Revisiting the WFNS Score: Native Computed Tomography Imaging Improves Identification of Patients With "False Poor Grade" Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

In patients suffering from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), the optimal time to determine the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) score remains controversial because of possible confounding factors. Goals of this study were (1) to analyze the most sensitive timepoint to determine the WFNS score in patients with aSAH and (2) to evaluate the impact of initial native computed tomography (CT) imaging on reducing the mismatch of "false poor grade" patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed daily WFNS scores from admission until day 7 in 535 aSAH patients and evaluated their predictive value for the modified Rankin Scale at discharge and 6 months postbleeding. Patients with an initial WFNS score of IV-V who showed improvement to a WFNS score of I-II within the first 7 days (even short-term) were defined as "false poor grade" patients. We tried to identify the "false poor grade" patients using parameters of the initial native CT imaging.

RESULTS

Later determination of the WFNS score (day 1 vs 7; pseudo-R 2 = 0.13 vs 0.21) increasingly improved its predictive value for neurological outcome at discharge ( P < .001). We identified 39 "false poor grade" patients who had significantly better outcomes than "real poor grade" patients (N = 220) (modified Rankin Scale-discharge: 0-2, 56% vs 1%, P < .001; 3-5: 41% vs 56%, P = .12; 6: 3% vs 43%, P < .001). "False poor grade" patients differed significantly in initial CT parameters. A predictive model called "initial CT WFNS" ( ICT WFNS) was developed, incorporating SEBES, Hijdra score, and LeRoux score (sensitivity = 0.95, specificity = 0.84, accuracy = 0.859, F1 = 0.673). ICT WFNS scores of ≤4.6 classified patients as "false poor grade."

CONCLUSION

The initial WFNS score may misclassify a subgroup of patients with aSAH as poor grade, which can be avoided by later determination of the WFNS score, at days 3-4 losing its usefulness. Alternatively, the initial WFNS score can be improved in its predictive value, especially in poor-grade patients, using criteria from the initial native CT imaging, such as the Hijdra, LeRoux, and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Early Brain Edema score, combined in the ICT WFNS score with even higher predictive power.

Novel Insights into Pathophysiology of Delayed Cerebral Ischemia: Effects of Current Rescue Therapy on Microvascular Perfusion Heterogeneity

General microvascular perfusion and its heterogeneity are pathophysiological features of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) that are gaining increasing attention. Recently, CT perfusion (CTP) imaging has made it possible to evaluate them radiologically using mean transit time (MTT) and its heterogeneity (measured by cvMTT). This study evaluates the effect of multimodal rescue therapy (intra-arterial nimodipine administration and elevation of blood pressure) on MTT and cvMTT during DCI in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) patients. A total of seventy-nine aSAH patients who underwent multimodal rescue therapy between May 2012 and December 2019 were retrospectively included in this study. CTP-based perfusion impairment (MTT and cvMTT) on the day of DCI diagnosis was compared with follow-up CTP after initiation of combined multimodal therapy. The mean MTT was significantly reduced in the follow-up CTP compared to the first CTP (3.7 ± 0.7 s vs. 3.3 ± 0.6 s; p < 0.0001). However, no significant reduction of cvMTT was observed (0.16 ± 0.06 vs. 0.15 ± 0.06; p = 0.44). Mean arterial pressure was significantly increased between follow-up and first CTP (98 ± 17 mmHg vs. 104 ± 15 mmHg; p < 0.0001). The combined multimodal rescue therapy was effective in addressing the general microvascular perfusion impairment but did not affect the mechanisms underlying microvascular perfusion heterogeneity. This highlights the need for research into new therapeutic approaches that also target these pathophysiological mechanisms of DCI.

Initial Temporal Muscle Thickness and Area: Poor Predictors of Neurological Outcome in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in a Central European Patient Cohort

