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Objective: Risk factors for mortality in patients with subdural hematoma (SDH) include poor Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, pupil nonreactivity, and hemodynamic instability on presentation. Little is published regarding prognosticators of SDH in the elderly. This study aims to examine risk factors for hospital mortality and withdrawal of life-sustaining measures in an octogenarian population presenting with SDH., Methods: A prospectively collected multicenter database of 3279 traumatic brain injury admissions to 45 different U.S. trauma centers between 2017 and 2019 was queried to identify patients aged >79 years old presenting with SDH. Factors collected included baseline demographic data, past medical history, antiplatelet/anticoagulant use, and clinical presentation (GCS, pupil reactivity, injury severity scale [ISS]). Primary outcome data included hospital mortality/discharge to hospice care and withdrawal of life-sustaining measures. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors independently associated with primary outcome variables., Results: A total of 695 patients were isolated for analysis. Of the total cohort, the rate of hospital mortality or discharge to hospice care was 22% (n = 150) and the rate of withdrawal of life-sustaining measures was 10% (n = 66). A multivariate logistic regression model identified GCS <13, pupil nonreactivity, increasing ISS, intraventricular hemorrhage, and neurosurgical intervention as factors independently associated with hospital mortality/hospice. Congestive heart failure (CHF), hypotension, GCS <13, and neurosurgical intervention were independently associated with withdrawal of life-sustaining measures., Conclusions: Poor GCS, pupil nonreactivity, ISS, and intraventricular hemorrhage are independently associated with hospital mortality or discharge to hospice care in patients >80 years with SDH. Pre-existing CHF may further predict withdrawal of life-sustaining measures., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an independent predictor of clinical outcome of different diseases, such as acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, malignant tumor, and traumatic brain injury. However, the prognostic value of NLR plus admission Glasgow Coma Scale score (NLR-GCS) is still unclear in patients with diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Therefore this study assessed the relationship between the NLR-GCS and 6-month outcome of DAI patients., Methods: The clinical characteristics of DAI patients admitted to our department between January 2014 and January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The candidate risk factors were screened by using univariate analysis, and the independence of resultant risk factors was evaluated by the binary logistic regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis. The predictive value of NLR-GCS in an unfavorable outcome was assessed by the receiver operating characteristics curve analysis., Results: A total of 93 DAI patients were included. Binary logistic regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis showed the level of NLR on admission was an independent risk factor of unfavorable outcomes in DAI patients. The ROC curve analysis showed that the predictive capacity of the combination of NLR and admission GCS score and combination of NLR and coma duration outperformed NLR, admission GCS score, and coma duration alone., Conclusions: The higher NLR level on admission is independently associated with unfavorable outcomes of DAI patients at 6 months. Furthermore, the combination of NLR and admission GCS score provides the superior predictive capacity to either NLR or GCS alone., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Progression of intracranial hemorrhage (PICH) is a significant cause of secondary brain injury in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Previous studies have implicated a variety of mediators that contribute to PICH. We hypothesized that patients with PICH would display either a hypocoagulable state, hyperfibrinolysis, or both. We conducted a prospective study of adult trauma patients with isolated TBI. Blood was obtained for routine coagulation assays, platelet count, fibrinogen, thrombelastography, markers of thrombin generation, and markers of fibrinolysis at admission and 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. Univariate analyses were performed to compare baseline characteristics between groups. Linear regression models were created, adjusting for baseline differences, to determine the relationship between individual assays and PICH. One hundred forty-one patients met entry criteria, of whom 71 had hemorrhage progression. Patients with PICH had a higher Injury Severity Score and Abbreviated Injury Scale score (head), a lower Glasgow Coma Scale score, and lower plasma sodium on admission. Patients with PICH had higher D-dimers on admission. After adjusting for baseline differences, elevated D-dimers remained significantly associated with PICH compared to patients without PICH at admission. Hypocoagulation was not significantly associated with PICH in these patients. The association between PICH and elevated D-dimers early after injury suggests that fibrinolytic activation may contribute to PICH in patients with TBI.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In these low-resource settings, effective triage of patients with TBI-including the decision of whether or not to perform neurosurgery-is critical in optimizing patient outcomes and healthcare resource utilization. Machine learning may allow for effective predictions of patient outcomes both with and without surgery. Data from patients with TBI was collected prospectively at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, from 2016 to 2019. One linear and six non-linear machine learning models were designed to predict good versus poor outcome near hospital discharge and internally validated using nested five-fold cross-validation. The 13 predictors included clinical variables easily acquired on admission and whether or not the patient received surgery. Using an elastic-net regularized logistic regression model (GLMnet), with predictions calibrated using Platt scaling, the probability of poor outcome was calculated for each patient both with and without surgery (with the difference quantifying the "individual treatment effect," ITE). Relative ITE represents the percent reduction in chance of poor outcome, equaling this ITE divided by the probability of poor outcome with no surgery. Ultimately, 1766 patients were included. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCs) ranged from 83.1% (single C5.0 ruleset) to 88.5% (random forest), with the GLMnet at 87.5%. The two variables promoting good outcomes in the GLMnet model were high Glasgow Coma Scale score and receiving surgery. For the subgroup not receiving surgery, the median relative ITE was 42.9% (interquartile range [IQR], 32.7% to 53.5%); similarly, in those receiving surgery, it was 43.2% (IQR, 32.9% to 54.3%). We provide the first machine learning-based model to predict TBI outcomes with and without surgery in LMICs, thus enabling more effective surgical decision making in the resource-limited setting. Predicted ITE similarity between surgical and non-surgical groups suggests that, currently, patients are not being chosen optimally for neurosurgical intervention. Our clinical decision aid has the potential to improve outcomes.

