Early prediction of neurological outcome after barbiturate coma therapy in patients undergoing brain tumor surgery

After a difficult brain tumor surgery, refractory intracranial hypertension (RICH) may occur due to residual tumor or post-operative complications such as hemorrhage, infarction, and aggravated brain edema. We investigated which predictors are associated with prognosis when using barbiturate coma therapy (BCT) as a second-tier therapy to control RICH after brain tumor surgery. The study included adult patients who underwent BCT after brain tumor surgery between January 2010 and December 2016. The primary outcome was neurological status upon hospital discharge, which was assessed using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). In the study period, 4,296 patients underwent brain tumor surgery in total. Of these patients, BCT was performed in 73 patients (1.7%). Among these 73 patients, 56 (76.7%) survived to discharge and 25 (34.2%) showed favorable neurological outcomes (GOS scores of 4 and 5). Invasive monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) was performed in 60 (82.2%) patients, and revealed that the maximal ICP within 6 h after BCT was significantly lower in patients with favorable neurological outcome as well as in survivors (p = 0.008 and p = 0.028, respectively). Uncontrolled RICH (ICP ≥ 22 mm Hg within 6 h of BCT) was an important predictor of mortality after BCT (adjusted hazard ratio 12.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.788–59.749), and in particular, ICP ≥ 15 mm Hg within 6 h of BCT was associated with poor neurological outcome (adjusted odds ratio 9.36, 95% CI 1.664–52.614). Therefore, early-controlled ICP after BCT was associated with clinical prognosis. There were no significant differences in the complications associated with BCT between the two neurological outcome groups. No BCT-induced death was observed. The active and timely control of RICH may be beneficial for clinical outcomes in patients with RICH after brain tumor surgery.

Successful treatment of a patient with severe thallium poisoning in a coma using Prussian blue and plasma exchange: A case report

RATIONALE

This is the first reported severe thallium poisoning patient successfully treated with Prussian blue (PB) and plasma exchange (PE).

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 42-year-old woman in a coma owing to severe thallium poisoning was admitted to our department after day 44 of poisoning. At admission, blood and urine thallium concentrations were 380.0 and 2580.0 ng/mL, respectively.

DIAGNOSIS

The patient was diagnosed with toxic encephalopathy induced by thallium poisoning; in addition, she was also diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia, respiratory failure, moderate anemia, hypoproteinemia, and electrolyte imbalance based on her chest X-ray, blood gas analysis, Hb level, albumin levels, and serum electrolyte results.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient was intubated and treated with PB (6600 mg/d, 15 days in total) combined with PE (once daily, 5 days in total) as well as other symptomatic supportive care measures.

OUTCOMES

After treatments, her blood and urinary thallium concentrations gradually decreased and on the 13th day after admission, the blood thallium concentration decreased to 0 ng/mL. The oxygenation index gradually improved, meantime, the patient gradually regained consciousness, and on the 50th day of admission, the patient's consciousness reverted to a clear-headed state. The patient recovered mostly after 37 months of follow-up.

LESSONS

Through this case, we learned that the gradual reduction in blood and urine thallium concentration and the patient's improved condition is correlated with PB and PE treatment. For patients with severe thallium poisoning, this treatment method might be effective; but the exact curative effect is unconfirmed, requiring further research to verify.

Seizures, Metabolic Acidosis and Coma Resulting from Acute Isoniazid Intoxication

Isoniazid is an anti-tuberculosis drug, used commonly for treatment and prophylaxis of tuberculosis. Acute isoniazid intoxication is characterized by a clinical triad consisting of metabolic acidosis resistant to treatment with sodium bicarbonate, seizures which may be fatal and refractory to standard anticonvulsant therapy, and coma. Treatment requires admission to the intensive care unit for ventilatory support, management of seizures and metabolic acidosis. Pyridoxine, in a dose equivalent to the amount of isoniazid ingested, is the only effective antidote. We report the successful treatment of two isoniazid intoxication cases: the case of a child developing an accidental acute isoniazid intoxication and an adult case of isoniazid intoxication with the intent of suicide.

Myxedema Coma Following the Administration of Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Agonist Complicated by Acute Pancreatitis

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists have been used for the treatment of various diseases. Although autoimmune thyroid disease has been reported as a rare complication of these agents, the symptoms are almost always transient and non-life-threatening. We herein report a rare case of an 83-year-old man receiving GnRH agonist treatment for prostate cancer who developed myxedema coma complicated by acute pancreatitis. This is the first report of myxedema coma potentially associated with a GnRH agonist. The follow-up of the thyroid function is necessary for patients undergoing treatment with GnRH agonists, especially those known to have or to be susceptible to autoimmune thyroid disease.

