Review and recommendations on management of refractory raised intracranial pressure in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

High-quality targeted temperature management combined with decompressive craniectomy in patients with poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective study

Background

The effect of targeted temperature management (TTM) combined with decompressive craniectomy (DC) on poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) has not been previously addressed in the literature. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic outcomes of the combination of TTM and DC in patients with poor-grade aSAH.

Methods

This study represents a secondary analysis of the Multicenter Clinical Research on Targeted Temperature Management of Poor-grade Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (High-Quality TTM for PaSAH), a multicenter prospective study conducted in China. The High-Quality TTM for PaSAH study enrolled patients aged 18 years and older who were transported to the intensive care units (ICU) of three tertiary care hospitals in China between April 2022 and April 2024. Among these patients, those who underwent DC were included in the present analysis. Patients were divided into two groups: the DC-alone group and the TTM combined with the DC (TTM-DC) group. The DC-alone group maintained normothermia. The TTM-DC group used automated devices with a temperature feedback system (TFS). TTM was initiated with core temperatures between 36°C-37°C immediately after diagnosing poor-grade aSAH, and concurrent emergency aneurysm repair. This was followed by a rapid induction to 34°C-35°C, maintained for a minimum of 72 h. Subsequently, a slow rewarming process reached 36°C-37°C, which was maintained for at least 48 h. Primary outcomes were evaluated using the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 months. Secondary outcomes included the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at discharge, ICU stay duration, length of hospitalization, proportion of external ventricular drainage (EVD), mechanical ventilation time, tracheostomy, midline shift, hydrocephalus, and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) on the 7th day. Safety outcomes comprised the incidence of pneumonia, myocardial infarction, stress hyperglycemia, thrombocytopenia, acute liver injury, hypokalemia, hypoproteinemia, and death at 90 days.

Results

Of the 141 patients enrolled in the High-Quality TTM for PaSAH study, 43 (25 in the TTM-DC group and 18 in the DC-alone group) were eligible for this secondary analysis. The TTM-DC group had a higher proportion of favorable outcomes (mRS 0-3: 56% vs. 22%, aOR 5.97, 95%CI 0.96-52.2, p = 0.071). After propensity score matching, the TTM combined with DC improved favorable outcome at 3 months (mRS 0-3: 61% vs. 22%, OR 5.50, 95%CI 1.36-26.3, p = 0.022). In addition, the TTM-DC group increased GCS score at discharge compared with the DC-alone group (9 vs. 3, β 2.58, 95%CI 0.32-4.84, p = 0.032). The incidence of safety outcomes was not increased in the TTM-DC group.

Conclusion

TTM combined with DC can improve clinical conditions at discharge and ameliorate short-term neurological outcomes in poor-grade aSAH patients. TTM should be considered one of the main treatments for poor-grade aSAH patients who underwent DC.

Duration of Intracranial Pressure Increase after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Prognostic Factors and Association with the Outcome

OBJECTIVE

A rupture of the intracranial aneurysm is frequently complicated, with an increase of intracranial pressure (ICP) requiring conservative and/or surgical treatment. We analyzed the risk factors related to the duration of pathologic ICP increase and the relationship between ICP burden and the outcome of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

METHODS

Consecutive cases with aneurysmal SAH treated at our institution between 01/2003 and 06/2016 were eligible for this study. Different admission variables were evaluated to predict the duration of ICP increase >20 mmHg in univariate and multivariate analyses. The association of the ICP course with SAH outcome parameters (risk of cerebral infarction, in-hospital mortality, and unfavorable outcome at 6 months defined as modified Rankin scale >3) was adjusted for major outcome-relevant confounders.