Purpose: To develop and validate a model for identifying the risk factors of poor recovery in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH)., Methods: A prediction model was developed using training data obtained from 1577 aSAH patients from multiple centers. The patients were followed for 6 months on average and assessed using the modified Rankin Scale; patient information was collected with a prospective case report form. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression were applied to optimize factor selection for the poor recovery risk model. Multivariable logistic regression, incorporating the factors selected in the previous step, was used for model predictions. Predictive ability and clinical effectiveness of the model were evaluated using C-index, receiver operating characteristic curve, and decision curve analysis. Internal validation was performed using the C-index, taking advantage of bootstrapping validation., Results: The predictors included household income per capita, hypertension, smoking, migraine within a week before onset, Glasgow Coma Scale at admission, average blood pressure at admission, modified Fisher score at admission, treatment method, and complications. Our newly developed model made satisfactory predictions; it had a C-index of 0.796 and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.784. The decision curve analysis showed that the poor recovery nomogram was of clinical benefit when an intervention was decided at a poor recovery threshold between 2% and 50%. Internal validation revealed a C-index of 0.760., Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the novel poor recovery nomogram may be conveniently used for risk prediction in aSAH patients. For patients with intracranial aneurysms, migraine needs to be vigilant. Quitting smoking and blood pressure management are also beneficial., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Management of spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage (SCH) has been scarcely reported, and controversies still exist regarding their surgical management., Methods: We performed a retrospective review of the Rambam Medical Center registry. All cases with a SCH, operated or not, were reviewed. Basic patient parameters, clinical status on admission and imaging results, management and outcome measures were evaluated. Parameters were compared between the operated and unoperated groups, and assessed for their correlation to patient death within 12 months. When operated, patients underwent Suboccipital craniectomy (SOC), insertion of an external ventricular drain (EVD) or both., Results: 57 patients were treated for SCH in the years 2005-2017. 20 patients (35.09%) died during their original admission. 16 were discharged in non-functional status. In total, 36 patients died within 12 months of their admission. Only 21 patients (36.84%) were alive one year after their bleed. The following parameters were correlated to death in the entire cohort: older age, larger hematoma size, hydrocephalus, brainstem compression by the bleed and outcome status. The unoperated patients were younger, and had a lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on admission. Death within 12 months occurred in 69.77% of the operated patients, but only 42.86% of the unoperated patients, p = 0.10. Unfavorable outcome was found in 36% of the unoperated group and 72% of the operated group, p = 0.024., Conclusion: SCH carries a grim prognosis in both operated and unoperated patients. Roughly one third of patients in our series died during their admission and another third were either vegetative or severely disabled on discharge., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Subdural hygroma (SDG) represents a common complication following decompressive craniectomy (DC). To our knowledge we present the first meta-analysis investigating the role of clinical and technical factors in the development of SDG after DC for traumatic brain injury. We further investigated the impact of SDG on the final prognosis of patients. The systematic review of the literature was done according to the PRISMA guidelines. Two different online medical databases (PubMed/Medline and Scopus) were screened. Four articles were included in this meta-analysis. Data regarding age, sex, trauma dynamic, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), pupil reactivity and CT scan findings on admission were collected for meta-analysis in order to evaluate the possible role in the SDG formation. Moreover we studied the possible impact of SDG on the outcome by evaluating the rate of patients dead at final follow-up and the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at final follow-up. Among the factors available for meta-analysis only the basal cistern involvement on CT scan was associated with the development of a SDG after DC (p < 0.001). Moreover, patients without SDG had a statistically significant better outcome compared with patients who developed SDG after DC in terms of GOS (p < 0.001). The rate of patients dead at follow-up was lower in the group of patients without SDH (8.25%) compared with patients who developed SDG (11.51%). SDG after DC is a serious complication affecting the prognosis of patients. Further studies are needed to define the role of some adjustable technical aspect of DC in preventing such a complication., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

As a catabolic product of hemoglobin, bilirubin has been confirmed playing an important role in the development of various central nervous system disease. The aim of this study is to explore the correlation between serum bilirubin level and mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).Patients admitted with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in our hospital between January 2015 and January 2018 were enrolled in this study. Clinical and laboratory data of 361 patients were retrospectively collected to explore the independent risk factors of mortality.The comparison of baseline characteristics showed that non-survivors had lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) (P < .001) and higher level of serum total bilirubin (TBIL) (P < .001) and direct bilirubin (DBIL) (P < .001). We found that only GCS (P < .001), glucose (P < .001), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (P = .042) and DBIL (P = .005) were significant risk factors in multivariate logistic regression analysis. GCS and DBIL had comparable AUC value (0.778 vs 0.750, P > .05) on predicting mortality in TBI patients. The AUC value of the combination of GCS and DBIL is higher than the single value of these two factors (P < .05). Moreover, predictive model 1 consisted of GCS, glucose, LDH and DBIL had the highest AUC value of 0.894.DBIL is a significant risk factor of mortality in TBI patients. Assessing the level of DBIL is beneficial for physicians to evaluate severity and predict outcome for TBI patients.

