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Background/objective: Mild obesity is associated with a survival benefit in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Only a few studies have analyzed the effect of obesity on outcomes after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and none have used a national US database. We sought to determine whether or not obesity was associated with outcomes and in-hospital complications following ICH., Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used to identify patients with ICH in the USA who were discharged between 2002 and 2011. The presence of obesity (body mass index [BMI] 30-39.9) or morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 40) was noted. The primary outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes included non-routine discharge disposition, tracheostomy or gastrostomy placement, length of stay (LOS), inflation-adjusted hospital charges, and in-hospital complications., Results: A total of 123,415 patients with ICH met the inclusion criteria, and the 10-year overall incidence of obesity was 4.5%. Between 2002 and 2011, the incidence of obesity increased from 1.9 to 4.4% and the incidence of morbid obesity increased from 0.7 to 3.2%. Both obese (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.56-0.69) and morbidly obese (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.66-0.88) patients had lower odds of inpatient mortality. Obese (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.78-0.93) but not morbidly obese patients had lower odds of non-routine discharge. Morbidly obese patients were twice as likely to require a tracheostomy than non-obese patients (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.62-2.66). Both obese and morbidly obese patients had higher total hospital charges and rates of pulmonary, renal, and venous thromboembolic complications. There was no difference in LOS according to body habitus., Conclusions: In patients with spontaneous ICH, obesity is associated with decreased in-hospital mortality but higher rates of in-hospital complications and greater total hospital charges. Non-morbid obesity carries lower odds of non-routine hospital discharge.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most severe complications in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is considered a risk factor for poor outcomes. However, the incidence of VAP among patients with TBI reported in studies varies widely. What is more, the risk factors and outcomes of VAP are controversial. This study estimates the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of VAP in patients with TBI and provides evidence for prevention and treatment. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched from the earliest records to May 2018. Data involving the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes were extracted for meta-analysis. The results showed that the incidence of VAP was 36% (95% confidence interval (CI) 31-41%); risk factors analyses showed that smoking [odds ratio (OR) 2.13; 95% CI 1.16-3.92], tracheostomy (OR 9.55; 95% CI 3.24-28.17), blood transfusion on admission (OR 2.54; 95% CI 1.24-5.18), barbiturate infusion (OR 3.52; 95% CI 1.68-7.40), injury severity score (OR 4.65; 95% CI 1.96-7.34), and head abbreviated injury scale (OR 2.99; 95% CI 1.66-5.37) were related to the occurrence of VAP. When patients developed VAP, mechanical ventilation time (OR 5.45; 95% CI 3.78-7.12), ICU length of stay (OR 6.85; 95% CI 4.90-8.79), and hospital length of stay (OR 10.92; 95% CI 9.12-12.72) were significantly increased. However, VAP was not associated with an increased risk of mortality (OR 1.28; 95% CI 0.74-2.21). VAP is common in patients with TBI. It is affected by a series of factors and has a poor prognosis.

Background/objective: Severe acute brain injury (SABI) is responsible for 12 million deaths annually, prolonged disability in survivors, and substantial resource utilization. Little guidance exists regarding indication or optimal timing of tracheostomy after SABI. Our aims were to determine national trends in tracheostomy utilization among mechanically ventilated patients with SABI in the USA, as well as to examine factors associated with tracheostomy utilization following SABI., Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study using the National Inpatient Sample from 2002 to 2011. We identified adult patients with SABI, defined as a primary diagnosis of stroke, traumatic brain injury or post-cardiac arrest who received mechanical ventilation for greater than 96 h. We analyzed trends in tracheostomy utilization over time and used multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression to analyze factors associated with tracheostomy utilization., Results: There were 94,082 hospitalizations for SABI during the study period, with 30,455 (32%) resulting in tracheostomy utilization. The proportion of patients with SABI who received a tracheostomy increased during the study period, from 28.0% in 2002 to 32.1% in 2011 (p < 0.001). Variation in tracheostomy utilization was noted based on patient and facility characteristics, including higher odds of tracheostomy in large hospitals (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.18-1.53, p < 0.001, compared to small hospitals), teaching hospitals (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.06-1.25, p = 0.001, compared to non-teaching hospitals), and urban hospitals (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.33-1.92, p < 0.001, compared to rural hospitals)., Conclusions: Tracheostomy utilization has increased in the USA among patients with SABI, with wide variation by patient and facility-level factors.

