Correlation of Scoring Systems with the Requirement of an External Ventricular Drain in Intraventricular Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

External ventricular drainage (EVD) is required to resolve acute hydrocephalus associated with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). The correlation of scoring systems of IVH with indications for EVD for acute hydrocephalus related to IVH is currently unknown.

METHODS

We identified 213 hypertensive patients with IVH and divided them into 2 groups according to treatment method: 187 patients receiving blood pressure control alone and 26 patients undergoing EVD. The following patients were excluded: pediatric patients, patients undergoing intracranial hematoma removal, patients with fetal status, and patients without sufficient clinical data. We compared the Glasgow Coma Scale score, Graeb score, LeRoux score, Evans index, and bicaudate index values between the 2 groups and determined the prognostication accuracy of each scoring system.

RESULTS

There were significant differences in all 4 scoring systems between the 2 groups (P < 0.001). The cutoff values (sensitivity and specificity) of each scoring system were as follows: Glasgow Coma Scale, 8 (65.4%, 87.7%); Graeb score, 6 (80.8%, 75.4%); LeRoux score, 9 (80.8%, 76.5%); Evans index, 0.245 (80.8%, 67.9%); and bicaudate index, 0.186 (76.9%, 76.5%). The value of the area under the curve of each scoring system (95% confidence interval) was as follows: Glasgow Coma Scale, 0.806 (0.705-0.907); Graeb score, 0.852 (0.779-0.925); LeRoux score, 0.875 (0.812-0.937); Evans index, 0.788 (0.702-0.875); and bicaudate index, 0.778 (0.673-0.883).

CONCLUSIONS

The LeRoux score is better for identifying patients with IVH who are more likely to have EVD.

Adult Primary Intraventricular Hemorrhage: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes

Background  Adult primary intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) is a rare type of hemorrhagic stroke that is poorly understood. The study attempts to define the clinical profile, yield of diagnostic cerebral angiography, and prognosis of patients with PIVH.

Patients and Methods  Retrospective data analysis of all patients with PIVH admitted between February 2015 and February 2019 at a tertiary care center. Outcome was assessed using the modified Rankin scale (mRS) at 6 months.

Results and Discussion  Our study group of 30 patients constituted 3.3% (30/905) of our spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) patients in the study period. The mean Glasgow Coma Score on admission was 11 ± 3.33 and the mean IVH Graeb score was 5.2±2.4. All patients underwent angiography. Angiography detected moyamoya disease in four patients (13.3%) and aneurysms in two patients (6.6%) and these patients were managed surgically. Extraventricular drainage with intraventricular instillation of Streptokinase was performed in five patients. The rest of the patients was managed conservatively. At 6-month follow-up, 25 patients (83.33%) achieved favorable outcome (mRS score of 0.1 or 2), whereas five (16.66%) patients had a poor outcome (mRS score of 3 or more. Three patients succumbed to the illness. IVH Graeb score and presence of hydrocephalus have significant correlation with poor outcome.

Conclusion  PIVH is an uncommon entity but carries a better long-term prognosis than SICH angiography helps in diagnosing surgically remediable underlying vascular anomalies and is indicated in all cases of PIVH.

Influence of the Extent of Intraventricular Hemorrhage on Functional Outcome and Mortality in Intracerebral Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a verified independent prognostic parameter in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, the impact of the extent of IVH on clinical outcomes is unestablished.

METHODS

We analyzed 1,112 consecutive primary ICH patients of the UKER-ICH cohort (NCT03183167) and hypothesized that there is no difference in outcome between patients without IVH and patients with minor IVH not leading to obstructive hydrocephalus. Propensity score matching and multivariable analyses were performed to account for imbalances in baseline characteristics. Primary outcome was defined as functional outcome 3 months after ICH -assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) dichotomized into favorable (mRS = 0-3) and unfavorable outcome (mRS = 4-6). Secondary outcomes included mortality at 3  months and a Graeb score-based threshold analysis for association of the extent of IVH with unfavorable clinical outcome.