Nonlinear physiological signal features that reveal information content and causal flow have recently been shown to be predictors of mortality after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The extent to which these features interact together, and with traditional measures to describe patients in a clinically meaningful way remains unclear. In this study, we incorporated basic demographics (age and initial Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS]) with linear and non-linear signal information based features (approximate entropy [ApEn], and multivariate conditional Granger causality [GC]) to evaluate their relative contributions to mortality using cardio-cerebral monitoring data from 171 severe TBI patients admitted to a single neurocritical care center over a 10 year period. Beyond linear modelling, we employed a decision tree analysis approach to define a predictive hierarchy of features. We found ApEn ( p  = 0.009) and GC ( p  = 0.004) based features to be independent predictors of mortality at a time when mean intracranial pressure (ICP) was not. Our combined model with both signal information-based features performed the strongest (area under curve = 0.86 vs. 0.77 for linear features only). Although low "intracranial" complexity (ApEn-ICP) outranked both age and GCS as crucial drivers of mortality (fivefold increase in mortality where ApEn-ICP <1.56, 36.2% vs. 7.8%), decision tree analysis revealed clear subsets of patient populations using all three predictors. Patients with lower ApEn-ICP who were >60 years of age died, whereas those with higher ApEn-ICP and GCS ≥5 all survived. Yet, even with low initial intracranial complexity, as long as patients maintained robust GC and "extracranial" complexity (ApEn of mean arterial pressure), they all survived. Incorporating traditional linear and novel, non-linear signal information features, particularly in a framework such as decision trees, may provide better insight into "health" status. However, caution is required when interpreting these results in a clinical setting prior to external validation.

Background: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is characterized by a highly heterogenous profile in terms of pathophysiology, clinical presentation and outcome., Objective: This is the first population study investigating the epidemiology and outcomes of moderate-to-severe TBI in Cyprus. Patients treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Nicosia General Hospital, the only Level 1 Trauma Centre in the country, were recruited between January 2013 and December 2016., Methods: This was an observational cohort study, using longitudinal methods and six-month follow-up. Patients (N = 203) diagnosed with TBI were classified by the Glasgow Coma Scale at the Emergency Department as moderate or severe., Results: Compared to international multicentre studies, the current cohort demonstrates a different case mix that includes older age, more motor vehicle collisions and lower mortality rates. There was a significantly higher proportion of injured males. Females were significantly older than males. There were no sex differences in the type, severity or place of injury. Sex did not yield differences in mortality or outcomes or on injury indices predicting outcomes. In contrast, older age was a predictor of higher mortality rates and worse outcomes., Conclusion: Trends as described in the study emphasize the importance of continuous evaluation of TBI epidemiology and outcome in different countries.

Objectives: To investigate the risk factors in the development of pneumonia and its impact on outcome after primary intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH)., Methods: This is a single-center retrospective study including consecutive patients with PIVH admitted to West China Hospital from 2010 to 2016. Pneumonia was defined according to the modified Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria within 7 days after PIVH onset. Poor outcome (modified Rankin score ≥3) and mortality at discharge and at 90 days were analyzed., Results: Among the included 174 patients, pneumonia occurred in 13 (7.5%) patients. Patients with pneumonia had lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score (P = 0.001) and greater Graeb score (P = 0.001) at admission, presented more often with acute hydrocephalus (P = 0.04) and greater rates with stroke history (P = 0.002), and harbored greater admission blood glucose (P = 0.01) and absolute neutrophil counts (P = 0.02). In a multivariable analysis, only GCS score and stroke history were independent predictors of pneumonia after PIVH. The patients with pneumonia had longer duration of hospital stay (P = 0.002) and poorer outcome (P = 0.02) at 90 days. However, after adjustment for confounders, pneumonia after PIVH was not an independent predictor of poor outcome at 90 days., Conclusions: GCS score and stroke history were independent predictors of pneumonia development after PIVH. Pneumonia after PIVH was associated with longer duration of hospital stay and poorer outcome at 90 days., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Effective and sustainable pediatric trauma care requires systems of regionalization and interfacility transfer. Avoidable transfer, also known as secondary overtriage, occurs when a patient is transferred to a regional trauma center after initial evaluation at another facility that is capable of providing definitive care. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for avoidable transfer among pediatric trauma patients in southwest Florida., Methods: All pediatric trauma patients 2 years and older transferred from outlying hospitals to the emergency department of a single state-designated pediatric trauma center between 2009 and 2017 were obtained from the institutional registry. Transfers were classified as avoidable if the patient suffered only minor injuries (International Classification of Diseases-9th Rev. Injury Severity Score > 0.9), did not require invasive procedures or intensive care unit monitoring, and was discharged within 48 hours. Demographics and injury characteristics were compared for avoidable and nonavoidable transfers. Logistic regression was used to estimate the independent effects of age, sex, insurance type, mechanism of injury, diagnosis, within region versus out-of-region residence, suspected nonaccidental trauma, and abnormal Glasgow Coma Scale score on the risk of avoidable transfer., Results: A total of 3,876 transfer patients met inclusion criteria, of whom 1,628 (42%) were classified as avoidable. Among avoidable transfers, 29% had minor head injuries (isolated skull fractures, concussions, and mild traumatic brain injury not otherwise specified), and 58% received neurosurgery consultation. On multivariable analysis, the strongest risk factors for avoidable transfer were diagnoses of isolated skull fracture or concussion. Suspected nonaccidental trauma was predictive of nonavoidable transfer., Conclusion: Among injured children 2 years and older, those with minor head injuries were at greatest risk for avoidable transfer. Many were transferred because of a perceived need for evaluation by a pediatric neurosurgeon. Future projects seeking to reduce avoidable transfers should focus on children with isolated skull fractures and concussions, in whom there is no suspicion of nonaccidental trauma., Level of Evidence: Therapeutic/care management, level IV.