Background: Data regarding who will require tracheostomy are lacking which may limit investigations into therapeutic effects of early tracheostomy., Methods: We performed an observational study of adult traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission for ≥ 72 h and mechanical ventilation for ≥ 24 h between January 2014 and December 2014 at a level 1 trauma center. Patients who had life-sustaining measures withdrawn were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess admission and inpatient factors associated with receiving a tracheostomy and to develop predictive models. Inpatient complications prior to day 7 were used to standardize data collection for patients with and without tracheostomy. Patients who received tracheostomy prior to day 7 were excluded from analysis., Results: In total, 209 patients (78% men, mean 48 years old, median Glasgow Coma Scale score (GCS) 8) met study criteria with tracheostomy performed in 94 (45%). Admission predictors of tracheostomy included GCS, chest tube, Injury Severity Score, and Marshall score. Inpatient factors associated with tracheostomy included the requirement for an external ventricular drain (EVD), number of operations, inpatient dialysis, aspiration, GCS on day 5, and reintubation. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the number of operation room trips (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.75; 95% CI, 1.04-2.97; P = 0.036), reintubation (AOR, 8.45; 95% CI, 1.91-37.44; P = .005), and placement of an EVD (AOR, 3.48; 95% CI, 1.27-9.58; P = .016) were independently associated with patients undergoing tracheostomy. Higher GCS on hospital day 5 (AOR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.40-0.68; P < 0.001) was protective against tracheostomy. A model of inpatient variables only had a stronger association with tracheostomy than one with admission variables only (ROC AUC 0.93 vs 0.72, P < 0.001) and did not benefit from the addition of admission variables (ROC AUC 0.93 vs 0.92, P = 0.78)., Conclusion: Potentially modifiable inpatient factors have a stronger association with tracheostomy than do admission characteristics. Multicenter studies are needed to validate the results.

Background: The goal of this study was to investigate the association of tracheostomy timing with outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in a national population., Methods: Poor-grade aneurysmal SAH patients were extracted from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2002-2011). Multivariable linear regression was used to analyze predictors of tracheostomy timing and multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of timing of intervention with mortality, complications, and discharge to institutional care. Covariates included patient demographics, comorbidities, severity of subarachnoid hemorrhage (measured using the NIS-SAH severity scale), hospital characteristics, and other complications and length of stay., Results: The median time to tracheostomy among 1380 poor-grade SAH admissions was 11 (interquartile range: 7-15) days after intubation. The mean number of days from intubation to tracheostomy in SAH patients at the hospital (p < 0.001) was the strongest predictor of tracheostomy timing for a patient, while comorbidities and SAH severity were not significant predictors. Mortality, neurologic complications, and discharge disposition did not differ significantly by tracheostomy time. However, later tracheostomy (when evaluated continuously) was associated with greater odds of pulmonary complications (p = 0.004), venous thromboembolism (p = 0.04), and pneumonia (p = 0.02), as well as a longer hospitalization (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis only found these associations between tracheostomy timing and medical complications in patients with moderately poor grade (NIS-SAH severity scale 7-9), while there were no significant differences by timing of intervention in very poor-grade patients (NIS-SAH severity scale > 9)., Conclusions: In this analysis of a large, national data set, variation in hospital practices was the strongest predictor of tracheostomy timing for an individual. In patients with moderately poor grade, later tracheostomy was independently associated with pulmonary complications, venous thromboembolism, pneumonia, and a longer hospitalization, but not with mortality, neurological complications, or discharge disposition. However, tracheostomy timing was not significantly associated with outcomes in very poor-grade patients.

Background: There is a lack of data describing the risk factors for extubation failure (EF) or tracheostomy placement in pediatric neurocritical care (NCC) patients., Methods: A retrospective chart review of children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit who were intubated for >24 h with an acute neurocritical illness and had an extubation attempt. Bivariate and multivariate statistical analysis was performed to determine significant associations of demographic, neurologic, pulmonary, and clinical variables with EF and tracheostomy placement. Analysis of predictive factors for EF (within 48 h) and tracheostomy placement during the hospitalization was conducted on a first extubation attempt group (n = 193) and a second attempt group (n = 23) who experienced either EF or a "late re-intubation" (>48 h-7 days)., Results: Traumatic brain injury (37.3%) and seizures/status epilepticus (31.4%) were the most common diagnoses with neuromuscular weakness patients having the highest risk for EF and tracheostomy placement. EF occurred in 20/193 (10.4%) patients after their first attempt and 6/23 (26.1%) after a second attempt. Compared to those with a fair/strong cough, patients with a weak/absent cough had a relative risk (RR) of 9.4 for EF (95% CI, 4.9-17.9, p < 0.001) and 6.7 (95% CI, 2.3-18.9, p = 0.01) for tracheostomy placement on the first and second attempts, respectively. Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), endotracheal tube (ETT) secretion characteristics, and pulmonary variables were not associated with EF or tracheostomy placement., Conclusions: A weak/absent cough reflex is associated with an increased risk of failing extubation and placement of a tracheostomy in intubated pediatric NCC patients.