RESULTS

Among the 461 out of 1,112 (41.5%) ICH patients with IVH, 191 out of 461 (41.4%) showed IVH without obstructive hydrocephalus and no requirement of external ventricular drain (EVD) placement. After adjusting for baseline imbalances we found no difference in functional outcome at 3 months between patients without IVH (No-IVH) and patients with IVH not requiring EVD (IVH-w/o-EVD): mRS 0-3: No-IVH 64/161 (39.8%) vs. IVH-w/o-EVD 53/170 (31.2%); p = 0.103. However, there was a trend toward a higher mortality in IVH-w/o-EVD patients (mRS 6: No IVH 40/161 [24.8%] vs. IVH-w/o-EVD 57/170 [33.5%]; p = 0.083). Multivariable analysis revealed that a Graeb score >2 was independently associated with unfavorable outcome (mRS 4-6: OR 3.16 [1.54-6.48]; p = 0.002), and higher mortality (mRS 6: OR 2.57 [1.40-4.74]; p = 0.002) in IVH patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Small amounts of intraventricular blood (Graeb score ≤2) not leading to obstructive hydrocephalus are not associated with unfavorable outcome or death after ICH. Thus, IVH per se should not be considered a binary variable in outcome prediction for ICH patients.

Intraventricular Hemorrhage Severity as a Predictor of Outcome in Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background/Objective: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) extension after spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) is an independent predictor of worse outcome. However, there is a paucity of data looking at the degree of IVH severity and its impact on outcome. This study addresses the contribution of IVH severity to outcome at time of hospital discharge after sICH.

Methods: Two hundred and ten patients were included in the study. Baseline demographic and radiologic characteristics were abstracted. First available CT scans were reviewed for hematoma volume and location, IVH extension and presence of hydrocephalus (HCP). IVH severity was calculated using Graeb scale. Multivariate logistic regression models were developed to investigate the association of IVH severity with poor outcomes at hospital discharge, defined as modified Rankin scale score (mRS) >3.

Results: Fifty-three percent of patients had IVH extension while 18% had surgical procedures done. Poor outcome (mRS >3) was seen for 56% of patients. Median IVH extension severity on the Graeb scale was two. Presence of IVH was associated with poor outcome in univariate and multivariate analysis (p < 0.005). Compared to patients with no IVH, IVH severity influenced outcome only when Graeb scores were ≥5 (OR = 1.3, 95% CI 0.49–3.23, p = 0.63, and OR = 2.9, 95% CI, 1.1–7.6, p = 0.03 for Graeb <5 and ≥5, respectively.

Conclusions: Higher IVH severity (defined as Graeb score ≥5) is associated with worse outcome at time of hospital discharge, while lower IVH severity (Graeb scores 1–4) has similar outcomes to patients without IVH. IVH severity should be used in favor of IVH presence for prognostication purposes.

Prevalence of Shunt Dependency and Clinical Outcome in Patients with Massive Intraventricular Haemorrhage Treated with Endoscopic Washout and External Ventricular Drainage

BACKGROUND

Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) causes blockage of ventricular conduits leading to hydrocephalus, increased intracranial pressure (ICP), and a reduced level of consciousness. The current standard management of IVH is insertion of an external ventricular drainage (EVD) catheter. However, this procedure addresses only the problems of acute hydrocephalus and raised ICP. Endoscopic washout allows for a more complete removal of the intraventricular clot. This study compared these two types of treatment in terms of shunt dependency and relevant clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Patients who were 10-80 years old and presented with a Graeb score of more than six were randomised into endoscopic washout and EVD treatment groups. A CT brain was repeated on each patient within 24 hours after surgery, and if a patient's Graeb score was still more than six, a repeat endoscopic washout was performed to clear the remaining clots. All patients were monitored for shunt dependency at two weeks and three months, and clinical outcomes were measured at six months after the procedure.

RESULTS

A total of 39 patients were recruited; 19 patients were randomised into the endoscopic washout group, and 20 were randomised into the EVD group. However, three patients in the endoscopic group refused that treatment and opted for EVD insertion. Patients treated with endoscopic washout had significantly less drainage dependency at two weeks (P < 0.005) and at three months (P < 0.004) as compared to patients in the external ventricular drainage group. The reduction in Graeb scores was also significantly greater in the endoscopic washout group (P < 0.001). However, the functional outcome at six months measured via a modified Rankin scale score was no different in the two groups of patients. The difference in the functional outcome of the patients was mainly dependent on the initial pathology, with those presenting with a thalamic bleed with IVH showing a poor functional outcome. This parameter was also influenced by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on admission, with those patients with a score of 12 or less having a poor functional outcome (MRS 5-6) at three and six months after the surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of neuroendoscopy in patients with a massive IVH significantly reduced drainage dependency. However, it did not alter the final functional outcome.