The temporalis muscle area (TMA) has been proclaimed as a surrogate parameter for estimating skeletal muscle mass. Pilot studies in Asian populations suggested temporal muscle thickness (TMT) and TMA as prognostic factors for neurological outcomes in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients. This study aimed to validate these findings in a larger European patient cohort. We retrospectively analyzed age, sex, aneurysm location, treatment, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade, Fisher score, and modified Rankin Score (mRS) at six months in patients with aSAH. TMT and TMA measurements were obtained from initial native CT scans. Logistic regression with the dichotomized six-month mRS as the outcome incorporating TMT, weighted average of TMT, or TMA as predictors was performed. Of the included 478 patients, 66% were female, the mean age was 56, and 48% of patients had an mRS of three to six after six months. The mean TMT at the level of the Sylvian fissure was 5.9 (±1.7) mm in males and 4.8 (±1.8) mm in females. The mean TMA was 234.5 (±107.9) mm2 in females and 380 (±134.1) mm2 in males. WFNS grade (p < 0.001), Fisher score (p < 0.001), and age (p < 0.05) correlated significantly with the mRS after six months. No correlation was found between mRS after six months and the TMT at the Sylvian fissure (p = 0.3), the weighted average of TMT (p = 0.1), or the TMA (p = 0.1). In this central European patient cohort of 478 individuals, no significant associations were found between TMT/TMA and neurological outcomes following aSAH. Further prospective studies in diverse patient populations are necessary to determine the prognostic value of TMA and TMT in aSAH patients.

Blood Pressure Affects the Early CT Perfusion Imaging in Patients with aSAH Reflecting Early Disturbed Autoregulation

BACKGROUND

Early computed tomography perfusion (CTP) is frequently used to predict delayed cerebral ischemia following aneurysmatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). However, the influence of blood pressure on CTP is currently controversial (HIMALAIA trial), which differs from our clinical observations. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the influence of blood pressure on early CTP imaging in patients with aSAH.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the mean transit time (MTT) of early CTP imaging within 24 h after bleeding prior to aneurysm occlusion with respect to blood pressure shortly before or after the examination in 134 patients. We correlated the cerebral blood flow with the cerebral perfusion pressure in the case of patients with intracranial pressure measurement. We performed a subgroup analysis of good-grade (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies [WFNS] I-III), poor-grade (WFNS IV-V), and solely WFNS grade V aSAH patients.

RESULTS

Mean arterial pressure (MAP) significantly correlated inversely with the mean MTT in early CTP imaging (R =  - 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 0.34 to - 0.01, p = 0.042). Lower mean blood pressure was significantly associated with a higher mean MTT. Subgroup analysis revealed an increasing inverse correlation when comparing WFNS I-III (R =  - 0.08, 95% CI - 0.31 to 0.16, p = 0.53) patients with WFNS IV-V (R =  - 0.2, 95% CI - 0.42 to 0.05, p = 0.12) patients, without reaching statistical significance. However, if only patients with WFNS V are considered, a significant and even stronger correlation between MAP and MTT (R =  - 0.4, 95% CI - 0.65 to 0.07, p = 0.02) is observed. In patients with intracranial pressure monitoring, a stronger dependency of cerebral blood flow on cerebral perfusion pressure is observed for poor-grade patients compared with good-grade patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The inverse correlation between MAP and MTT in early CTP imaging, increasing with the severity of aSAH, suggests an increasing disturbance of cerebral autoregulation with the severity of early brain injury. Our results emphasize the importance of maintaining physiological blood pressure values in the early phase of aSAH and preventing hypotension, especially in patients with poor-grade aSAH.

Evaluation of MTT Heterogeneity of Perfusion CT Imaging in the Early Brain Injury Phase: An Insight into aSAH Pathopysiology

The concept of early brain injury (EBI) is based on the assumption of a global reduction in brain perfusion following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). However, the heterogeneity of computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging in EBI has not yet been investigated. In contrast, increased mean transit time (MTT) heterogeneity, a possible marker of microvascular perfusion heterogeneity, in the delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) phase has recently been associated with a poor neurological outcome after aSAH. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether the heterogeneity of early CTP imaging in the EBI phase is an independent predictor of the neurological outcome after aSAH. We retrospectively analyzed the heterogeneity of the MTT using the coefficient of variation (cvMTT) in early CTP scans (within 24 h after ictus) of 124 aSAH patients. Both linear and logistic regression were used to model the mRS outcome, which were treated as numerical and dichotomized values, respectively. Linear regression was used to investigate the linear dependency between the variables. No significant difference in cvMTT between the patients with and those without EVD could be observed (p = 0.69). We found no correlation between cvMTT in early CTP imaging and initial modified Fisher (p = 0.07) and WFNS grades (p = 0.23). The cvMTT in early perfusion imaging did not correlate significantly with the 6-month mRS for the entire study population (p = 0.15) or for any of the subgroups (without EVD: p = 0.21; with EVD: p = 0.3). In conclusion, microvascular perfusion heterogeneity, assessed by the heterogeneity of MTT in early CTP imaging, does not appear to be an independent predictor of the neurological outcome 6 months after aSAH.

