Background
The use of antithrombotic agents, including anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, and thrombolytics has increased over the last decade and is expected to continue to rise. Although ...antithrombotic-associated intracranial hemorrhage can be devastating, rapid reversal of coagulopathy may help limit hematoma expansion and improve outcomes.
Methods
The Neurocritical Care Society, in conjunction with the Society of Critical Care Medicine, organized an international, multi-institutional committee with expertise in neurocritical care, neurology, neurosurgery, stroke, hematology, hemato-pathology, emergency medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and guideline development to evaluate the literature and develop an evidence-based practice guideline. Formalized literature searches were conducted, and studies meeting the criteria established by the committee were evaluated.
Results
Utilizing the GRADE methodology, the committee developed recommendations for reversal of vitamin K antagonists, direct factor Xa antagonists, direct thrombin inhibitors, unfractionated heparin, low-molecular weight heparin, heparinoids, pentasaccharides, thrombolytics, and antiplatelet agents in the setting of intracranial hemorrhage.
Conclusions
This guideline provides timely, evidence-based reversal strategies to assist practitioners in the care of patients with antithrombotic-associated intracranial hemorrhage.
BackgroundThe use of antithrombotic agents, including anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, and thrombolytics has increased over the last decade and is expected to continue to rise. Although ...antithrombotic-associated intracranial hemorrhage can be devastating, rapid reversal of coagulopathy may help limit hematoma expansion and improve outcomes.MethodsThe Neurocritical Care Society, in conjunction with the Society of Critical Care Medicine, organized an international, multi-institutional committee with expertise in neurocritical care, neurology, neurosurgery, stroke, hematology, hemato-pathology, emergency medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and guideline development to evaluate the literature and develop an evidence-based practice guideline. Formalized literature searches were conducted, and studies meeting the criteria established by the committee were evaluated.ResultsUtilizing the GRADE methodology, the committee developed recommendations for reversal of vitamin K antagonists, direct factor Xa antagonists, direct thrombin inhibitors, unfractionated heparin, low-molecular weight heparin, heparinoids, pentasaccharides, thrombolytics, and antiplatelet agents in the setting of intracranial hemorrhage.ConclusionsThis guideline provides timely, evidence-based reversal strategies to assist practitioners in the care of patients with antithrombotic-associated intracranial hemorrhage.
There is international variability in the determination of death. Death in donation after circulatory death (DCD) can be defined by the permanent cessation of brain circulation. Post‐mortem ...interventions that restore brain perfusion should be prohibited as they invalidate the diagnosis of death. Retrieval teams should develop protocols that ensure the continued absence of brain perfusion during DCD organ recovery. In situ normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) or restarting the heart in the donor's body may interrupt the permanent cessation of brain perfusion because, theoretically, collateral circulations may restore it. We propose refinements to current protocols to monitor and exclude brain reperfusion during in situ NRP. In abdominal NRP, complete occlusion of the descending aorta prevents brain perfusion in most cases. Inserting a cannula in the ascending aorta identifies inadequate occlusion of the descending aorta or any collateral flow and diverts flow away from the brain. In thoracoabdominal NRP opening the aortic arch vessels to atmosphere allows collateral flow to be diverted away from the brain, maintaining the permanence standard for death and respecting the dead donor rule. We propose that these hypotheses are correct when using techniques that simultaneously occlude the descending aorta and open the aortic arch vessels to atmosphere.
The authors present techniques to prevent the restoration of brain perfusion during in situ normothermic regional perfusion by ensuring the diversion of any possible collateral supply.
BACKGROUND—The Endovascular Treatment for Small Core and Proximal Occlusion Ischemic Stroke (ESCAPE) trial used innovative imaging and aggressive target time metrics to demonstrate the benefit of ...endovascular treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke. We analyze the impact of time on clinical outcome and the effect of patient, hospital, and health system characteristics on workflow within the trial.
METHODS AND RESULTS—Relationship between outcome (modified Rankin Scale) and interval times was modeled by using logistic regression. Association between time intervals (stroke onset to arrival in endovascular-capable hospital, to qualifying computed tomography, to groin puncture, and to reperfusion) and patient, hospital, and health system characteristics were modeled by using negative binomial regression. Every 30-minute increase in computed tomography-to-reperfusion time reduced the probability of achieving a functionally independent outcome (90-day modified Rankin Scale 0–2) by 8.3% (P=0.006). Symptom onset-to-imaging time was not associated with outcome (P>0.05). Onset-to-endovascular hospital arrival time was 42% (34 minutes) longer among patients receiving intravenous alteplase at the referring hospital (drip and ship) versus direct transfer (mothership). Computed tomography-to-groin puncture time was 15% (8 minutes) shorter among patients presenting during work hours versus off hours, 41% (24 minutes) shorter in drip-ship patients versus mothership, and 43% (22 minutes) longer when general anesthesia was administered. The use of a balloon guide catheter during endovascular procedures shortened puncture-to-reperfusion time by 21% (8 minutes).
CONCLUSIONS—Imaging-to-reperfusion time is a significant predictor of outcome in the ESCAPE trial. Inefficiencies in triaging, off-hour presentation, intravenous alteplase administration, use of general anesthesia, and endovascular techniques offer major opportunities for improvement in workflow.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION—URLhttp://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifierNCT01778335.
To evaluate primary causes of death after spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and externally validate the HAIR score, a prognostication tool, in a single academic institution.
We reviewed all ...patients with SAH admitted to our neuro-intensive care unit between 2010 and 2016. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality. The HAIR score predictors were Hunt and Hess grade at treatment decision, age, intraventricular hemorrhage, and rebleeding within 24 hours. Validation of the HAIR score was characterized with the receiver operating curve, the area under the curve, and a calibration plot.
