Indicators of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage as a Cause of Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Characteristics and outcomes of subarachnoid hemorrhage from vertebral artery dissection: A comparative study with other non-traumatic etiologies

Aim

Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) is a rare cause of non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with significant clinical implications. This study compared the clinical characteristics and outcomes of SAH from intracranial VAD rupture to those from other etiologies, primarily aneurysmal rupture.

Methods

This single-center retrospective cohort study at Okayama University Hospital included patients with non-traumatic SAH diagnosed between 2019 and 2023. Patients were categorized into "VAD rupture" and "other etiologies" groups. The main outcome was clinical presentation and symptoms. Additional outcomes included ICU mortality, in-hospital mortality, and unfavorable outcomes at discharge and 6 months, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 3-6.

Results

A total of 66 patients were included, with 14 in the VAD rupture group and 52 in the other etiologies group. The VAD rupture group was younger (median age 49 vs. 64 years, p = 0.003) and had a higher incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (42.9% vs. 9.6%, p = 0.011). Preceding headache was more common in the VAD rupture group (78.6% vs. 11.5%, p < 0.001), with a median duration of 36 h before presentation. ICU and in-hospital mortality was higher in the VAD rupture group (both 50.0% vs. 19.3%, p = 0.019). No significant differences were found in unfavorable neurological outcomes at hospital discharge and 6 months.

Conclusions

VAD-related SAH often presents with prodromal headaches, severe symptoms like out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and higher ICU and in-hospital mortality than other SAH causes, though long-term outcomes are similar. Larger, prospective studies are needed to refine interventions.

Impact of pre-hospital handling and initial time to cranial computed tomography on outcome in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients with out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest-a retrospective bi-centric study

Background

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) presents occasionally with cardiac arrest (CA). The impact of pre-hospital and emergency room (ER) treatment on outcome remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the impact of pre-hospital treatment, focusing on lay cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and ER handling on the outcome of SAH patients with out-of-hospital CA (OHCA).

Methods

In this bi-centric retrospective analysis, we reviewed SAH databases for OHCA and CPR from January 2011 to June 2021. Patients were analyzed for general clinical and epidemiological parameters. CPR data were obtained from ambulance reports and information on ER handling from the medical records. Data were correlated with patient survival at hospital discharge as a predefined outcome parameter.

Results

Of 1,120 patients with SAH, 45 (4.0%) were identified with OHCA and CPR, 38 of whom provided all required information and were included in this study. Time to resuscitation was significantly shorter with lay resuscitation (5.3 ± 5.2 min vs. 0.3 ± 1.2 min, p = 0.003). Nineteen patients were not initially scheduled for cranial computed tomography (CCT), resulting in a significantly longer time interval to first CCT (mean ± SD: 154 ± 217 min vs. 40 ± 23 min; p < 0.001). Overall survival to discharge was 31.6%. Pre-hospital lay CPR was not associated with higher survival (p = 0.632). However, we observed a shorter time to first CCT in surviving patients (p = 0.065).

Conclusions

OHCA in SAH patients is not uncommon. Besides high-quality CPR, time to diagnosis of SAH appears to play an important role. We therefore recommend considering CCT diagnostics as part of the diagnostic algorithm in patients with OHCA.

Intracranial Hemorrhage Presenting With ST-Segment Elevation and T-Wave Inversion Concerning for Acute Myocardial Infarction

Acute neurologic injury and increased intracranial pressure are associated with electrocardiographic (ECG) changes that include rhythm disturbances as well as ECG mimics of myocardial ischemia, such as focal or diffuse ST-segment or T-wave abnormalities. Both the mechanism and significance of these ECG changes are not clear. The authors report a case of a patient with a complex medical history who became hypotensive after he presented with acute intracranial hemorrhage. A subsequent ECG showing ST-segment elevation in the inferior and lateral leads was concerning for acute myocardial infarction. ST-segment elevation in the setting of acute intracranial hemorrhage can lead to diagnostic confusion and/or premature narrowing of the differential diagnosis. This case report starts with an example of this exact scenario, provides a concise overview of potential mechanisms, and concludes with several possible strategies that the emergency provider can use to identify this effect in an undifferentiated patient.

Multimodal Neuromonitoring and Neurocritical Care in Swine to Enhance Translational Relevance in Brain Trauma Research

Neurocritical care significantly impacts outcomes after moderate-to-severe acquired brain injury, but it is rarely applied in preclinical studies. We created a comprehensive neurointensive care unit (neuroICU) for use in swine to account for the influence of neurocritical care, collect clinically relevant monitoring data, and create a paradigm that is capable of validating therapeutics/diagnostics in the unique neurocritical care space. Our multidisciplinary team of neuroscientists, neurointensivists, and veterinarians adapted/optimized the clinical neuroICU (e.g., multimodal neuromonitoring) and critical care pathways (e.g., managing cerebral perfusion pressure with sedation, ventilation, and hypertonic saline) for use in swine. Moreover, this neurocritical care paradigm enabled the first demonstration of an extended preclinical study period for moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury with coma beyond 8 h. There are many similarities with humans that make swine an ideal model species for brain injury studies, including a large brain mass, gyrencephalic cortex, high white matter volume, and topography of basal cisterns, amongst other critical factors. Here we describe the neurocritical care techniques we developed and the medical management of swine following subarachnoid hemorrhage and traumatic brain injury with coma. Incorporating neurocritical care in swine studies will reduce the translational gap for therapeutics and diagnostics specifically tailored for moderate-to-severe acquired brain injury.