RESULTS

Of 820 SAH patients, 378 individuals (46.1%) developed at least one ICP increase requiring conservative and/or surgical management after aneurysm treatment (mean duration: 1.76 days, range: 1 - 14 days). In the multivariable linear regression analysis, patients' age (unstandardized coefficient [UC]=-0.02, p <0.0001), World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade 4-5 at admission (UC=0.71, p <0.004), regular medication with the angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (UC=-0.61, p =0.01), and presence of intracerebral hemorrhage (UC=0.59, p =0.002) were associated with the duration of ICP increase. In turn, patients with longer ICP elevations were at higher risk for cerebral infarction (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.32 per-day-increase, p <0.0001), in-hospital mortality (aOR=1.30, p <0.0001) and unfavorable outcome (aOR=1.43, p <0.0001). SAH patients who underwent primary decompressive craniectomy (DC) showed shorter periods of ICP increase than patients with a secondary decompression (mean: 2.8 vs 4.9 days, p <0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The duration of ICP increase after aneurysm rupture is a strong outcome predictor and is related to younger age and higher initial severity of SAH. Further analysis of the factors impacting the course of ICP after SAH is essential for the optimization of ICP management and outcome improvement.

Evaluation of the Fitting Accuracy of CAD/CAM-Manufactured Patient-Specific Implants for the Reconstruction of Cranial Defects-A Retrospective Study

Cranioplasties show overall high complication rates of up to 45.3%. Risk factors potentially associated with the occurrence of postoperative complications are frequently discussed in existing research. The present study examines the positioning of 39 patient-specific implants (PSI) made from polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and retrospectively investigates the relationship between the fitting accuracy and incidence of postoperative complications. To analyze the fitting accuracy of the implants pre- and post-operatively, STL files were created and superimposed in a 3D coordinate system, and the deviations were graphically displayed and evaluated along with the postoperative complications. On average, 95.17% (SD = 9.42) of the measurements between planned and surgically achieved implant position were within the defined tolerance range. In cases with lower accordance, an increased occurrence of complications could not be demonstrated. The overall postoperative complication rate was 64.1%. The fitting of the PEEK-PSI was highly satisfactory. There were predominantly minor deviations of the achieved compared to the planned implant positions; however, estimations were within the defined tolerance range. Despite the overall high accuracy of fitting, a considerable complication rate was found. To optimize the surgical outcome, the focus should instead be directed towards the investigation of other risk factors.

Intracranial hypertension in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a devastating and life-threatening condition with high mortality and morbidity. Even though there is an association with intracranial pressure (ICP) raise and aSAH, there is a lack of recommendations regarding the indications for ICP monitoring in patients with aSAH. Defining what patients are at a higher risk to develop intracranial hypertension and its role in the functional outcome and mortality in patients with aSAH will be the purpose of the following systematic review and meta-analysis. The primary endpoint is to determine the prevalence and impact on mortality of ICP in patients with aSAH. Secondary endpoints aim to describe the variables related to the development of ICP and the relationship between traumatic and aneurysmal etiology of intracranial hypertension. PubMed, Embase, Central Cochrane Registry of Controlled Trials, and research meeting abstracts were searched up to August 2019 for studies that performed ICP monitoring, assessed the prevalence of intracranial hypertension and the mortality, in adults. Newcastle Ottawa scale (NOS) was used to assess study quality. The statistical analysis was performed using the Mantel-Haenszel methodology for the prevalence and mortality of intracranial hypertension for reasons with a randomized effect analysis model. Heterogeneity was assessed by I². A total of 110 bibliographic citations were identified, 20 were considered potentially eligible, and after a review of the full text, 12 studies were considered eligible and 5 met the inclusion criteria for this review. One study obtained 7 points in the NOS, another obtained 6 points, and the rest obtained 5 points. Five studies were chosen for the final analysis, involving 793 patients. The rate of intracranial hypertension secondary to aSAH was 70.69% (95% CI 56.79-82.84%) showing high heterogeneity (I² = 92.48%, p = < 0.0001). The results of the meta-analysis of mortality rate associated with intracranial hypertension after aSAH found a total of four studies, which involved 385 patients. The mortality rate was 30.3% (95% CI: 14.79-48.57%). Heterogeneity was statistically significant (I² = 90.36%; p value for heterogeneity < 0.001). We found that in several studies, they reported that a high degree of clinical severity scale (Hunt and Hess or WNFS) and tomographic (Fisher) were significantly correlated with the increase in ICP above 20 mmHg (P < 0.05). The interpretation of the results could be underestimated for the design heterogeneity of the included studies. New protocols establishing the indications for ICP monitoring in aSAH are needed. Given the high heterogeneity of the studies included, we cannot provide clinical recommendations regarding this issue.