Defining activities in neurovascular microsurgery training: entrustable professional activities for vascular neurosurgery

BACKGROUND

Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) represent an assessment framework with an increased focus on competency-based assessment. Originally developed and adopted for undergraduate medical education, concerns over resident ability to practice effectively after graduation have led to its implementation in residency training but yet not in vascular neurosurgery. Subjective assessment of resident or fellow performance can be problematic, and thus, we aim to define core EPAs for neurosurgical vascular training.

METHODS

We used a nominal group technique in a multistep interaction between a team of experienced neurovascular specialists and a medical educator to identify relevant EPAs. Panel members provided feedback on the EPAs until they reached consent.

RESULTS

The process produced seven core procedural EPAs for vascular residency and fellowship training, non-complex aneurysm surgery, complex aneurysm surgery, bypass surgery, arteriovenous malformation resection, spinal dural fistula surgery, perioperative management, and clinical decision-making.

CONCLUSION

These seven EPAs for vascular neurosurgical training may support and guide the neurosurgical society in the development and implementation of EPAs as an evaluation tool and incorporate entrustment decisions in their training programs.

Development and Internal Validation of the ARISE Prediction Models for Rebleeding After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Aneurysmal rerupture is one of the most important determents for outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and still occurs frequently because individual risk assessment is challenging given the heterogeneity in patient characteristics and aneurysm morphology.

OBJECTIVE

To develop and internally validate a practical prediction model to estimate the risk of aneurysmal rerupture before aneurysm closure.

METHODS

We designed a multinational cohort study of 2 prospective hospital registries and 3 retrospective observational studies to predict the risk of computed tomography confirmed rebleeding within 24 and 72 hours after ictus. We assessed predictors with Cox proportional hazard regression analysis.

RESULTS

Rerupture occurred in 269 of 2075 patients. The cumulative incidence equaled 7% and 11% at 24 and 72 hours, respectively. Our base model included hypertension, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies scale, Fisher grade, aneurysm size, and cerebrospinal fluid drainage before aneurysm closure and showed good discrimination with an optimism corrected c-statistic of 0.77. When we extend the base model with aneurysm irregularity, the optimism-corrected c-statistic increased to 0.79.

CONCLUSION

Our prediction models reliably estimate the risk of aneurysm rerupture after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage using predictor variables available upon hospital admission. An online prognostic calculator is accessible at https://www.evidencio.com/models/show/2626 .

Non-adjustable gravitational valves or adjustable valves in the treatment of hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients?

PURPOSE

Hydrocephalus requiring permanent CSF shunting after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is frequent. It is unknown which type of valve is optimal. This study evaluates if the revision rate of gravitational differential pressure valves (G-DPVs, GAV® system (B Braun)) (G-DPV) is comparable to adjustable pressure valves (Codman Medos Hakim) (APV) in the treatment of post-aSAH hydrocephalus.

METHODS

The use of a gravitational differential pressure valve is placed in direct comparison with an adjustable pressure valve system. A retrospective chart review is performed to compare the revision rates for the two valve systems.

RESULTS

Within the registry from Radboud University Medical Center, 641 patients with a SAH could be identified from 1 January 2013 until 1 January 2019, whereas at the Heinrich Heine University, 617 patients were identified, totaling 1258 patients who suffered from aSAH. At Radboud University Medical Center, a gravitational differential pressure valve is used, whereas at the Heinrich Heine University, an adjustable pressure valve system is used. One hundred sixty-six (13%) patients required permanent ventricular peritoneal or atrial shunting. Shunt dysfunction occurred in 36 patients: 13 patients of the 53 (25%) of the gravitational shunt cohort, and in 23 of the 113 (20%) patients with an adjustable shunt (p = 0.54). Revision was performed at a mean time of 3.2 months after implantation with the gravitational system and 8.2 months with the adjustable shunt system. Combined rates of over- and underdrainage leading to revision were 7.5% (4/53) for the gravitational and 3.5% (4/113) for the adjustable valve system (p = 0 .27).

CONCLUSION

The current study does not show a benefit of a gravitational pressure valve (GAV® system) over an adjustable pressure valve (CODMAN ® HAKIM®) in the treatment of post-aSAH hydrocephalus. The overall need for revision is high and warrants further improvements in care.

The rupture of an anterior communicating artery aneurysm does not associate with an asymmetry in the A1 or A2 arteries: a retrospective study of radiological features

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Although the formation and rupture risk of an anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysm has been the subject of many studies, no previous study has primarily searched for the relationship of the parent and daughter vessels and the impact of their size/diameter ratio on the potential rupture risk of an AcoA aneurysm. The objective of this study is to explore this link and to further analyse the surrounding vasculature of the anterior communicating artery aneurysm.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 434 patients: 284 patients with an ACoA aneurysm (121 unruptured and 162 ruptured) and 150 control patients without an ΑCoA aneurysm. Radiological angiography investigations were used to assess the diameter ratios of the parent vessels in addition to ACoA aneurysm morphology parameters.