Updates on Post-Resuscitation Care. After the Return of Spontaneous Circulation beyond the 2021 Guidelines

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. The goal of resuscitation is often meant as the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). However, ROSC is only one of the steps towards survival. The post-ROSC phase is still a challenging one during which the risk of death is all but averted. Morbidity and mortality are exceedingly high due to cardiovascular and neurologic issues; for this reason, post ROSC care relies on international guidelines, the latest being published on April 2021. Since then, several studies have become available covering a variety of topics of crucial importance for post-resuscitation care such as the interpretation of the post-ROSC ECG, the timing of coronary angiography, the role of complete myocardial revascularization and targeted temperature management. This narrative review focuses on these new evidences, in order to further improve clinical practice, and on the need for a multidisciplinary and integrated system of care.

Cardiac arrest in spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage and associated outcomes

OBJECTIVE

The authors sought to analyze a large, publicly available, nationwide hospital database to further elucidate the impact of cardiopulmonary arrest (CA) in association with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) on short-term outcomes of mortality and discharge disposition.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted by analyzing de-identified data from the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample (NIS). The publicly available NIS database represents a 20% stratified sample of all discharges and is powered to estimate 95% of all inpatient care delivered across hospitals in the US. A total of 170,869 patients were identified as having been hospitalized due to nontraumatic SAH from 2008 to 2014.

RESULTS

A total of 5415 patients (3.2%) were hospitalized with an admission diagnosis of CA in association with SAH. Independent risk factors for CA included a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score, hospitalization in a small or nonteaching hospital, and a Medicaid or self-pay payor status. Compared with patients with SAH and not CA, patients with CA-SAH had a higher mean NIS Subarachnoid Severity Score (SSS) ± SD (1.67 ± 0.03 vs 1.13 ± 0.01, p < 0.0001) and a vastly higher mortality rate (82.1% vs 18.4%, p < 0.0001). In a multivariable model, age, NIS-SSS, and CA all remained significant independent predictors of mortality. Approximately 18% of patients with CA-SAH survived and were discharged to a rehabilitation facility or home with health services, outcomes that were most predicted by chronic disease processes and large teaching hospital status.

CONCLUSIONS

In the largest study of its kind, CA at onset was found to complicate roughly 3% of spontaneous SAH cases and was associated with extremely high mortality. Despite this, survival can still be expected in approximately 18% of patients.

[Cardiac arrest under special circumstances]

These guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) Cardiac Arrest under Special Circumstances are based on the 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Science with Treatment Recommendations. This section provides guidelines on the modifications required for basic and advanced life support for the prevention and treatment of cardiac arrest under special circumstances; in particular, specific causes (hypoxia, trauma, anaphylaxis, sepsis, hypo-/hyperkalaemia and other electrolyte disorders, hypothermia, avalanche, hyperthermia and malignant hyperthermia, pulmonary embolism, coronary thrombosis, cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax, toxic agents), specific settings (operating room, cardiac surgery, cardiac catheterization laboratory, dialysis unit, dental clinics, transportation [in-flight, cruise ships], sport, drowning, mass casualty incidents), and specific patient groups (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, neurological disease, morbid obesity, pregnancy).

European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2021: Cardiac arrest in special circumstances

These European Resuscitation Council (ERC) Cardiac Arrest in Special Circumstances guidelines are based on the 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Science with Treatment Recommendations. This section provides guidelines on the modifications required to basic and advanced life support for the prevention and treatment of cardiac arrest in special circumstances; specifically special causes (hypoxia, trauma, anaphylaxis, sepsis, hypo/hyperkalaemia and other electrolyte disorders, hypothermia, avalanche, hyperthermia and malignant hyperthermia, pulmonary embolism, coronary thrombosis, cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax, toxic agents), special settings (operating room, cardiac surgery, catheter laboratory, dialysis unit, dental clinics, transportation (in-flight, cruise ships), sport, drowning, mass casualty incidents), and special patient groups (asthma and COPD, neurological disease, obesity, pregnancy).

Cerebellar Haemorrhage Leading to Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Introduction

Intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) is a known, but a rare cause of out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). It results in the development of non-shockable rhythms such as asystole or pulseless electrical activity (PEA).

Case Report

A 77- years old male had an OHCA without any prodrome. An emergency medical services (EMS) team responded to an emergency call and intubated the patient at the site before transporting him to the Acute Care Hospital, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. On admission, a non-contrast computed tomography scan of the head revealed a large cerebellar haemorrhage. Non-traumatic ICH is a rare cause of OHCA. Although subarachnoid haemorrhage causing cardiac arrest has been described in the literature, cerebellar haemorrhage leading to cardiac arrest is rare. The mechanism by which ICH patients develop cardiac arrest is likely explained by a massive catecholamine surge leading to cardiac stunning.

Conclusion

A non-shockable rhythm in the seting of a sudden cardiac arrest should raise alarms for a primary non-cardiac ethology, especially a primary cerebrovascular event. The absence of brainstem reflexes increases the likelihood of an intracranial process.