Search

Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) with reduced cerebral perfusion pressure is a well-known cause of secondary brain injury. Previously, there have been some reports describing different supra- and infratentorial ICP measurements depending on the location of the mass effect. Therefore, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify the issue of optimal ICP monitoring in the infratentorial mass lesion. A literature search of electronic databases (PUBMED, EMBASE) was performed from January 1969 until February 2021 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. Two assessors are independently screened for eligible studies reporting the use of simultaneous ICP monitoring in the supra- and infratentorial compartments. For quality assessment of those studies, the New Castle Ottawa Scale was used. The primary outcome was to evaluate the value of supra- and infratentorial ICP measurement, and the secondary outcome was to determine the time threshold until equalization of both values. Current evidence surrounding infratentorial ICP measurement was found to be low to very low quality according to New Castle Ottawa Scale. Eight studies were included in the systematic review, four of them containing human subjects encompassing 27 patients with infratentorial pathology. The pooled data demonstrated significantly higher infratentorial ICP values than supratentorial ICP values 12 h after onset (p < 0.05, 95% CI 3.82-5.38) up to 24 h after onset (p < 0.05; CI 1.14-3.98). After 48-72 h, both ICP measurements equilibrated showing no significant difference. Further, four studies containing 26 pigs and eight dogs showed a simultaneous increase of supra- and infratentorial ICP value according to the increase of supratentorial mass volume; however, there was a significant difference towards lower ICP in the infratentorial compartment compared to the supratentorial compartment. The transtentorial gradient leads to a significant discrepancy between supra- and infratentorial ICP monitoring. Therefore, infratentorial ICP monitoring is warranted in case of posterior fossa lesions for at least 48 h., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a cancer type with high thrombogenic potential and GBM patients are therefore at a particularly high risk for thrombotic events. To date, only limited data on anticoagulation management after pulmonary embolism (PE) in GBM is available and the sporadic use of DOACs remains off-label. A retrospective cohort analysis of patients with GBM and postoperative, thoracic CT scan confirmed PE was performed. Clinical course, follow-up at 6 and 12 months and the overall survival (OS) were evaluated using medical charts and neuroradiological data. Out of 584 GBM patients, 8% suffered from postoperative PE. Out of these, 30% received direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and 70% low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for therapeutic anticoagulation. There was no significant difference in major intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), re-thrombosis, or re-embolism between the two cohorts. Although statistically non-significant, a tendency to reduced mRS at 6 and 12 months was observed in the LMWH cohort. Furthermore, patients receiving DOACs had a statistical benefit in OS. In our analysis, DOACs showed a satisfactory safety profile in terms of major ICH, re-thrombosis, and re-embolism compared to LMWH in GBM patients with postoperative PE. Prospective, randomized trials are urgent to evaluate DOACs for therapeutic anticoagulation in GBM patients with PE., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Recently, Oslo grading system (OGS) for prediction of recurrence in chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) was introduced. The aim of the study was to validate and if applicable to modify the grading system. Data of all patients admitted to the Goethe University Hospital between 2016 and 2018 with chronic subdural hematoma were prospectively entered into a database. Dataset of patients with uni- (n = 272) and bilateral cSDH (n = 177) were used for the validation of OGS via logistic regression analysis. Additional predictors were identified and integrated to build a modified OGS (mOGS). Internal validation of the modified OGS was performed using same dataset of patients. The OGS showed a significant good predictive value with correlating increase of recurrence rate depending on the level of score in unilateral cSDH (p = 0.002). Regarding bilateral cSDH, there was no significant predictive value found (p = 0.921). By performing uni- and multivariate analysis, additional predictors for recurrence in uni- and bilateral cSDH were identified and integrated into the score system. Accordingly, the mOGS for unilateral cSDH inherited 4 components: previous OGS with 3 components (OR1.6) and seizure (OR2.5) (0 point, 0% recurrence rate; 1-2 points, 17.4%; 3-4 points, 30.6%; ≥ 5 points, 80%). Regarding bilateral cSDH, the mOGS consisted of 4 components as well: hypodense/gradation subtypes (OR3.3), postoperative unilateral volume > 80 mL (OR7.4), postoperative unilateral air trapping > 80 mL (OR15.3), and seizure (OR5.5) (0 point, 3.6% recurrence rate; 1 point, 30.6%; 2 points, 53.5%; 3 points, 58.3%; ≥ 4 points, 100%). Furthermore, the mOGS was internally verified showing high significant predictive power for recurrent hematoma in uni- (p = 0.004) and bilateral cSDH (p < 0.001). External validation of OGS showed accurate risk stratification of recurrence in unilateral cSDH; however, the validation failed for bilateral cSDH. Thus, mOGS was developed to strengthen its clinical utility and applicability.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) due to deep vein thrombosis is a complication with severe morbidity and mortality rates. Neurocritical care patients constitute an inhomogeneous cohort with often strict contraindications to conventional embolism treatment. The aim of the present study is to identify risk factors for pulmonary embolism for intensified risk stratification in this demanding cohort. In this retrospective analysis, 387 neurocritical care patients received computed tomography for clinical suspicion of PE (304 neurosurgical and 83 neurological patients). Analysed parameters included age, gender, disease pattern, the presence of deep vein thrombosis, resuscitation, in-hospital mortality, present anticoagulation, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, smoking status, hypertension and ABO blood type. Computed tomography confirmed 165 cases of pulmonary embolism among 387 patients with clinical suspicion of pulmonary embolism (42%). Younger age (p < 0.0001), female gender (p < 0.006), neurooncological disease (p < 0.002), non-O blood type (p < 0.002) and the absence of Marcumar therapy (p < 0.003) were identified as significant risk factors for pulmonary embolism. On the basis of the identified risk factors, the AMBOS score system is introduced. Neurocritical care patients with high AMBOS score are at elevated risk for PE and should therefore be put under intensified monitoring for cardiovascular events in neurocritical care units.