The critical care management of poor-grade subarachnoid haemorrhage

Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage is a neurological syndrome with complex systemic complications. The rupture of an intracranial aneurysm leads to the acute extravasation of arterial blood under high pressure into the subarachnoid space and often into the brain parenchyma and ventricles. The haemorrhage triggers a cascade of complex events, which ultimately can result in early brain injury, delayed cerebral ischaemia, and systemic complications. Although patients with poor-grade subarachnoid haemorrhage (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies 4 and 5) are at higher risk of early brain injury, delayed cerebral ischaemia, and systemic complications, the early and aggressive treatment of this patient population has decreased overall mortality from more than 50% to 35% in the last four decades. These management strategies include (1) transfer to a high-volume centre, (2) neurological and systemic support in a dedicated neurological intensive care unit, (3) early aneurysm repair, (4) use of multimodal neuromonitoring, (5) control of intracranial pressure and the optimisation of cerebral oxygen delivery, (6) prevention and treatment of medical complications, and (7) prevention, monitoring, and aggressive treatment of delayed cerebral ischaemia. The aim of this article is to provide a summary of critical care management strategies applied to the subarachnoid haemorrhage population, especially for patients in poor neurological condition, on the basis of the modern concepts of early brain injury and delayed cerebral ischaemia.

Practical Incidence and Risk Factors of Terson's Syndrome: A Retrospective Analysis in 322 Consecutive Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Objective

Terson's syndrome, a complication of visual function, has occasionally been reported in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), however the factors responsible for Terson's syndrome in aneurysmal SAH patients have not yet been fully clarified. In this study, we report on potential risk factors for prediction and diagnosis of Terson's syndrome in the earlier stage of the disease course in patients with aneurysmal SAH.

Materials and Methods

The authors retrospectively analyzed the data of 322 consecutive patients who suffered from aneurysmal SAH in a single institution between Jan. 2007 and Dec. 2013. Medical records including demographics, neurologic examination, and radiologic images were collected to clarify the risk factors of Terson's syndrome. Patients with visual problem were consulted to the Department of Ophthalmology.

Results

Among 332 patients with aneurysmal SAH, 34 patients were diagnosed as Terson's syndrome. Four individual factors, including World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade at admission, aneurysm size, method of operation, and Glasgow outcome scale showed statistically significant association with occurrence of Terson's syndrome. Of these, WFNS grade at admission, aneurysm size, and method of operation showed strong association with Terson's syndrome in multivariate analysis. Terson's syndrome accompanied by papilledema due to increased intracranial pressure led to permanent visual complication.

Conclusion

In patients with aneurysmal SAH, the patients' WFNS grade at admission, the size of the aneurysms, particularly the diameter of the aneurysm dome, and the method of operation might influence development of Terson's syndrome.

Clinical observation of the time course of raised intracranial pressure after subarachnoid hemorrhage

The time course of intracranial pressure (ICP) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is not well known. This retrospective study was conducted to investigate the occurrence and the dynamic variation of raised ICP post-SAH. ICP was prospectively studied in 120 patients with SAH who were admitted to neurocritical care within 24 h of hemorrhage. Patients underwent continuous ICP monitoring for at least 7 days, unless they died. Clinical status on admission, radiographic tests, treatment details and neurological outcome on discharge were analyzed in relation to ICP. The highest daily mean ICP and the day when ICP reduced to normal levels were assessed. Of the 120 patients studied, 112 (93.3 %) encountered ICP elevation whilst in hospital. The daily mean ICP was higher in Hunt and Hess grades IV-V patients than grades I-III patients (P = 0.01). The elevated ICP remained at a higher level for the initial 3 days (grades I-III patients) or 4 days (grades IV-V patients), after which the pressure decreased towards normal levels. The in-patient mortality was significantly increased in the high ICP variability group (P = 0.001), which was divided by the cutoff point using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Raised ICP mainly occurs within 8 days post-SAH, especially the initial 3-4 days. Those highlight the need for earlier management of ICP after SAH.