Primary Intraventricular Hemorrhage: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Primary intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in adults is a rare neurologic disorder. The typical course, etiology, complications, and outcomes have not been well established.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Consecutive patient records with a diagnosis of intracerebral hemorrhage admitted between May 2009 and June 2014 at a tertiary care center were retrospectively reviewed. Subjects were included in the study cohort if all neurologists and the radiology report agreed that the subject had an isolated IVH. Patients with intraparenchymal hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, malignancy with hemorrhagic components, and hemorrhagic transformation of ischemic stroke were excluded. The electronic medical record, imaging report, and imaging studies were reviewed.

FINDINGS

Of 1692 cases reviewed, 33 (1.9%) had primary IVH. The most common presenting symptoms included altered mental status (48.5%), headache, (39.4%), and nausea (24.2%). In 36.3%, hypertension was found to be a contributing factor; 27.2% were attributed solely to hypertension. Vascular abnormalities were the primary etiology in 21.3% of patients. When observing outcomes, 61.8% were discharged home or to rehab, whereas 20.5% died or were placed in hospice care. A higher Graeb score was associated with an increased likelihood of death or hospice (8 versus 5, P = .02) CONCLUSION: This study is one of few to describe the etiology, contributing factors, and outcomes of primary IVH. As in prior studies, hypertension was a contributing factor, and vascular lesions were less common than expected. More research is necessary to further define the course and characteristics of this rare type of intracerebral hemorrhage.

Minimally invasive evacuation of intraventricular hemorrhage with the Apollo vibration/suction device

Intraventricular hemorrhages (IVH) can occur as a consequence of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, aneurysm rupture, arteriovenous malformation hemorrhage, trauma, or coagulopathy. IVH is a known risk factor for poor clinical outcome with up to 80% mortality. The current standard treatment strategy for IVH consists of the placement of an external ventricular drain. We report our early experience with using the Apollo suction/vibration aspiration system (Penumbra, Alameda, CA, USA) for minimally invasive evacuation of IVH with a review of the pertinent literature. Medical records of patients with IVH who were admitted to Rush University Medical Center, USA, from July to November 2014 were queried from the electronic database. Patients with Graeb Scores (GS) >6 were selected for minimally invasive IVH evacuation with the Apollo aspiration system. Patient demographics, pre- and post-operative GS, pre- and post-operative modified Graeb Score (mGS), as well procedure related complications were analyzed and recorded. A total of eight patients (five men) were identified during the study period. The average age was 55.5years. The mean GS was 9.6 pre-operatively and decreased to 4.9 post-operatively (p=0.0002). The mean mGS was 22.9 pre-operatively and decreased to 11.4 post-operatively (p=0.0001). Most of the IVH reduction occurred in the frontal horn and atrium of the lateral ventricle, as well the third ventricle. One (1/8) procedure-related complication occurred consisted of a tract hemorrhage. The Apollo system can be used for minimally invasive IVH evacuation to achieve significant blood clot volume reduction with minimal procedure-related complication.

Early experience in endoscopic management of massive intraventricular hemorrhage with literature review

Massive intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is nearly always associated with hydrocephalus and is often treated with prolonged external ventricular drainage (EVD); however this procedure can lead to bacterial ventriculitis and meningitis, which can worsen the clinical outcomes. Endoscopic burr hole surgery to remove the hematomas in lateral and third ventricles is an alternative treatment option. We describe the surgical techniques and benefits of endoscopic surgery for acute massive IVH in four patients and discuss the current published literature-related to this condition. Four patients were treated endoscopically for massive IVH. Three patients presented with secondary IVH due to vascular malformation, tumoral bleed and chronic hypertension, while one case presented as massive primary IVH. Endoscopic wash out and removal of hematomas was normally performed together with an endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Recombinant factor VIIa was only administered prior to surgery for IVH secondary to vascular malformation and for cases with postoperative rebleeding which required second endoscopic surgery. Weaning from ventilator and EVD commenced on day 4 postoperatively. All treated patients recovered and did not require further shunt surgery. Good outcomes obtained may be related to early removal of hematomas, creation of new cerebrospinal fluid diversion pathway after thorough wash-out, early weaning from ventilator and EVD. Endoscopic surgery is beneficial in treating poor grade IVH with Graeb score of more than 6.