The surgical management of hydrocephalus in patients with posterior fossa lesions (PFL) is critical for optimal patient outcome(s). Accordingly, it is prudent to identify patients in need of aggressive surgical intervention (i.e., ventriculoperitoneal [VP] shunting). To analyze prevalence of, and risk factors associated with, the development of post-operative hydrocephalus in both pediatrics and adults. A retrospective institutional analysis and review of patient records in those who had undergone PFL surgery was performed. In so doing, the authors identified patients that went on to develop post-operative hydrocephalus. The study included pediatric and adult patients treated between 2009 and 2017. Fifteen of 40 pediatric (37.5%) and 18 of 262 adult (6.9%) patients developed hydrocephalus after PFL surgery. The most common tumor entity in pediatrics was medulloblastoma (34%), astrocytoma (24.4%), and pilocytic astrocytoma (22%), whereas in adults, metastasis (29.5%), meningioma (22%), and acoustic neuroma (17.8%) were most common. Young age ≤ 2 years, medulloblastoma (OR 13.9), and brain stem compression (OR 5.4) were confirmed as independent predictors for hydrocephalus in pediatrics and pilocytic astrocytoma (OR 15.4) and pre-operative hydrocephalus (OR 3.6) in adults, respectively. All patients received VP shunts for hydrocephalus management and the mean follow-up was 29.5 months in pediatrics vs 19.2 months in adults. Overall complication rates related to VP shunts were 33.3% in pediatrics and 16.7% in adults, respectively. Shunt dependency and associated complications in pediatrics were noted to be higher than in adults. Given the identification of predictors for hydrocephalus, it is authors' contention that certain patients with those predictors may ultimately benefit from an alternative treatment regimen (e.g., pre-operative interventions) prior to PFT surgery.

We previously introduced a novel noninvasive technique of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in children with open fontanelles. Within this study, we describe the first clinical implementation and results of this new technique in management of children with hydrocephalus caused by intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). In neonates with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH), an Ommaya reservoir was implanted for initial treatment of hydrocephalus. The ICP obtained noninvasively with our new device was measured before and after CSF removal and correlated to cranial ultra-sonographies. Six children with a mean age of 27.3 weeks and mean weight of 1082.3 g suffering from PHH were included in this study. We performed an overall of 30 aspirations due to ventricular enlargement. Before CSF removal, the mean ICP was 15.3 mmHg and after removal of CSF the mean ICP measured noninvasively decreased to 3.4 mmHg, p = 0.0001. The anterior horn width (AHW), which reflects early expansion of the ventricles, was before and after CSF removal 15.1 mm and 5.5 mm, respectively, p < 0.0006. There was a strong correlation between noninvasively measured ICP values and sonographically obtained AHW, r = 0.81. Ultimately, all children underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt procedures. This is the first study providing proof for a noninvasively ICP-based approach for management of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in newborn children.