Effect of GHB-use and GHB-induced comas on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex functioning in humans

BACKGROUND

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a recreational drug associated with increasing numbers of GHB-dependent patients and emergency attendances often related to GHB-induced comas. Working memory (WM) deficits have been reported in association with GHB use, and animal studies have shown that GHB induces oxidative stress in vulnerable WM-related brain areas such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). However, the effects of chronic GHB use and multiple GHB-induced comas on WM-related brain function in humans remains unknown.

METHODS

We recruited 27 GHB users with ≥4 GHB-induced comas (GHB-Coma), 27 GHB users who never experienced GHB-induced coma (GHB-NoComa), and 27 polydrug users who never used GHB (No-GHB). Participants performed an n-back WM task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to probe DLPFC functioning.

RESULTS

The GHB-Coma group had lower premorbid IQ (p = .006) than the GHB-NoComa group despite comparable age and education level. There were also group differences in the use of other drugs than GHB. Therefore, all group comparisons were adjusted for IQ and drug use other than GHB. Compared with the GHB-NoComa and the No-GHB groups, the GHB-Coma group showed increased activity in the right DLPFC (pSVC = 0.028) and increased functional connectivity of the right DLPFC with a cluster comprising the left anterior cingulate and medial frontal gyrus (pFWE = 0.003). No significant fMRI differences were observed between the GHB-NoComa and No-GHB groups. Due to technical problems, no behavioural data were collected.

DISCUSSION

These results suggest that multiple GHB-induced comas, but not GHB-use per se, are associated with alterations in WM-related brain function. Public awareness campaigns are required to minimize the potential adverse effects induced by GHB recreational use, and especially GHB-induced comas, even if no immediate side effects are experienced.

Concentration-time extrapolation of short-term inhalation exposure levels: dimethyl sulfide, a case study using a chemical-specific toxic load exponent

OBJECTIVE

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS, CAS 75-18-3) is an industrial chemical. It is both an irritant and neurotoxicant that may be life-threatening because of accidental release. The effects of DMS on public health and associated public health response depend on the exposure concentration and duration. However, currently, public health advisory information exists for only a 1 h exposure duration, developed by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). In the present work, the AIHA-reviewed data were computationally extrapolated to other common short-term durations.

METHODS

The extrapolation was carried out using the toxic load equation, Cn × t = TL, where C and t are exposure concentration and duration, TL is toxic load, and n is a chemical-specific toxic load exponent derived in the present work using probit meta-analysis. The developed threshold levels were vetted against the AIHA database of clinical and animal health effects induced by DMS.

RESULTS

Tier-1 levels were derived based on human exposures that resulted in an easily detectable odor, because DMS is known to have a disagreeable odor that may cause nausea. Tier-2 levels were derived from the lower 95% confidence bounds on a benchmark concentration that caused 10% incidence (BMCL10) of coma in rats during a 15 min inhalation exposure to DMS. Tier-3 levels were based on a BMCL05 for mortality in rats.

CONCLUSION

Emergency responders and health assessors may consider these computationally derived threshold levels as a supplement to traditional chemical risk assessment procedures in instances where AIHA developed public health advisory levels do not exist.

Case Report: Failure of Therapeutic Coma in Rabies Encephalitis

Rabies encephalitis is a fulminant, almost universally fatal infection involving the central nervous system. A unique treatment protocol, including anti-exicitotoxic therapy and induced coma was credited with the survival of a vaccinated teenager with bat rabies encephalitis in 2005. However, multiple efforts to replicate this expensive and intense protocol have not been successful. In this article, we report the failure of the protocol in Indian patients with canine-acquired rabies and elucidate the potential explanations for the failure of the protocol in our patients.

Unusual complications from amitriptyline intoxication

Althoughtricyclic antidepressants(TCAs) are frequently prescribed to patients with depression, these drugs can also be misused. A 21-year-old comatose patient was referred to our hospital presenting with ventricular tachycardia. Despite initial treatment including intravascular lipid emulsion, ventricular fibrillation occurred soon after arrival. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and therapeutic hypothermia were administered. Refractory arrhythmia disappeared on the next day. A high concentration of amitriptyline was identified in his blood samples on arrival. Mechanical bowel obstruction followed after abdominal compartment syndrome caused by anticholinergic effects, and refractory seizure occurred due to TCA intoxication. Although seizure was brought under control with anticonvulsant agents, his Glasgow Coma Scale did not recover to the full score. MRI presented irreversible damage to the bilateral frontal lobe and insula. Amitriptyline has the potential to cause unusual serious complications, such as abdominal compartment syndrome, irreversible central nervous system disability and lethal arrhythmia.

