Posttraumatic refractory intracranial hypertension and brain herniation syndrome: cerebral hemodynamic assessment before decompressive craniectomy

Decompressive Craniectomy for Traumatic Brain Injury: Postoperative TCD Cerebral Hemodynamic Evaluation

Background: There are no studies describing the cerebral hemodynamic patterns that can occur in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients following decompressive craniectomy (DC). Such data have potentially clinical importance for guiding the treatment. The objective of this study was to investigate the postoperative cerebral hemodynamic patterns, using transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography, in patients who underwent DC. The relationship between the cerebral circulatory patterns and the patients' outcome was also analyzed. Methods: Nineteen TBI patients with uncontrolled brain swelling were prospectively studied. Cerebral blood circulation was evaluated by TCD ultrasonography. Patients and their cerebral hemispheres were categorized based on TCD-hemodynamic patterns. The data were correlated with neurological status, midline shift on CT scan, and Glasgow outcome scale scores at 6 months after injury. Results: Different cerebral hemodynamic patterns were observed. One patient (5.3%) presented with cerebral oligoemia, 4 patients (21%) with cerebral hyperemia, and 3 patients (15.8%) with cerebral vasospasm. One patient (5.3%) had hyperemia in one cerebral hemisphere and vasospasm in the other hemisphere. Ten patients (52.6%) had nonspecific circulatory pattern. Abnormal TCD-circulatory patterns were found in 9 patients (47.4%). There was no association between TCD-cerebral hemodynamic findings and outcome. Conclusion: There is a wide heterogeneity of postoperative cerebral hemodynamic findings among TBI patients who underwent DC, including hemodynamic heterogeneity between their cerebral hemispheres. DC was proved to be effective for the treatment of cerebral oligoemia. Our data support the concept of heterogeneous nature of the pathophysiology of the TBI and suggest that DC as the sole treatment modality is insufficient.

Predictable Values of Decompressive Craniectomy in Patients with Acute Subdural Hematoma: Comparison between Decompressive Craniectomy after Craniotomy Group and Craniotomy Only Group

Objective

Patients with traumatic acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) often require surgical treatment. Among patients who primarily underwent craniotomy for the removal of hematoma, some consequently developed aggressive intracranial hypertension and brain edema, and required secondary decompressive craniectomy (DC). To avoid reoperation, we investigated factors which predict the requirement of DC by comparing groups of ASDH patients who did and did not require DC after craniotomy.

Methods

The 129 patients with ASDH who underwent craniotomy from September 2007 to September 2017 were reviewed. Among these patients, 19 patients who needed additional DC (group A) and 105 patients who underwent primary craniotomy only without reoperation (group B) were evaluated. A total of 17 preoperative and intraoperative factors were analyzed and compared statistically. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to compare these factors.

Results

Five factors showed significant differences between the two groups. They were the length of midline shifting to maximal subdural hematoma thickness ratio (magnetization transfer [MT] ratio) greater than 1 (p<0.001), coexistence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (p<0.001), traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (TICH) (p=0.001), intraoperative findings showing intracranial hypertension combined with brain edema (p<0.001), and bleeding tendency (p=0.02). An average value of 2.74±1.52 was obtained for these factors for group A, which was significantly different from that for group B (p<0.001).

Conclusion

An MT ratio >1, IVH, and TICH on preoperative brain computed tomography images, intraoperative signs of intracranial hypertension, brain edema, and bleeding tendency were identified as factors indicating that DC would be required. The necessity for preemptive DC must be carefully considered in patients with such risk factors.

Efficacy of decompressive craniectomy in the management of intracranial pressure in severe traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common cause of permanent disability for which clinical management remains suboptimal. Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) is a common sequela following TBI leading to death and permanent disability if not properly managed. While clinicians often employ stepwise acute care algorithms to reduce ICP, a number of patients will fail medical management and may be considered for surgical decompression. Decompressive craniectomy (DC) involves removing a component of the bony skull to allow cerebral tissue expansion in order to reduce ICP. However, the impact of DC, which is performed in the setting of neurological instability, ongoing secondary injury, and patient resuscitation, has been challenging to study and outcomes are not well understood. This review summarizes historical and recent studies to elucidate indications for DC and the nuances, risks and complications in its application. The pathophysiology driving ICP elevation, and the corresponding medical interventions for their temporization and treatment, are thoroughly described. The current state of DC - including appropriate injury classification, surgical techniques, concurrent medical therapies, mortality and functional outcomes - is presented. We also report on the recent updates from large randomized controlled trials in severe TBI (Decompressive Craniectomy [DECRA] and Randomized Evaluation of Surgery with Craniectomy for Uncontrollable Elevation of ICP [RESCUEicp]), and recommendations for early DC to treat refractory ICP elevations in malignant middle cerebral artery syndrome. Limitations for DC, such as the equipoise between immediate reduction in ICP and clinically meaningful functional outcomes, are discussed in support of future investigations.