Background: Tracheostomy is performed in ventilated stroke patients affected by persisting severe dysphagia, reduced level of consciousness, or prolonged mechanical ventilation. The study aim was to determine the frequency and predictors of successful decannulation and long-term functional outcome in tracheotomized stroke patients., Methods: A prospective single-center observational study recruited ventilated patients with ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Follow-up visits were performed at hospital discharge, 3, and 12 months. Competing risk analyses were performed to identify predictors of decannulation., Results: We included 53 ventilated stroke patients who had tracheostomy. One year after tracheostomy, 19 patients were decannulated (median [IQR] time to decannulation 74 [58-117] days), 13 patients were permanently cannulated, and 21 patients died without prior removal of the cannula. Independent predictors for decannulation in our cohort were patient age (HR 0.95 [95% CI: 0.92-0.99] per one year increase, p = 0.003) and absence of sepsis (HR 4.44 [95% CI: 1.33-14.80], p = 0.008). Compared to surviving patients without cannula removal, decannulated patients had an improved functional outcome after one year (median modified Rankin Scale score 4 vs. 5 [p < 0.001]; median Barthel index 35 vs. 5 [p < 0.001])., Conclusions: Decannulation was achieved in 59.4% of stroke patients surviving the first 12 months after tracheostomy and was associated with better functional outcome compared to patients without decannulation. Further prospective studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm our results.

Background: Nosocomial pneumonia (NP) is a frequent complication among spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) patients. This study was aimed at identifying in-hospital risk factors that predispose sICH patients to NP., Methods: We identified 591 consecutive sICH subjects admitted to six tertiary care hospitals between 2008 and 2012. Information regarding patients' demographics, admission data, laboratory tests, medical history, diagnostic imaging, in-hospital treatments, complications, and outcomes were collected. Using a competing risks analysis, we assessed risk factors associated with NP., Results: Mean age of the subjects was 68 years; 51 % were female and 76 % were white. One-hundred sixteen (19.6 %) of the sICH patients had NP. In the univariate analysis, variables including age, non-white race, early hospital admission (<6 h after onset), larger hematoma volume, basal ganglia or intraventricular hemorrhage, multisite hemorrhage, in-hospital aspiration, intubation, nasogastric tube placement, hematoma evacuation, high ICH score, ventricular drainage, and tracheostomy had a positive association with NP. However, in the multivariate analysis, only early hospital admission, in-hospital aspiration, intubation, and tracheostomy remained statistically significant predictors (p < 0.05). For patients who survived hospitalization, the median length-of-stay (LOS) with or without NP was 20.0 and 4.0 days, respectively (p < 0.0001). For patients who did not survive to discharge, the median LOS with or without NP was 10.5 and 2.0 days, respectively (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Independent predictors of NP included early hospital admission, in-hospital aspiration, intubation, and tracheostomy. NP was associated with prolonged hospital LOS.

Background: The influence of tracheostomy timing on outcome after severe head injury remains controversial., Methods: The investigation was based on data prospectively collected by the Pennsylvania Trauma Society Foundation statewide trauma registry from January 1990 until December 2005., Results: 3,104 patients met criteria for inclusion in the study (GCS ≤ 8 and tracheostomy). Early Tracheostomy Group (ETG) patients, defined as tracheostomy performed during hospital days 1-7, were more likely to be functionally independent at discharge (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.45, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.16-1.82, P = 0.001) and have a shorter length of stay (adjusted OR 0.23, 95% CI, 0.20-0.28, P < 0.0001). However, Late Tracheostomy Group (LTG) patients, defined as tracheostomy performed >7 days after admission, were approximately twice as likely to be discharged alive (adjusted OR 2.12, 95% CI, 1.60-2.82, P < 0.0001). Using a Composite Outcome Scale, which combined these three measures, there was a non-significant trend toward a higher likelihood of a poor outcome in LTG patients. When this analysis was repeated using only those patients in relatively good condition on admission, LTG patients were found to be approximately 50% less likely to have a good outcome (adjusted OR 0.46, 95% CI, 0.28-0.73, P = 0.001) when compared to ETG patients., Conclusions: These results indicate a complex relationship between tracheostomy timing and outcome, but suggest that a strategy of early tracheostomy, particularly when performed on patients with a reasonable chance of survival, results in a better overall clinical outcome than when the tracheostomy is performed in a delayed manner.