A case of severe carbamazepine overdose treated successfully with combined hemoperfusion and hemodialysis technique

Carbamazepine intoxication manifests as altered mental status ranging from drowsiness to a coma and/or cardiac abnormalities such as sinus tachycardia, prolongation of the QRS interval, ventricular tachycardia, and hypotension. The patient may be agitated, but central nervous system (CNS) depression and presentation with coma is more common and could be lethal. Serious CNS toxicity often requires hemoperfusion and/or hemodialysis (HD). Herein, we present a case of a comatose patient, who was treated with a combination of hemoperfusion and HD in series. Our approach to treat the patient with a combination of hemoperfusion and HD was based on evidence from the literature supporting that the hemoperfusion and HD in series might provide the best clearance of carbamazepine.

Severe neurological symptoms following synthetic cannabinoid intoxication

Synthetic cannabinoids are becoming increasingly popular as substances of abuse. However, in the Netherlands synthetic cannabinoid intoxications are rare. We report a 16-year-old male who became deeply comatose and was admitted to the intensive care unit for invasive mechanical ventilation after a buse of aninitially unknown drug. Routine toxicology screening with an immunoassay only detected tetrahydrocannabinol, but additional tests with liquid chromatography mass spectrometry revealed synthetic cannabinoid use. This case underlines the challenging diagnosis of synthetic cannabinoid intoxications and the severe complications they can produce.

Hyperammonemic coma after craniotomy: Hepatic encephalopathy from upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage or valproate side effect?: Case report and literature review

RATIONALE

Postoperative coma is not uncommon in patients after craniotomy. It generally presents as mental state changes and is usually caused by intracranial hematoma, brain edema, or swelling. Hyperammonemia can also result in postoperative coma; however, it is rarely recognized as a potential cause in coma patients. Hyperammonemic coma is determined through a complicated differential diagnosis, and although it can also be induced as a side effect of valproate (VPA), this cause is frequently unrecognized or confused with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGH)-induced hepatic encephalopathy. We herein present a case of valproate-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy (VHE) to illustrate the rarity of such cases and emphasize the importance of correct diagnosis and proper treatment.

PATIENT CONCERNS AND DIAGNOSES

A 61-year-old woman with meningioma was admitted into our hospital. Radical resection of the tumor was performed, and the patient recovered well as expected. After administration of valproate for 7 days, the patient was suddenly found in a deep coma, and her mental state deteriorated rapidly. The diagnoses of hepatic encephalopathy was confirmed. However, whether it origins from upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage or valproate side effect is uncertain.

INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES

The patient's condition fluctuated without improvement during the subsequent 3 days under the treatment of reducing ammonia. With the discontinuation of valproate treatment, the patient regained complete consciousness within 48 hours, and her blood ammonia decreased to the normal range within 4 days.

LESSONS SUBSECTIONS

VHE is a rare but serious complication in patients after craniotomy and is diagnosed by mental state changes and elevated blood ammonia. Thus, the regular perioperative administration of VPA, which is frequently neglected as a cause of VHE, should be emphasized. In addition, excluding UGH prior to providing a diagnosis and immediately discontinuing VPA administration are recommended.

Tolerance and Efficacy of Enteral Nutrition in Traumatic Brain–Injured Patients Induced Into Barbiturate Coma

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of data evaluating the efficacy of nutrition support in traumatic brain-injured patients induced into barbiturate coma for refractory intracranial hypertension. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of enteral nutrition in a select group of trauma patients.

METHODS

Prospective data were collected on severe traumatic brain-injured patients over a 4-year period. Patients were stratified by whether or not they were induced into a barbiturate coma. Barbiturate coma was defined as per American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) guidelines. All patients were initially fed via the enteral route via a nasogastric feeding tube. Patients who did not tolerate feedings within 48 hours started receiving prokinetic agents. Feeding tolerance was defined as ability to tolerate enteral feedings with <150 mL of gastric residuals every 6 hours for >72 hours.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven patients were induced into a barbiturate coma. All were victims of blunt-force trauma. Forty-two of 57 (74%) patients were men, with a mean age of 37+/-12 years and a mean injury severity score of 24+/-10. Thirty-eight of the 57 (67%) patients had an isolated traumatic brain injury. All 57 patients failed enteral nutrition via the nasogastric route after the first 48 hours of nutrition initiation after barbiturate coma was fully achieved by protocol criteria. Prokinetic agents demonstrated no improvement in feeding tolerance after the subsequent 48-72 hours. Of the 12 patients who had a postpyloric feeding tube placed, only 25% tolerated enteral nutrition for >48 hours.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with traumatic brain injury induced into barbiturate coma develop a significant ileus that is refractory to prokinetic agents. Only a marginal improvement is seen when the postpyloric route is obtained. Early parenteral nutrition should be considered in this patient population.