Among 434 patients with SAH, in-hospital mortality was 14.1%. Of the 61 mortalities, 54 (88.5%) had a neurologic cause of death or withdrawal of care and 7 (11.5%) had cardiac death. Median time from SAH to death was 6 days. The main causes of death were effect of the initial hemorrhage (26.2%), rebleeding (23%) and refractory cerebral edema (19.7%). Factors significantly associated with in-hospital mortality in the multivariate analysis were age, Hunt and Hess grade, and intracerebral hemorrhage. Maximum lumen size was also a significant risk factor after aneurysmal SAH. The HAIR score had a satisfactory discriminative ability, with an area under the curve of 0.89.
The in-hospital mortality is lower than in previous reports, attesting to the continuing improvement of our institutional SAH care. The major causes are the same as in previous reports. Despite a different therapeutic protocol, the HAIR score showed good discrimination and could be a useful tool for predicting mortality.
•In-hospital mortality after SAH continues to decrease.•Direct effect of the index bleed is the leading cause of mortality after SAH.•Robust risk factors for mortality include age and Hunt and Hess grade.•The HAIR score can be a useful tool for predicting in-hospital mortality.
The effect of endovascular therapy (EVT) for large vessel occlusion stroke on cognitive outcomes is not well understood. We evaluated the effect of EVT on cognitive function in the Endovascular ...Treatment for Small Core and Anterior Circulation Proximal Occlusion With Emphasis on Minimizing CT to Recanalization Times (ESCAPE) trial.
Patient data from the ESCAPE randomized trial were analyzed. Cognitive assessments completed at 90 days after stroke were the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Sunnybrook Neglect Assessment Procedure (SNAP), the Boston Naming Test (BNT), Trail-making test A (Trails A), and Trail-making test B (Trails B). We used logistic regression to evaluate the association between EVT and favorable cognitive outcome on the 5 separate tests, adjusting for demographic and clinical factors. We used generalized estimating equations and ordinal regression to determine the odds of favorable outcome with EVT on global cognition incorporating the 5 tests. We added final infarct volume (FIV) to the models to assess the relationship of FIV with cognitive outcome.
The ESCAPE trial included 315 patients, 165 randomized to EVT and 150 randomized to control. There was higher odds of favorable outcome with EVT for MoCA (adjusted odds ratio aOR 2.32, 95% CI 1.30-4.16), SNAP (aOR 3.85, 95% CI 2.00-7.45), BNT (aOR 2.33, 95% CI 1.30-4.17), trails A (aOR 3.50, 95% CI 1.93-6.36), and trails B (aOR 2.56, 95% CI 1.46-4.48). There was higher odds of favorable outcome with EVT on global binary (aOR 2.57, 95% CI 1.67-3.94) and ordinal analyses (aOR 2.83, 95% CI 1.68-4.76) of cognitive function. After adding FIV to the models, both FIV and EVT were significantly associated with cognitive outcome. There was a significant correlation between global cognitive performance and mRS at day 90 (
= -0.78,
< 0.001), with the largest reductions in favorable cognitive outcome from mRS score 4 to 5 and from mRS 2 to 3.
In this secondary analysis of the ESCAPE trial, EVT was associated with favorable outcome on 5 separate cognitive tests and in global analyses of cognitive benefit. These results provide novel evidence for the effect of EVT on cognition and support the global benefit of treatment with EVT.
This study provides Class II evidence that in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) or M1 segment MCA occlusion, including tandem extracranial ICA occlusions, EVT compared with best medical therapy increased odds of favorable cognitive outcome.
Administering analgesics, sedatives and antipsychotics is challenging in the Neurological Intensive Care Unit (NICU). We reviewed this literature and our current practice to better inform the ...critical care practitioner and to identify gaps for future research. We electronically searched observational, intervention and outcome studies addressing sedation, analgesia and delirium in the NICU, and their bibliographies. Practice patterns were assessed in three critical care units with specialized neurological care in Montreal. Bedside pain assessment tools are psychometrically validated in the neuro-critically ill but sedation and delirium tools are not. Rigorous pain and sedation assessments appear feasible; delirium screening has not been tested. Publications addressing outcomes and responses to pharmacologic treatment lack consistency, rigor or both. In daily practice, pharmacologic management varies greatly. Clearly, little information exists on analgesia, sedation and delirium in the NICU. Systematic evaluation of pain improves outcome. No evidence-based therapeutic recommendations can be proffered.
Abstract Purpose The purpose of the study was to perform a systematic review of the literature on the use of ketamine in nontraumatic neurological illness and its effects on intracranial pressure ...(ICP). Materials and methods Articles from MEDLINE, BIOSIS, EMBASE, Global Health, HealthStar, Scopus, Cochrane Library, the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (inception to January 2014), and gray literature were searched. Two reviewers identified manuscripts on the administration of ketamine in nontraumatic neurological illness that recorded effects on ICP. The strength of evidence was adjudicated using the Oxford and Grading of Recommendation Assessment Development and Education (GRADE) methodology. Results Our search produced a total of 179 citations. Sixteen articles, 15 manuscripts, and 1 meeting proceeding were included in the review. Across all studies, there were 127 adult and 87 pediatric patients described. Intracranial pressure did not increase in any of the adult studies reporting premedication during ketamine administration, with 2 studies reporting a decrease in ICP. No significant non–ICP-related adverse events from ketamine were recorded in any of the studies. Conclusions There exists Oxford level 2b, GRADE C evidence in adults and level 4, GRADE C in pediatrics to support that ketamine does not increase ICP in nontraumatic neurological illness when patients are sedated and ventilated, and in fact may lower it in selected cases.
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