Cardiac troponin and cerebral herniation in acute intracerebral hemorrhage

OBJECTIVES

To explore the association, if any, between the relationship between cardiac troponin and cerebral herniation after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

METHODS

Six hundred and eighty-seven consecutive ICH patients admitted to West China Hospital from May 1, 2014 to September 1, 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Data on demographics, etiology, laboratory examinations at admission including serum cardiac troponin, computed tomography (CT) scans at admission and follow-up, and clinical outcomes were obtained. Using multiple logistic regression to identify the relationship of troponin and herniation. The association between troponin and hematoma volume was assessed using bivariate correlation and linear regression.

RESULTS

Among 188 (27.4%) patients who underwent the test of serum cardiac troponin at admission, 16 (8.5%) demonstrated cerebral herniation. The median time from symptom onset to CT at admission and follow-up was 4 and 30.25 hr, respectively. In multivariate analysis, elevated troponin was independently associated with cerebral herniation (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 5.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-24.93). And those with elevated troponin had larger hematoma volume at follow-up in bivariate correlation (correlation coefficient, .375, p = .003) and linear regression (β, .370, 95% CI, 0.062-0.320, p = .005), higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (adjusted OR 2.06; 95% CI, 1.06-4.01, p = .033) and lower Glasgow Coma Scale score (adjusted OR 2.34; 95% CI, 1.17-4.68, p = .016) than those without.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated cardiac troponin was associated with an almost five-fold increased risk of cerebral herniation, but not in-hospital mortality. The possibility of cerebral herniation should be considered when ICH patients with large hematoma volume and elevated troponin.

Central hyperventilation syndrome due to massive pneumocephalus after endoscopic third ventriculostomy: a case report

Pneumocephalus is common after brain surgeries, but usually is not substantial enough to cause serious complications. We recently encountered a case of post-operative tachypnea after an endoscopic 3rd ventriculostomy. At first, we thought that the hyperventilation was the result of residual paralysis after emergence from anesthesia, but during further evaluation we found a massive pneumocephalus. In such unusual post-operative situations, physicians should consider surgery-related complications as the possible cause as well, along with the anesthetic factors.

Head computed tomographic measurement as a predictor of outcome in patients with subdural hematoma with cerebral edema

BACKGROUND

The ability to predict outcome in patients with cerebral edema is important because it can influence treatment strategy. We evaluated whether differences in head computed tomographic (CT) measurements in Hounsfield units (HU) of white matter and gray matter can be used as a predictor of outcome in patients with subdural hematoma with cerebral edema.

METHODS

We evaluated 34 patients who had subdural hematoma with cerebral edema following acute closed head trauma and had undergone head CT within a few hours of admission. We divided them into the survival (n = 24) group and death (n = 10) group, and measured the HU of white matter and gray matter at injury and non-injury sites.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in operation time or blood loss during surgery between the two groups. Only the HU of white matter in the injury site of patients in the death group were decreased significantly. A cut-off value of 31.5 for HU of white matter showed 80.0 % sensitivity and 99.9 % specificity for death; the area under the curve was 0.91.

DISCUSSION

Our results are more evidence of the support of neurogenic edema in trauma rather than an important clinical tool at this stage. However, HU values in WM may be one factor in the decision-making process that affects patient outcome. Changing the treatment strategy in patients with a low HU value in the WM at the injury site may bring about an improvement in patient outcome.

CONCLUSION

Measurement in HU of white matter at the injury site might be useful as a predictor of outcome in patients with subdural hematoma with cerebral edema.

The effect of craniectomy size on mortality, outcome, and complications after decompressive craniectomy at a rural trauma center

Introduction:

Decompressive craniectomy (DC) has increasing support with current studies suggesting an improvement in both survival rates and outcomes with this intervention. However, questions surround this procedure; specifically, no evidence has indicated the optimal craniectomy size. Larger craniectomy is thought to better decrease intracranial pressure, but with a possible increase in complication rates. Our hypothesis is that a larger craniectomy may improve mortality and outcome, but may increase complication rates.

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective observational therapeutic study was undertaken to determine if craniectomy size is related to complication rates, mortality, or outcome. Our institution's Trauma Registry was searched for patients undergoing DC. Craniectomy size was measured by antero-posterior (AP) diameter. Mortality, outcome (through admission and discharge Glasgow Coma Score and Glasgow Outcome Scale), and complications (such as re-bleeding, re-operation, hygroma, hydrocephalus, infection, and syndrome of the trephined) were noted. Complications, mortality, and outcome were then compared to craniectomy size, to determine if any relation existed to support our hypothesis.

Results:

20 patients met criteria for inclusion in this study. Craniectomy size as measured by AP diameter was correlated with a statistically significant improvement in mortality within the group. All patients with a craniectomy size less than 10 cm died. However, outcome was not significantly related to craniectomy size in the group. Similarly, complication rates did not differ significantly compared to craniectomy size.

Discussion:

This study provides Level 3 evidence that craniectomy size may be significantly related to improved mortality within our group, supporting our initial hypothesis; however, no significant improvement in outcome was seen. Similarly, in contrast to our hypothesis, complication rates did not significantly correlate with craniectomy size.