included in the final analysis. Mean ICH volume on admission was 22.8 [standard deviation (SD) 24.6] cm³. Mean absolute PHE volume on admission was 22.5 (SD 20.8) cm³ and increased to a mean peak volume of 38.1 (SD 31.4) cm³ during 6.7 (SD 4.1) days on average. Besides GCS on admission, functional status before ICH, peak hematoma volume, lobar localization and fever burden, and high peak PHE volume predicted poor outcome at discharge [OR 0.977 (95 % CI 0.957–0.998)] in the multivariable analysis.

Conclusions

PHE may have a negative impact on short-term functional outcome after ICH and therefore represent a possible treatment target.

     

脑出血后脑水肿形成机制的研究进展

脑出血后脑水肿的形成机制及病理过程十分复杂,本文对近年来备受关注的与脑水肿形成有关的诸因素作一综述。