Determinants of early outcome in spontaneous lobar cerebral hemorrhage

Decompressive craniectomy and expansive duraplasty with evacuation of hypertensive intracerebral hematoma, a randomized controlled trial

Hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has high morbidity and mortality rates. Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is generally used for the treatment of cases associated with refractory increased intracranial pressure (ICP). In this study, we investigated the beneficial effects of adding DC and expansive duraplasty (ED) to hematoma evacuation in patients who underwent surgery for large hypertensive ICH. A prospective randomized controlled clinical trial where 40 patients diagnosed having large hypertensive ICH was randomly allocated to either group A or B, each comprised 20 patients. Group A patients, the treatment group, were submitted to hematoma evacuation together with DC and ED, whereas group B patients, the control group, were submitted only to hematoma evacuation. Twenty-three (57.5 %) of the patients were males, with an overall age range of 34-79 years (mean 59.3 years). Preoperative Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores in group A ranged from 4 to 13 (mean 7.1), while in group B it ranged from 4 to 12 (mean 6.8). Postoperative hydrocephalus occurred in 3 (15 %) patients in group A and in 4 (20 %) patients in group B, whereas meningitis occurred in one patient (5 %) in group A. The mortality rate was 2 (10 %) patients in group A as compared to 5 (25 %) patients in group B (p = 0.407). High admission GCS (p = 0.0032), younger age (p = 0.0023), smaller hematoma volume (p = 0.044), subcortical hematoma location (p = 0.041), absent or minimal preoperative (p = 0.0068), and postoperative (p = 0.0031) midline shift as well as absent intraventricular extension of the hematoma (p = 0.036) contributed significantly to a better outcome. Selected patients' subgroups who benefited from adding DC and ED to ICH evacuation were age category of 30 to less than 50 (p = 0.0015) and from 50 to less than 70 (p = 0.00619) as well as immediate preoperative GCS from 6 to 8 (p = 0.000436) and from 9 to 12 (p = 0.00774). At 6 months' follow-up, 14 (70 %) patients of group A had favorable outcome as compared to 4 (20 %) patients of group B (p = 0.0015). Adding DC with ED to evacuation of a large hypertensive hemispheric ICH might improve the outcome in selected group of patients.

Is early DNR a self-fulfilling prophecy for patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage?

BACKGROUND

To investigate differences in outcome of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) based on institution of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order within first 24 h of admission.

METHODS

A prospective registry of patients presenting with ICH from Jan 2006 to Dec 2008 was created. Patients with and without DNR orders instituted within 24 h of admission were classified as cases and controls respectively and were matched based on age and stroke severity. Demographics, intracerebral volume of hematoma, intraventricular extension of hemorrhage (IVH), invasive treatments, and outcomes at discharge were collected. All patients were followed up at least for 1 year, to determine mortality outcomes.

RESULTS

Of a total of 245 subjects, 18 % had DNR order instituted within 24 h of admission. After matching, a total of 69 controls were available for 44 cases. There was no difference in demographics, IVH extension, volume of hemorrhage, and length of stay among cases and controls. Higher proportions of controls had surgical evacuation of the hematoma (p = 0.0125) and mechanical ventilation (p = 0.0001). There was no significant difference in functional outcome and survival rates among cases and controls at the end of 1 week, 1 month, and 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

DNR institution and restriction of resuscitation was not associated with poor outcome or difference in survival within 1 year after ICH. This indicates an early DNR probably does not lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy in this population, and might be explained by our practice, were DNR orders do not impact the level of supportive medical care we provide.

Spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage: Does surgery benefit comatose patients?

Introduction:

Treatment of spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) is still controversial. We therefore analyzed the comatose patients diagnosed as having spontaneous SICH and treated by surgery.

Materials and Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed the collected data of 25 comatose patients with initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤ 8 diagnosed as having spontaneous SICH and they had been treated by surgical evacuation between 1996 and 2008. The outcome was assessed using Glasgow outcome scale (GOS). The side and location of the hematoma and ventricular extension of the hematoma were recorded. The hematoma volume was graded as mild (<30 cc), moderate (30–60 cc) and massive (>60 cc).

Results:

Age of the patients ranged from 25 to 78 years (mean: 59.6 ± 15.14 years). Among the 25 patients studied, 11 (44%) were females and 14 (56%) were males. GCS before surgery was <5 in 8 (32%) patients and between 5 and 8 in 17 (68%) patients. The hematoma volume was less than 30 cc in 2 patients, between 30 and 60 cc in 9 patients and more than 60 cc in 14 patients. Fourteen of the patients had no ventricular connection and 11 of the hematomas were connected to ventricle. All the 25 patients were treated with craniotomy and evacuation of the hematoma was done within an average of 2 hours on admission to the emergency department. Postoperatively, no rebleeding occurred in our patients. The most important complication was infection in 14 of the patients. The mortality of our surgical series was 56%. GCS before surgery was one of the strongest factors affecting outcome GCS (oGCS) (P = 0.017). Income GCS (iGCS), however, did not affect GOS (P = 0.64). The volume of the hematoma also affected the outcome (P = 0.037). Ventricular extension of the hematoma did affect the oGCS and GOS (P = 0.002), but not the iGCS of the patients (P = 0.139).

Conclusion:

Our data suggest that being surgically oriented is very important to achieve successful outcomes in a select group of patients with SICH.

Emergency Department hyperglycemia as a predictor of early mortality and worse functional outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

We have previously reported the association of hyperglycemia and mortality after ischemic stroke. This study attempts to answer the hypothesis, if hyperglycemia at arrival, is associated with early mortality and functional outcome in patients with acute non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

METHODS

The study cohort consisted of 237 patients who presented to the ED with ICH and had blood glucose measured on ED presentation. The presence of hyperglycemia on presentation was correlated with outcome measures including volume of hematoma, intraventricular extension of hematoma (IVE), stroke severity, functional outcome at discharge, and date of death.