Hypoglycemic Coma Induced by the Use of Succinic Acid Cibenzoline in Frail Late-stage Elderly Subjects

Succinic acid cibenzoline (CZ) is an antiarrhythmic agent often used for the treatment of tachyarrhythmia. However, hypoglycemia should be avoided in the treatment of diabetes. We herein report two late-stage elderly subjects who experienced a severe and prolonged hypoglycemic coma after the usage of CZ. These cases suggest that, when CZ is administered to elderly subjects with renal dysfunction and/or frailty, we should be aware of the possibility that this medicine may induce hypoglycemia and should adjust the dose as appropriate and monitor the concentration of CZ to avoid severe hypoglycemia.

Spatial variation in automated burst suppression detection in pharmacologically induced coma

Burst suppression is actively studied as a control signal to guide anesthetic dosing in patients undergoing medically induced coma. The ability to automatically identify periods of EEG suppression and compactly summarize the depth of coma using the burst suppression probability (BSP) is crucial to effective and safe monitoring and control of medical coma. Current literature however does not explicitly account for the potential variation in burst suppression parameters across different scalp locations. In this study we analyzed standard 19-channel EEG recordings from 8 patients with refractory status epilepticus who underwent pharmacologically induced burst suppression as medical treatment for refractory seizures. We found that although burst suppression is generally considered a global phenomenon, BSP obtained using a previously validated algorithm varies systematically across different channels. A global representation of information from individual channels is proposed that takes into account the burst suppression characteristics recorded at multiple electrodes. BSP computed from this representative burst suppression pattern may be more resilient to noise and a better representation of the brain state of patients. Multichannel data integration may enhance the reliability of estimates of the depth of medical coma.

Prognostic factors in methanol poisoning

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and laboratory factors in methanol poisoned patients to determine the prognosis of their toxicity. This survey was done as a prospective cross-sectional study in methanol-poisoned patients in Loghman-Hakim hospital poison center during 9 months from October 1999—June 2000. During this time 25 methanol-poisoned patients were admitted. The mortality rate was 12 (48%). Amongst survivors, three (23%) of the patients developed blindness due to their poisoning and the other 10 (77%) fully recovered without any complication. The mortality rate in comatose patients was nine (90%) while in non-comatose patients it was three (20%) ( P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in mean pH in the first arterial blood gas of patients who subsequently died (6.82 ± 0.03) and survivors (7.15 ± 0.06) ( P < 0.001, M-W). The mean time interval between poisoning and ED presentation in deceased patients were (46 ± 15.7) hours, in survived with sequelae were (16.7 ± 6.7) and in survived without sequelae were (10.3 ± 7.2) hours ( P < 0.002, K-W). We found no significant difference between the survivors versus the patients who died regarding methanol. Simultaneous presence of ethanol and opium affected the outcome of the treatment for methanol intoxication favourably and unfavourably, respectively. In our study, poor prognosis was associated with pH < 7, coma on admission and >24 hours delay from intake to admission. Human & Experimental Toxicology (2007) 26: 583—586.

Deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) intoxication: an analysis of 49 children

Deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) intoxication has been infrequently reported in both children and adults in the literature. In this article, the clinical and laboratory findings of 49 children with acute deadly nightshade intoxication are reviewed. Our purpose was to enlighten the findings of deadly nightshade intoxication in childhood. The most common observed symptoms and signs were meaningless speech, tachycardia, mydriasis, and flushing. None of the children required mechanical ventilation or died in our series. The patients were categorized into two groups, mild/moderate and severe intoxication. Children with and without encephalopathy were accepted as severe and mild/moderate intoxication, respectively. While 43 children were placed in the group of mild/moderate intoxication, six were in severe intoxication group. We found that meaningless speech, lethargy, and coma were more common, but tachycardia was less common in the severe intoxication group (children with encephalopathy) (P B-0.05). In the treatment, neostigmine was used in all children because of no available physostigmine in our country. In conclusion, our findings showed that the initial signs and symptoms of acute deadly nightshade intoxication might be severe in some children, but no permanent sequel and death were seen in children. We also showed that meaningless speech, lethargy, coma, and absence of tachycardia were ominous signs in deadly nightshade intoxication in childhood. Lastly, we suggest that neostigmine may be used in cases of deadly nightshade intoxication if physostigmine cannot be available.