RESULTS

When comparing the ruptured to the unruptured cases, we observed no significant difference in the parent or daughter vessel diameter ratios. Younger patient age (OR 0.96, p = 0.00) and a higher aneurysm size ratio (OR 1.10, p = 0.02) were of prognostic importance concerning the rupture risk of the aneurysm. The A1 diameter ratio and the A2 diameter were not statistically significant (OR 1.00, p = 0.99, and OR 3.38, p = 0.25 respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, we focused on asymmetry in the parent and daughter vessels as well as traditional ACoA aneurysm morphological characteristics. We were able to label younger patient age and a greater size ratio as independent prognostic factors for ACoA aneurysm rupture. We were unable to label parent and daughter vessel asymmetry as prognostic factors. To validate our findings, parent and daughter vessel asymmetry should be subjected to future prospective studies.

MTT Heterogeneity in Perfusion CT Imaging as a Predictor of Outcome after Aneurysmal SAH

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Impairment of tissue oxygenation caused by inhomogeneous microscopic blood flow distribution, the so-called capillary transit time heterogeneity, is thought to contribute to delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal SAH but has so far not been systematically evaluated in patients. We hypothesized that heterogeneity of the MTT, derived from CTP parameters, would give insight into the clinical course of patients with aneurysmal SAH and may identify patients at risk of poor outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the heterogeneity of the MTT using the coefficient of variation in CTP scans from 132 patients. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to model the dichotomized mRS outcome. Linear regression was used to eliminate variables with high linear dependence. T tests were used to compare the means of 2 groups. Furthermore, the time of the maximum coefficient of variation for MTT after bleeding was evaluated for correlation with the mRS after 6 months.

RESULTS

On average, each patient underwent 5.3 CTP scans during his or her stay. Patients with high coefficient of variation for MTT presented more often with higher modified Fisher (P = .011) and World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grades (P = .014). A high coefficient of variation for MTT at days 3-21 after aneurysmal SAH correlated significantly with a worse mRS score after 6 months (P = .016). We found no correlation between the time of the maximum coefficient of variation for MTT after bleeding and the patients' outcomes after 6 months (P = .203).

CONCLUSIONS

Heterogeneity of MTT in CTP after aneurysmal SAH correlates with the patients' outcomes. Because the findings are in line with the pathophysiologic concept of the capillary transit time heterogeneity, future studies should seek to verify the coefficient of variation for MTT as a potential imaging biomarker for outcome.

Ciprofloxacin enhances phototoxicity of 5-aminolevulinic acid mediated photodynamic treatment for chordoma cell lines

BACKGROUND

Chordoma are uncommon aggressive tumors of the skeleton. Surgical resection is often subtotal and adjuvant treatment possibilities are limited as chordomas are highly chemo- and radioresistant. In the present study we examined the impact of 5-ALA PDT on different human chordoma cell lines. Furthermore, we investigated the variation of two parameters: (1.) 5-ALA incubation time and (2.) supplemental use of ciprofloxacin as iron chelator.

METHODS

Experiments were realized in vitro with three different human chordoma cell lines: U-CH2, U-CH2B and U-CH14. After pre-incubation for 24 h with various concentrations of ciprofloxacin (1.5 - 5.0 μg/ml), different amounts of 5-ALA (15 - 50 μg/ml) were applied to the cells either for a brief (4 h) or a long (6 h) incubation time. Subsequently cells were exposed to photodynamic radiation. Cell viability was exploited by WST-1 assay. Thus, for each of the three cell lines, two drug combinations (ciprofloxacin plus 5-ALA and 5-ALA only) and two incubation times (short, 4 h and long, 6 h) were tested. Negative control groups were also examined.

RESULTS

Supplemental use of ciprofloxacin led to increased cell death in each of the cell lines. Different 5-ALA incubation times (4 h vs. 6 h) showed no significant differences in cell viability except for U-CH2.

CONCLUSION

Ciprofloxacin as an ordinary applied antibiotic, enhanced the effect of 5-ALA PDT on different human chordoma cell lines in vitro. The impact was dependent on the dose of ciprofloxacin-5-ALA. There were no notable differences for the tested 5-ALA incubation times. In human chordoma cell lines 5-ALA PDT may effectively be amended by ciprofloxacin.

