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Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages,complication and mortality rates of percutaneous and surgical tracheostomy procedures performed in patients in neuro-intensive care unit (neuro-ICU). Materials and Methods: The study was carried out retrospectively in neuro-ICU. Patients' demographic characteristics, comorbidities, reasons for hospitalization, ICU scores at admission [Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evluation 2 (APACHE 2) score and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score], intubation period (days), length of stay in ICU, procedural complications, mortality rates, modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores at discharge and 3rd month were evaluated. Surgical and percutaneous tracheostomy results were compared. Laryngeal mask airway (LMA), bronchoscopy, and tube withdrawal procedures used in percutaneous tracheostomy were compared as well. Results: Fifty five patients were included in the study. Of the patients, 60.0% were male. Mean age was 71.4+-11.8 years. The APACHE 2 score was 25.4+-4.8 and SOFA score was 8.1+-2.7 at admission to ICU. Mean number of intubation days of the patients was 20.7+-11.8, and mean length of stay in ICU was 33.1+-13.0 days. Tracheostomy procedure was successful in 53 (96.4%) patients, complications were encountered in 5 (9.1%) patients among all (succesful and unsuccessful) intervention groups. Mortality was seen in 23 (41.8%) patients. Three-month mRS was 5 in 32 (%58.2) patients. Duration of stay in ICU, intubation period (days), and time between intensive care hospitalization and tracheostomy (days) in surgery group were significantly longer compared to percutaneous tracheostomy group. No statistically significant difference was observed in comparison of different groups such as LMA, tube withdrawal, bronchoscopy in patients undergoing percutaneous tracheostomy. Conclusion: In the study in which we compared the surgical and percutaneous tracheostomy results, no statistically significant difference was found in the complication rates and mRS score at discharge of the two groups. In-hospital mortality rate, which was defined as mRS 6, was observed to be higher in patients who underwent surgical tracheostomy. Because of the rapid application of the procedure at the bedside in patients for whom percutaneous tracheostomy was preferred, it was observed that the length of stay in the neuro-ICU and the number of days followed up with intubation were reduced.

Objective: Status epilepticus (SE) is one of the severe neurological emergencies with significant morbidity and mortality. Most of the time these patients require admission to intensive care units. There is little information about health-economy related burden of SE and potential factors affecting cost except for developed Western countries, especially from the perspective of non-convulsive SE (NCSE). Materials and Methods: We included all consecutive patients diagnosed as having NCSE with continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) in our neurological intensive care unit (NICU) between 2009 and 2019. Demographic and clinical features were collected from patient files. Total cost during NICU care was obtained from hospital financial records. The results were compared with other NICU patients (control group) followed during the same period for the same length of stay. We also investigated the potential impact of several parameters on cost. Results: Thirty two patients with NCSE and 32 controls were included. Mean cost per patient was 11,831 US dollars (USD) in the study and 11,240 USD in the control group (p=0.386). Increased length of stay (p

Abstract Our aim was to determine the prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) and to identify relevant factors associated with the occurrence of the most dangerous or contraindicated pDDIs (pCDDIs) in hospitalized patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed enrolling all consecutive patients with sICH treated at the Neurological Intensive Care Unit, Clinical Center in Kragujevac, Serbia, during the three-year period (2012-2014). The inclusion criteria encompassed patients aged 18 years and over, those diagnosed with ICH, and those prescribed at least two drugs during hospitalization, while we did not include patients whose hospitalization lasted less than 7 days, those who were diagnosed with other neurological diseases and patients with incomplete medical files. For each day of hospitalization, the online checker Micromedex® software was used to identify pDDIs and classify them according to severity. A total of 110 participants were analysed. A high prevalence of pDDIs (98.2%) was observed. The median number of pDDIs regardless of severity, was 8.00 (IQR 4.75-13.00;1-30). The pairs of drugs involving cardiovascular medicines were the most commonly identified pDDIs. Twenty percent of the total number of participants was exposed to pCDDIs. The use of multiple drugs from different pharmacological-chemical subgroups and the prescribing of anticoagulant therapy significantly increase the chance of pCDDI (aOR with 95% CI 1.19 (1.05-1.35) and 7.40 (1.13-48.96), respectively). This study indicates a high prevalence of pDDIs and pCDDIs in patients with sICH. The use of anticoagulant therapy appears to be the only modifiable clinically relevant predictor of pCDDIs.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the neurology and intensive care training of neurology specialists who have started and/or completed intensive care subspecialty training and their views on neurological intensive care organizations. Materials and Methods: All neurology specialists who have started and/or completed intensive care subspecialty training were invited to contribute a 30 question survey via e-mail or text message from mobile phone, which contained a link to the online questionnaire form. Results: There are 29 neurology specialists in Turkey who have started and/or completed intensive care subspecialty training, and all of these specialists completed the survey. Of the neurologists, 12 reported that they completed the intensive care subspecialty training, 12 continued their intensive care subspecialty training, and 5 left the training process. Of the neurologists, 86.2% stated that they wanted to work in neurological intensive care units, 79.3% stated that neurological and neurosurgical intensive care units should be combined, 75.9% stated that they could work in these common intensive care units. However, it was determined that none of the 12 neurology-based intensive care specialists could work in the neurological intensive care units. Conclusion: Studies have shown that providing neurocritical care services, neurological intensive care units and neurointensivists could improve clinical outcomes in patients with neurocritical illnesses. In our study, neurology-based intensive care specialists reported that they could not work in neurological intensive care units. Worldwide neurointensivists cared for only a fifth of patients in neurological intensive care units. Neurointensivists need to manage neurological intensive care units to improve patient outcomes both in the world and in Turkey.

Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in the US. Rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke, in addition to efficacious rehabilitation, is invaluable. The present review aims to report the recent improvements in hybrid operating rooms (hybrid ORs), and in the organization of Neurological intensive care unit (NICUs) and dedicated stroke wards (SWs), which contribute to enhanced stroke treatment. A PubMed literature review was conducted in addition to the collection of other online media releases regarding recent organizational advances in stroke care. PubMed keywords included but were not limited to “neurological intensive care unit,” “hybrid operating room,” and “stroke ward,” while all other online information regarding recent advances in the physical organization was selected and synthesized in accord with its relevance. The current research indicates that hybrid ORs facilitate surgical innovation and improved patient care through the colocation of advanced imaging modalities and surgical capabilities. Moreover, the recent reorganization of NICUs and SWs may lead to better-quality initial treatment and rehabilitation. The present review also considers the current ER triage protocol for stroke patients, and it concludes with relevant considerations relating to the role of the physical hospital structure and organization in stroke care.

Objective: To describe the causes of intubation in patients who have been diagnosed with middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) by evaluating the clinical and radiologic features in the neurological intensive care unit (NICU). Materials and Methods: The patients with MCA infarction who required MV in the NICU were evaluated retrospectively. All patients’ age, sex, risk factors of stroke, lesion topography, etiology and treatment of stroke, cause of intubation, percentage of extubation, death/discharge status were recorded. Results: It is found that between June 1st, 2009, and December 31st, 2015, 91 patients with stroke with MCA infarction were mechanically ventilated in the NICU. Fifty patients were intubated with neurologic causes and 40 patients needed intubation due to cardiopulmonary problems. One patient was treated in the NICU after surgery for a diaphragmatic hernia. Conclusion: The patients with MCA infarction who are followed up on a mechanical ventilator have poor prognosis. This group of patients constitutes elderly individuals who are at risk for vascular and organ failure. Their follow-up must be conducted in NICUs.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of early seizures, the affecting factors, and the prognostic effect of seizures in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and sinus venous thrombosis (SVT) examined in the intensive care unit (ICU). Materials and Methods: In the neurology ICU, the records of patients followed up with AIS, ICH, and SVT within a defined time period were retrospectively examined. Results: Early seizures occurred in 48 out of 199 patients who were followed up with AIS, ICH, and SVT in the neurology ICU within the specified time period. The frequency of having early seizures was found to be higher in patients with left hemisphere lesions, cortical lesions, and those with AIS with hemorrhagic transformation. Lesion volume was found to be higher in patients with AIS who had early seizures compared with those who had AIS without seizures. Early seizures were observed in all patients with SVT who were followed up in the ICU. Conclusion: Early seizures are a common complication in patients with stroke followed up in neurology ICUs. Determination of effective factors in early seizures is important for its early diagnosis and treatment

Objective: Nosocomial infections (NI) are serious threats for patients, especially those treated in intensive care units (ICU), which have high risk. Therefore, determining the infectious agents in this area and treating the infections are crucial for both the prognosis of primary disease and the time of stay in hospital. In this study, we aimed to perform an active infection surveillance in the neurological ICU (NICU). Materials and Methods: Two hundred ninety-one patients who stayed in NICU over a twelve-month period were included in the study. Data obtained by infection control committee of our faculty according to “Centres for Disease Control and Prevention” diagnostic criteria were used for the diagnosis of NI. Isolated microorganisms and their systemic involvement were examined. Results: The infections in NICU constituted 6.39% of all NI in the hospital. These were skin and soft tissue infections (3.13%), bloodstream infections (9.38%), pneumonia not associated with mechanical ventilator (9.38%), pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilator (6.25%), and urinary tract infections (UTI) (71.88%). Fourteen different microorganisms were determined in the unit over the twelve months. Conclusion: Caution is advised regarding urinary catheter insertion and care because catheters are the most common cause of infection, UTI, in the ICU. Also, diagnosis of NI and determining the antibiotic sensitivity of the causal microorganisms are very important for the determination of empiric treatment and reducing mortality and morbidity

Since the last 20 years, entry of neurointensive care units (NICU) has provided a significant increase of survival rate and quality of post-ICU life of the patients with life-threatening neurological and neurosurgical catastrophies. Therefore, NICU has become a fundamental part of contemporary third-level hospitals or reference centers. Because extensiveness of specific examination, monitoring and treatment techniques and methods unique to neurology makes impossible to manage critical neurological patients in “General” ICUs instead of NICUs, the number of proponent stating that national health authorities “should” not only establish more and improve NICUs in all reference hospitals, but also (re)organize a transport and referral system to get the patients in need of NICU care to these hospitals is progressively increasing. As mandated by modern critical care paradigm, the proposed plan and strategy can be suggested as a “sine aqua non” for avoiding ethicolegal problems.

Since the last 20 years, entry of neurointensive care units (NICU) has provided a significant increase of survival rate and quality of post-ICU life of the patients with life-threatening neurological and neurosurgical catastrophies. Therefore, NICU has become a fundamental part of contemporary third-level hospitals or reference centers. Because extensiveness of specific examination, monitoring and treatment techniques and methods unique to neurology makes impossible to manage critical neurological patients in “General” ICUs instead of NICUs, the number of proponent stating that national health authorities “should” not only establish more and improve NICUs in all reference hospitals, but also (re)organize a transport and referral system to get the patients in need of NICU care to these hospitals is progressively increasing. As mandated by modern critical care paradigm, the proposed plan and strategy can be suggested as a “sine aqua non” for avoiding ethicolegal problems