Delayed toxicity following acute ingestion of valpromide

As valpromide is a prodrug of valproic acid (valproate), the clinical presentation of overdoses with either valpromide or valproate sodium is generally considered similar. Whereas plasma peak levels and signs of central nervous system depression occur within a few hours after the acute ingestion of regular-release forms of valproate sodium, delayed toxicity and time to peak levels following valpromide ingestion can be seen as shown by the three reported cases. They were initially considered as mild because patients presented with no or only moderate symptoms and serum valproate levels were below or at therapeutic levels on admission more than 3 hours post-ingestion in two of the three patients. Serum valproate levels were not monitored until marked deterioration more than 10 hours after ingestion. At the time of deterioration, serum valproate was at toxic level in the three reported cases. Therefore, large intake of valpromide should be closely monitored because no or moderate symptoms together with low plasma levels in the first few hours after ingestion do not exclude a subsequent severe intoxication. Despite the usual favourable outcome and the poor correlation between plasma levels and toxic symptoms, patients should not be discharged until plasma levels are documented to remain at low levels for at least 10 hours after the ingestion of valpromide and the patient asymptomatic.

Butanol ingestion in an airport hangar

1–Butanol is a colourless organic solvent with a rancid sweet odour. 1–Butanol ingestion may result in vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, drowsiness and unconsciousness. We present a 47–year–old male with no previous medical history, who was found comatose and soiled after having vomited while unconscious. On arrival, he had a Glasgow coma scale of 3, tachycardia, hypotension, shallow tachypnoic breathing, hypotonic muscles, absent myotatic reflexes and aromatic odour. The patient was intubated and treated with oxygen, dopamine and volume replacement therapy. Gastric lavage was performed and activated charcoal was given. His initial laboratory test revealed hypokaliemia, renal failure, acidosis with elevated lactate and hypercapnic respiratory insufficiency. Twelve hours after admission, the patient started to respond to a painful stimulus and 4 h later he was conscious. He was extubated 23 h after admission. All pathological laboratory results gradually returned within normal limits. The subsequent toxicological examination of gastric content and urine sample by gas chromatography revealed 1–butanol. On awakening, he confirmed ingestion of a solvent stored in an airport hangar. In conclusion, we describe a patient who ingested an unknown dose of 1–butanol. Symptoms were headache, vomiting, abdominal pain, coma, muscular hypotonus, hypotension, respiratory insufficiency and mixed acidosis. The patient totally recovered after supportive therapy over 30 h. In future cases, intravenous administration of ethanol or even hemodialysis can be considered analogous to the treatment of methanol and ethylene glycol poisoning.

Accidental Oral Poisoning Caused by Rdx (Cyclonite): A Report of 5 Cases

The explosive RDX (hexogen, cyclonite) is usually used for the production of C-4 explosive. The rare occurrence of accidental and intentional RDX intoxications has been reported during manufacturing process or in wartime. In this article, the authors report 5 cases of accidental oral RDX poisoning. On admission, observed signs and symptoms included repetitive generalized tonic-clonic convulsions, postictal coma, lethargy, confusion, hyperreflexia, postictal amnesia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal tenderness, sinusal tachycardia, dysrhythmia with frequent ventricular premature beats, generalized muscle spasms, and myoclonus. Leukocytosis, mild anemia, methemoglobinemia, elevated levels of blood glucose, serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, lactic dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, amilase, hypokalemia, metabolic acidosis, proteinuria, glucosuria, and myoglobinuria were also noted. Plasma RDX concentrations were 268 to 969 ng/mL at 3 hours of ingestion. For management, supportive and symptomatic measures were taken. Whole-bowel irrigation might have been an effective therapeutic procedure due to probable slow gastrointestinal absorption of RDX. Three patients who developed severe metabolic acidosis underwent urgent hemodialysis. All patients were discharged 7 to 21 days after admission without any sequelae. Plasma RDX levels were strongly correlated with the clinical and laboratory manifestations. The available toxicological data on this rare accidental poisoning are reviewed in light of the literature.

Status epilepticus following local anesthesia in a previously healthy adult

BACKGROUND

Local anesthesia could result in lethal complications if injected in highly vascularized area. Dentist should take care to avoid such complications.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a case of 15 year old girl with a coma following convulsive status epilepticus which developed after inferior alveolar nerve blockade by a dentist. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit ICU and recovered within several days.

CONCLUSION

This case is reported to tell both of dentists and medical staff that although it is uncommon, such complications of local anesthesia should be in mind to be avoided and managed promptly if happened.