Asymmetry of P1 and vertebral arteries is not related to basilar tip aneurysm development or rupture

OBJECTIVE

Lately, morphological parameters of the surrounding vasculature aside from aneurysm size, specific for the aneurysm location, e.g., posterior cerebral artery angle for basilar artery tip aneurysms, could be identified to correlate with the risk of rupture. We examined further image-based morphological parameters of the aneurysm surrounding vasculature that could correlate with the growth or the risk of rupture of basilar artery tip aneurysms.

METHODS

Data from 83 patients with basilar tip aneurysms (27 not ruptured; 56 ruptured) and 100 control patients were assessed (50 without aneurysms and 50 with aneurysms of the anterior circle of Willis). Anatomical parameters of the aneurysms were assessed and analyzed, as well as of the surrounding vasculature, namely the asymmetry of P1 and the vertebral arteries.

RESULTS

Patients with basilar tip aneurysm showed no significant increase in P1 or vertebral artery asymmetry compared with the control patients or patients with aneurysms of the anterior circulation, neither was there a significant difference in asymmetry between cases with ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. Furthermore, we observed no significant correlations between P1 asymmetry and the aneurysm size or number of lobuli in the aneurysms.

CONCLUSION

We observed no significant difference in aneurysm size, rupture, or lobulation associated with P1 or vertebral artery (surrounding vasculature) asymmetry. Therefore, the asymmetry of the surrounding vessels does not seem to be a promising morphological parameter for the evaluation of probability of rupture and growth in basilar tip aneurysms in future studies.

Rupture of intracranial aneurysms in patients with blunt head trauma: Review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

With a prevalence of 1-5 %, intracranial aneurysms are common. However, only 20-50 % of these aneurysms will rupture during a person's lifetime. This often happens spontaneously without exogenous factors. In the present study we reviewed the literature concerning the relation between trauma and rupture of a pre-existing aneurysm.

METHODS

All studies that reported a causal relation between trauma and rupture of a pre-existing aneurysm were included, irrespective of study design. They were limited though to those written in English or German. Excluded were studies with traumatic aneurysms, studies where the rupture of an aneurysm lead to trauma and studies with doubts about the order of events.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies with twenty-two cases of ruptured aneurysm in context with trauma and two unpublished cases were included. Fourteen patients were involved in a fight, seven patients in a bike/motorbike/bus accident and three got hit on the head in a setting outside of interpersonal violence. The aneurysm was located in internal carotid artery in most cases (7/24). The clear majority of patients (19/24) did not survive.

CONCLUSION

Arteries and aneurysms can rupture in context with head trauma although this is rarely the case. Patients after head trauma with typical blood pattern for aneurysmal SAH in the native CT scan should receive conventional angiography to exclude a vascular or aneurysmal rupture, even when CT-angiography is inconspicuous.

Is there A Relationship between route of delivery, perinatal characteristics, and neonatal outcome in preterm birth?

Background

Preterm birth is one of the most challenging problems in obstetric care and it is closely related to perinatal mortality and morbidity. The aim of the current study was to document our experience with preterm births and to analyze the association between perinatal variables and clinical outcomes.

Methodology

In this retrospective study, data were derived from the medical records of 785 singleton preterm births delivered in the obstetrics and gynecology department of our institution. Variables under investigation were maternal and gestational ages, fetal gender, route of delivery (vaginal vs. cesarean section [C/S]), causes of preterm birth, birth weight, placental weight, umbilical cord length, and Apgar scores at the 1^st and 5^th min.

Results

Pregnant women with advanced age (≥35 years) were more likely to undergo C/S (P < 0.001). Apgar score at the 1^st and 5^th min was influenced significantly by gestational age (P < 0.001), newborn birth weight (P < 0.001), placental weight (P < 0.001), and umbilical cord length (P < 0.001). Infants delivered due to antepartum fetal distress indication had remarkably lower Apgar scores at the 1^st min and the birth weight seemed to be positively correlated with Apgar scores at both 1^st (P < 0.001) and 5^th min (P < 0.001). Apgar scores both at the 1^st and 5^th min were positively correlated with placental weight (R: 0.239 and 0.231, respectively, and P < 0.001 for both) and length of umbilical cord (R:0.228 and 0.211, respectively, and P < 0.001 for both).

Conclusion

Advanced age pregnancies have higher C/S rates, but Apgar scores are significantly correlated with infant characteristics. Umbilical cord length and placental weight might be the new add-on predictors of postpartum well-being in premature infants.