Objective: To analyze serum levels of S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and interleukin (IL)-6 in pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to assess their relationship with clinical outcome., Methods: To measure biomarkers, peripheral venous blood was collected within 6 hours and 1 week after TBI. Initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores and Glasgow Outcome Scale scores 6 months after the trauma were used to evaluate clinical outcome., Results: Median serum levels of S100B (178.12 pg/mL), NSE (16.54 ng/mL), and IL-6 (15.48 pg/mL) at admission decreased significantly 1 week after TBI to 40.86 pg/mL, 5.85 ng/mL, and 8.63 pg/mL. In the group with poor GCS scores, serum S100B and NSE levels both at admission and 1 week after TBI were significantly higher than levels in the group with good GCS scores. Serum S100B and NSE levels 1 week after injury in patients with unfavorable 6-month outcomes were significantly higher than levels 1 week after injury in patients with favorable outcomes., Conclusions: Serum levels of S100B, NSE, and IL-6 decreased 1 week after injury. Serum levels of S100B and NSE at admission were related to initial GCS scores, and these levels 1 week after TBI were related to 6-month Glasgow Outcome Scale scores. Thus, serial measurements of serum S100B and NSE, but not IL-6, may help assess brain damage and clinical outcome of pediatric patients with TBI., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a commonly encountered neurosurgical pathology that frequently requires operative intervention. With an increasing ageing demographic, more elderly and comorbid patients will present with symptomatic CSDH. This study evaluated clinical and radiologic factors to create a scoring system to aid prognostication., Methods: A cohort of patients undergoing evacuation of CSDH at a single institution was established from 2010 to 2015. Primary endpoint was a dichotomized score on a modified Rankin Scale score at 1-year follow-up (favorable outcome score 0-1; unfavorable outcome score 2-6). Logistic regression analyses were performed to model determinants related to outcome. A prediction rule for diagnosing poor postoperative prognosis with unfavorable modified Rankin Scale score was developed with the obtained results., Results: Logistic regression analyses showed that age >75 years, midline shift >10 mm, and hematoma thickness >30 mm were significantly associated with unfavorable outcome (age >75 years: odds ratio [OR] 0.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.001-0.01; midline shift 11-20 mm: OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.04-0.88; midline shift >20 mm: OR 0.03, 95% CI 0.002-0.41; hematoma thickness >30 mm: OR 0.07, 95% CI 0.01-0.46). A scoring system was designed using the final fitted multivariate model. A minimum score of 3 is feasible, indicating worst prognosis, and maximum score of 13 is feasible, indicating best prognosis. A score of ≥9 showed favorable outcome. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to predict favorable versus unfavorable outcomes with the sensitivity analysis yielding an excellent model discrimination with an area under curve of 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.98., Conclusions: A scoring system has been devised to predict outcome, which can aid in the necessity of surgery in certain patient demographics., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Clinical outcome after traumatic diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is difficult to predict. In this study, three magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences were used to quantify the anatomical distribution of lesions, to grade DAI according to the Adams grading system, and to evaluate the value of lesion localization in combination with clinical prognostic factors to improve outcome prediction. Thirty patients (mean 31.2 years ±14.3 standard deviation) with severe DAI (Glasgow Motor Score [GMS] <6) examined with MRI within 1 week post-injury were included. Diffusion-weighted (DW), T2*-weighted gradient echo and susceptibility-weighted (SWI) sequences were used. Extended Glasgow outcome score was assessed after 6 months. Number of DW lesions in the thalamus, basal ganglia, and internal capsule and number of SWI lesions in the mesencephalon correlated significantly with outcome in univariate analysis. Age, GMS at admission, GMS at discharge, and low proportion of good monitoring time with cerebral perfusion pressure <60 mm Hg correlated significantly with outcome in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed an independent relation with poor outcome for age (p = 0.005) and lesions in the mesencephalic region corresponding to substantia nigra and tegmentum on SWI (p = 0.008). We conclude that higher age and lesions in substantia nigra and mesencephalic tegmentum indicate poor long-term outcome in DAI. We propose an extended MRI classification system based on four stages (stage I-hemispheric lesions, stage II-corpus callosum lesions, stage III-brainstem lesions, and stage IV-substantia nigra or mesencephalic tegmentum lesions); all are subdivided by age (≥/<30 years)., Competing Interests: Author Disclosure Statement No competing financial interests exist.

Severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are associated with a high rate of mortality and disability. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonography permits a noninvasive measurement of cerebral blood flow. The purpose of this study is to determine the usefulness of TCD in patients with severe TBI. TCD was performed, from April 2008 to April 2013, on 255 patients with severe TBI, defined as a Glasgow Coma Scale score of ≤8 on admission. TCD was performed on hospital days 1, 2, 3, and 7. Hypoperfusion was defined by having two out of three of the following: 1) mean velocity (Vm) of the middle cerebral artery <35 cm/sec, 2) diastolic velocity (Vd) of the middle cerebral artery <20 cm/sec, or 3) pulsatility index (PI) of >1.4. Vasospasm was defined by the following: Vm of the middle cerebral artery >120 cm/sec and/or a Lindegaard index (LI) >3. One hundred fourteen (45%) had normal measurements. Of these, 92 (80.7%) had a good outcome, 6 (5.3%) had moderate disability, and 16 (14%) died, 4 from brain death. Seventy-two patients (28%) had hypoperfusion and 71 (98.6%) died, 65 from brain death, and 1 patient survived with moderate disability. Sixty-nine patients (27%) had vasospasm, 31 (44.9%) had a good outcome, 16 (23.2%) had severe disability, and 22 (31.9%) died, 13 from brain death. The vasospasm was detected on hospital day 1 in 8 patients, on day 2 in 23 patients, on day 3 in 22 patients, and on day 7 in 16 patients. Patients with normal measurements can be expected to survive. Patients with hypoperfusion have a poor prognosis. Patients with vasospasm have a high incidence of mortality and severe disability. TCD is useful in determining early prognosis.

OBJECTIVE The incidence of posttraumatic ventriculomegaly (PTV) and shunt-dependent hydrocephalus after nonaccidental head trauma (NAHT) is unknown. In the present study, the authors assessed the timing of PTV development, the relationship between PTV and decompressive craniectomy (DC), and whether PTV necessitated placement of a permanent shunt. Also, NAHT/PTV cases were categorized into a temporal profile of delay in admission and evaluated for association with outcomes at discharge. METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed the cases of patients diagnosed with NAHT throughout a 10-year period. Cases in which sequential CT scans had been obtained (n = 28) were evaluated for Evans' index to determine the earliest time ventricular dilation was observed. Discharge outcomes were assessed using the King's Outcome Scale for Childhood Head Injury score. RESULTS Thirty-nine percent (11 of 28) of the patients developed PTV. A low admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score predicted early PTV presentation (within < 3 days) versus a high GCS score (> 1 week). A majority of PTV/NAHT patients presented with a subdural hematoma (both convexity and interhemispheric) and ischemic stroke, but subarachnoid hemorrhage was significantly associated with PTV/NAHT (p = 0.011). Of 6 patients undergoing a DC for intractable intracranial pressure, 4 (67%) developed PTV (p = 0.0366). These patients tended to present with lower GCS scores and develop ventriculomegaly early. Only 2 patients developed hydrocephalus requiring shunt placement. CONCLUSIONS PTV presents early after NAHT, particularly after a DC has been performed. However, the authors found that only a few PTV/NAHT patients developed shunt-dependent hydrocephalus.

Traditionally seen as a sudden, brutal event with short-term impairment, traumatic brain injury (TBI) may cause persistent, sometimes life-long, consequences. While mortality after TBI has been reduced, a high proportion of severe TBI survivors require prolonged rehabilitation and may suffer long-term physical, cognitive, and psychological disorders. Additionally, chronic consequences have been identified not only after severe TBI but also in a proportion of cases previously classified as moderate or mild. This burden affects the daily life of survivors and their families; it also has relevant social and economic costs.Outcome evaluation is difficult for several reasons: co-existing extra-cranial injuries (spinal cord damage, for instance) may affect independence and quality of life outside the pure TBI effects; scales may not capture subtle, but important, changes; co-operation from patients may be impossible in the most severe cases. Several instruments have been developed for capturing specific aspects, from generic health status to specific cognitive functions. Even simple instruments, however, have demonstrated variable inter-rater agreement.The possible links between structural traumatic brain damage and functional impairment have been explored both experimentally and in the clinical setting with advanced neuro-imaging techniques. We briefly report on some fundamental findings, which may also offer potential targets for future therapies.Better understanding of damage mechanisms and new approaches to neuroprotection-restoration may offer better outcomes for the millions of survivors of TBI.