RESULTS

Of the cohort of 237 patients, a total of 47 patients had prior history of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Median blood glucose at presentation was 140 mg/dl (Inter-quartile range 112-181 mg/dl). DM patients had higher glucose levels on arrival (median 202 mg/dl for DM vs. 132.5 mg/dl for non-DM, P < 0.0001). Higher blood glucose at ED arrival was associated with early mortality in both non-diabetics and diabetics (P < 0.0001). Higher blood glucose was associated with poor functional outcome in non-DM patients(P < 0.0001) but not in DM patients (P = 0.268). In the logistic regression model, after adjustment for stroke severity, hematoma volume, and IVE of hemorrhage, higher initial blood glucose was a significant predictor of death (P = 0.0031); as well as bad outcome in non-DM patients (P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Hyperglycemia on presentation in non-diabetic patients is an independent predictor of early mortality and worse functional outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Neurological complications following adult lung transplantation

The full spectrum of neurologic complications and their impact on survival in lung recipients has not been reported. A retrospective cohort review of the Mayo Clinic Lung Transplant Registry (1988-2008) was performed to determine the range of neurologic complications in a cohort of adult lung recipients. Cox regression models were used to assess risk factors for neurological complications and death posttransplant. One hundred and twenty lung transplant recipients (53% women, median age at transplantation 53 years, range 21-73, median survival 4.8 years) were identified, of whom 95 had a neurological complication posttransplantation (median time to complication 0.8 years). Neurological complications were severe in 46 patients (requiring hospitalization or urgent care and evaluation) and were most often perioperative stroke or encephalopathy. Age predicted neurological complications of any type, whereas lung allocation score, bilateral lung transplantation, sex, underlying lung disease, elevated hemoglobin A1C, renal insufficiency and smoking history did not. Neurological complications of any severity (HR 4.3, 95% CI 2.2-8.6, p < 0.001) and high severity (HR 7.2, 95% CI 3.5-14.6, p < 0.001) were associated with increased risk of death. Neurological complications are common after lung transplantation, affecting 92% of recipients within 10 years. Severe neurologic complications are also common, affecting 53% of recipients within 10 years.

The impact of acute kidney injury on short-term survival in an Eastern European population with stroke

BACKGROUND

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and of serious disability with significant impact on patients' long-term survival. The short-term evolution following stroke can associate acute kidney injury (AKI) as a possible complication, frequently overlooked and underestimated in clinical trials. We aimed to describe in an East European cohort (i) the incidence of AKI and its risk factors; (ii) the 30-day mortality and its risk factors and (iii) the relationship between mortality, pre-existent renal function and subsequent AKI.

METHODS

A total of 1090 consecutive cases hospitalized-during a 12-month period-with a CT-confirmed diagnosis of stroke, from a distinct administrative region were included. Demographic details, comorbidities, laboratory and outcome data were retrieved from the electronic hospital database. All patients included in the study were followed for 30 days or until death.

RESULTS

The mean age of this population was 66.1 +/- 11.5 years, 49.3% were males, mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 68.9 +/- 22.6 ml/min/1.73 m(2). The 30-day mortality rate was 17.2%. One hundred and fifty-eight patients presented with haemorrhagic stroke and 932 patients had ischaemic stroke. Stroke mortality was-14% for ischaemic stroke and almost twice as high for haemorrhagic stroke-36.3%. One hundred fifty-eight (14.5%) patients were classified as developing AKI. The AKI patients were older, had a higher baseline serum creatinine, lower GFR, higher serum glucose, higher prevalence of chronic heart failure and ischaemic heart disease, were more likely to have suffered a haemorrhagic stroke, and had a significantly higher 30-day mortality rate (43.1 vs 12.8%) (P < 0.05 for all). Independent predictors for AKI development in the logistic regression analysis were age, GFR, presence of comorbidities (ischaemic heart disease and chronic heart failure) and type of stroke (Cox and Snell R(2) 0.244; Nagelkerke R(2) 0.431; P < 0.05). In our study, we demonstrated that the occurrence of AKI is not a rare finding in stroke patients. This is the first study to report the incidence of AKI in a distinct geographic population base, in patients with stroke. Baseline renal function emerged as both a significant independent marker for short-term survival after an acute stroke (even after adjustment for baseline comorbidities) and as a risk factor for subsequent AKI.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as a risk factor for stroke-related seizures

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disorders and different types of stroke. The present retrospective study investigates whether COPD is also a risk factor for the development of seizures in stroke patients. The study population consisted of 237 patients with stroke-related seizures. The control population was composed of 939 patients, admitted for a stroke between 2002 and 2004 and who did not develop epileptic spells on a follow up of 2 years. The stroke type and aetiology, and the vascular risk factors, including COPD, were compared. The seizure patients were older (P = 0.009) and had more arterial hypertension (P = 0.046) and cardiac-embolic strokes (P = 0.045) than the control group. On logistic regression only partial anterior circulation syndrome/infarct (PACS/I) and COPD (P < 0.001) emerged as independent risk factors for the development of seizures in stroke patients. The occurrence of seizures was not related to the severity of the COPD or to its type of treatment. The present study confirms that seizures occur most frequently in patients with a PACS/I. Although we were unable to demonstrate why COPD is a risk factor for seizures in stroke patients, its frequent associated nocturnal oxygen desaturation seems to be the most plausible explanation. Further prospective are needed to assess the role of COPD as a possible independent risk factor for stroke-related seizures.