Purpose: This report describes the development and preliminary analysis of a database for traumatically injured military service members with dysphagia., Methods: A multidimensional database was developed to capture clinical variables related to swallowing. Data were derived from clinical records and instrumental swallow studies, and ranged from demographics, injury characteristics, swallowing biomechanics, medications, and standardized tools (e.g., Glasgow Coma Scale, Penetration-Aspiration Scale). Bayesian Belief Network modeling was used to analyze the data at intermediate points, guide data collection, and predict outcomes. Predictive models were validated with independent data via receiver operating characteristic curves., Results: The first iteration of the model (n = 48) revealed variables that could be collapsed for the second model (n = 96). The ability to predict recovery from dysphagia improved from the second to third models (area under the curve = 0.68 to 0.86). The third model, based on 161 cases, revealed "initial diet restrictions" as first-degree, and "Glasgow Coma Scale, intubation history, and diet change" as second-degree associates for diet restrictions at discharge., Conclusion: This project demonstrates the potential for bioinformatics to advance understanding of dysphagia. This database in concert with Bayesian Belief Network modeling makes it possible to explore predictive relationships between injuries and swallowing function, individual variability in recovery, and appropriate treatment options., (Reprint & Copyright © 2016 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.)

Objective: Lateral brain displacement has been associated with loss of consciousness and poor outcome in a range of acute neurologic disorders. We studied the association between lateral brain displacement and awakening from acute coma., Methods: This prospective observational study included all new onset coma patients admitted to the Neurosciences Critical Care Unit (NCCU) over 12 consecutive months. Head computed tomography (CT) scans were analyzed independently at coma onset, after awakening, and at follow-up. Primary outcome measure was awakening, defined as the ability to follow commands before hospital discharge. Secondary outcome measures were discharge Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), modified Rankin Scale, Glasgow Outcome Scale, and hospital and NCCU lengths of stay., Results: Of the 85 patients studied, the mean age was 58 ± 16 years, 51% were female, and 78% had cerebrovascular etiology of coma. Fifty-one percent of patients had midline shift on head CT at coma onset and 43 (51%) patients awakened. In a multivariate analysis, independent predictors of awakening were younger age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.039, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.002-1.079, p = 0.040), higher GCS score at coma onset (OR = 1.455, 95% CI = 1.157-1.831, p = 0.001), nontraumatic coma etiology (OR = 4.464, 95% CI = 1.011-19.608, p = 0.048), lesser pineal shift on follow-up CT (OR = 1.316, 95% CI = 1.073-1.615, p = 0.009), and reduction or no increase in pineal shift on follow-up CT (OR = 11.628, 95% CI = 2.207-62.500, p = 0.004)., Interpretation: Reversal and/or limitation of lateral brain displacement are associated with acute awakening in comatose patients. These findings suggest objective parameters to guide prognosis and treatment in patients with acute onset of coma., (© 2015 American Neurological Association.)

Disease classification is central to the practice of medicine; it systematizes clinical knowledge and experience. Classification is essential for diagnosis and effective treatment of human disease. Progress in classifying traumatic brain injury (TBI) for targeted treatment has lagged behind other diseases such as cancer, and has contributed to a lack of progress in the field. Today TBI is most frequently classified as mild, moderate, or severe using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). However, the GCS is symptoms-based and does not allow for targeting of specific pathology. Here we review general schemas for disease classification and how they have evolved over time. We discuss the characteristics of an ideal classification system and the unique challenges inherent to achieving such a system for TBI. Current means of classifying TBI are reviewed, as are the strengths and limitations of these approaches. Generating the data required to modernize TBI classification and to perhaps facilitate a targeted, precision medicine approach to its management will require a highly collaborative international effort. Fortunately these efforts are underway and will benefit from the lessons and tools that have come from other areas of medicine that have already found success with this approach., (© 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Data on determinants of prognosis after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in young adults are scarce. Our aim was to identify clinical determinants of prognosis after ICH in adults aged 18-50. We investigated 98 consecutive patients with an ICH, aged 18-50 years, admitted to our hospital between 1980 and 2010. Collected ICH characteristics included presenting symptoms, etiology, location, severity and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Outcomes were case-fatality (death within 30 days), poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale >2), long-term mortality and recurrent ICH. We assessed discriminatory power of factors associated with case-fatality [area under receiver operating curve (AUC)]. Case-fatality was 20.4 % (n = 20) and well predicted by the GCS (AUC 0.83). Among 30-day survivors, a poor functional outcome at discharge was present in 51.3 %. During a mean follow-up of 11.3 years mortality was only increased in patients aged 40-50 years [standardized mortality ratio 4.8 (95 % CI 2.3-8.6)], but not in patients aged 18-40 years. Recurrent ICH occurred in 6 patients [10-year cumulative incidence 12.2 % (95 % CI 1.5-22.9 %)], all with the index ICH attributable to structural vascular malformations. Prognosis after ICH in young adults is poor, mainly due to high case-fatality, that is well predicted by the GCS. An exception is 30-day survivors <40 years, who have a similar risk of dying as the general population. Recurrence risk is especially present in patients with structural vascular malformations, whereas risk seems to be very low in other patients.

Objectives: The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is used commonly for assessing patients' neurologic condition and outcome in intensive care units (ICUs); however, its reliability in cardiac surgical patients has been questioned. It has been claimed that active sedation is the cause of its unsuitability for these patients. This study aimed to compare the accuracy of GCS in cardiac surgical patients with and without active sedation to find out if the inapplicability of GCS in surgical patients is related to active sedation., Design: This was an observational cohort study., Setting: The study was conducted in a cardiac surgical intensive care unit between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2009., Participants: All consecutive adult cardiac surgical patients were included in this study., Interventions: All types of cardiac surgical procedures performed during the study period were included without any exceptions. The study population was divided into 2 groups: sedated and non-sedated., Measurements and Main Results: GCS was calculated daily for the first 7 postoperative days. The authors developed a new 4-point neurologic descriptor (ND): (1) neurologically free, (2) ICU psychosis, (3) actively sedated, and (4) documented focal neurologic deficits. The accuracy of both scales (GCS and ND) at predicting ICU mortality was compared by replacing the GCS in the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score with the new ND, producing a modified SOFA. GCS was not an accurate outcome predictor in non-sedated or sedated patients. The ND was superior to GCS. Correspondingly, the modified SOFA showed a significantly higher accuracy of ICU-mortality prediction than the original SOFA., Conclusions: Regardless of active sedation, GCS is not accurate at outcome prediction for cardiac surgical patients. The suggested ND is a simple and more accurate risk stratification variable in cardiac surgical ICUs., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Since 1974, the Glasgow Coma Scale has provided a practical method for bedside assessment of impairment of conscious level, the clinical hallmark of acute brain injury. The scale was designed to be easy to use in clinical practice in general and specialist units and to replace previous ill-defined and inconsistent methods. 40 years later, the Glasgow Coma Scale has become an integral part of clinical practice and research worldwide. Findings using the scale have shown strong associations with those obtained by use of other early indices of severity and outcome. However, predictive statements should only be made in combination with other variables in a multivariate model. Individual patients are best described by the three components of the coma scale; whereas the derived total coma score should be used to characterise groups. Adherence to this principle and enhancement of the reliable practical use of the scale through continuing education of health professionals, standardisation across different settings, and consensus on methods to address confounders will maintain its role in clinical practice and research in the future., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To define the incidence of new contralateral intracranial lesions following decompressive hemicraniectomy for blunt traumatic brain injury, and explore the potential association with metabolic factors that contribute to coagulopathy., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records and imaging of all patients treated with hemicraniectomy for blunt traumatic brain injury at our institution from May 2007 up to and including January 2012., Results: Twenty patients were identified during the time period to have undergone decompressive craniectomy for blunt head injury. The average age and Glasgow Coma Scale on presentation was 44.1 years (range: 19 – 72 years) and 6.5 (range: 3 – 14) respectively. All but one patient presented with an extra-axial hematoma as their surgical indication for craniectomy. Seven patients (35.0%) developed new contralateral lesions post-craniectomy. The average peri-operative pH, bicarbonate (HCO₃) and hematocrit (HCT) levels for those with new contralateral lesions were lower than those without new lesions. Five of the seven patients (71.4%) with new lesions had abnormalities on their laboratory results that have been know to be attributable to coagulopathy, with four (57.1%) having two or more abnormal results. Eight of 13 (61.5%) patients without new lesion had laboratory abnormalites, with five (38.5%) having two or more abnormalities identified., Conclusions: The incidence of new contralateral lesions post-craniectomy for blunt head injury is 35.0% in our experience. There is an association between the metabolic derangements linked to trauma related coagulopathy and the formation of new lesions.

This study applied multiscale entropy analysis to investigate the correlation between the complexity of intracranial pressure waveform and outcome after traumatic brain injury. Intracranial pressure and arterial blood pressure waveforms were low-pass filtered to remove the respiratory and pulse components and then processed using a multiscale entropy algorithm to produce a complexity index. We identified significant differences across groups classified by the Glasgow Outcome Scale in intracranial pressure, pressure-reactivity index and complexity index of intracranial pressure (P < 0.0001; P = 0.001; P < 0.0001, respectively). Outcome was dichotomized as survival/death and also as favourable/unfavourable. The complexity index of intracranial pressure achieved the strongest statistical significance (F = 28.7; P < 0.0001 and F = 17.21; P < 0.0001, respectively) and was identified as a significant independent predictor of mortality and favourable outcome in a multivariable logistic regression model (P < 0.0001). The results of this study suggest that complexity of intracranial pressure assessed by multiscale entropy was significantly associated with outcome in patients with brain injury.

Background: Conservative management of extradural hematomas (EDH) is relatively recent in the literature and there are few papers reporting on the pediatric population., Objective: We conduct a 20-month assessment of the treatment administered for EDH at a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)., Methods: A retrospective case series in the period described above. The main variables studied were the weight and age of the patients, the Pediatric Trauma Score, the mechanism of injury, clinical features, CT findings and the Glasgow Coma Scale score on arrival, and after 12 and 24 h. Also analyzed was whether during primary care either surgical intervention or initial conservative management was recommended., Results: In the 20 months analyzed, 33 EDH patients were admitted to the PICU. Patients had a mean age of 7.42 ± 4.66 years, mean weight of 31.16 ± 16.16 kg and mean Pediatric Trauma Scores of 7.03 ± 3.71. Out of the total sample, surgery was indicated in 12 patients (36.4%) in primary care and 21 patients (63.6%) were treated with initial conservative management. Most of the patients who were given conservative treatment had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15 on arrival and maintained this level throughout the hospital stay. The most prevalent sites of the hematomas were the temporal and parietal regions and the most common associated injury was skull fracture., Conclusion: In this case series, conservative treatment of EDH was most frequent; however, which factors are involved in this decision has to be better studied., (Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: The ability to provide an accurate prognosis for children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) would be useful for the children's families and the caregivers. In this study we examined whether an appropriate mathematical model can predict survival in this patient population., Methods: Data from the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) TBI registry was analyzed. First, a series of univariate logistic regressions was performed to ascertain the significance of individual predictors, such as age, maximum Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, maximum head injury Abbreviated Injury Scores (AIS) and the Injury Severity Score (ISS). Second, a multinomial logistic regression was fitted using only individually significant predictors and inmodel predictor significance, and interactions were tested. Only two significant predictors were kept in the final model. This final model was subsequently used to predict survival for each individual patient using the n-1 training set (i.e. Lachenbruch's leave-one-out method). The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) method was used to ascertain specificity-sensitivity trade-offs at different probability cut-offs in order to predict survival., Results: Only the maximum GCS and head injury AIS remained significant, both individually and in the polynomial logistic regression. Empiric ROC curve analyses from leave-one-out survival predictions showed statistical significance (area under the curve = 0.87, Z = 6.8, p < 0.001). Only 12% of cases were misclassified using the 'best' cut-off., Conclusion: An outcome predictive model for pediatric TBI can be devised using an appropriate mathematical model. It may help to estimate expected outcomes in pediatric TBI more objectively., (Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: To assess the depressant effects of alcohol on the level of consciousness of patients admitted with head injuries, this study examined the changes that occur in the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of traumatic brain injury patients over time., Methods: The records of 269 head trauma patients consecutively admitted to the neurosurgery intensive care unit were examined retrospectively. Eighty-one patients were excluded because of incomplete data. The remaining 188 patients were further divided into an intoxicated group (blood alcohol concentration [BAC] ≥ 0.08%, n = 100 [53%]) and a nonintoxicated group (BAC <0.08%, n = 88 [47%]). The GCS in the prehospital setting, in the emergency department, and the highest GCS achieved during the first 24 hours postinjury were compared., Results: The change between emergency department-GCS and the best day 1 GCS in the intoxicated group was greater than the nonintoxicated group and deemed clinically and statistically significant; median change (3 vs. 0) p < 0.001. To assess whether these results were directly related to the BAC%, piecewise regression using a general linear model was used to assess the intercept and slope of alcohol on the changes of GCS with cutting point at BAC% = 0.08. The analysis showed that, in the nonintoxicated range, the effect of alcohol was not significantly related to the changes of GCS. But in the intoxicated range, BAC% was significantly positively related to the changes of GCS., Conclusion: This study concludes that the GCS increases significantly over time in alcohol intoxicated patients with traumatic brain injury.

The goal of this study was to investigate the outcomes of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who had Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of 3 or 4, and were aged 66 years or older. Between January 2001 and December 2005, 13 European centers enrolled patients with severe brain trauma. Data sets of all patients who had a GCS score of 3 or 4 and were 66 years of age or older were analyzed. Outcomes were classified according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) 12 months post-trauma as "favorable" (GOS score of 4 or 5), or "unfavorable" (GOS score of 1-3); relevant data for patients of the two groups were compared. Variables were analyzed by univariate analyses (chi-square, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney, and Fisher's exact tests), and a p value of <0.05 was considered significant. We analyzed 100 patients identified from the database as having GCS scores of 3 or 4 and age over 65 years. Factors having significant effects on outcomes were worse results of the Injury Severity Score (ISS), Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS), and Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) for the head. Closed or partially closed basal cisterns and/or midline shift >15 mm were also associated with unfavorable outcomes, as was subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Patients with GCS scores of 3 or 4 who are older than 65 years have a poor, but not hopeless, prognosis. Confirmed factors predicting poor prognosis for this group of patients were closed basal cisterns and midline shift >15 mm on the first CT scan. Factors possibly related to favorable outcomes were female gender, lower trauma severity, open or partially open basal cisterns, and no midline shift on the first CT scan.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate blood folic acid and vitamin B12 levels in patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients and correlate these levels with prognosis., Methods: Patients presenting within 3 hours of onset of ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes were approached for participation in the study. Diagnosis was made by clinical examination and head computed tomography scan. Venous blood samples were taken for determination of blood folic acid and vitamin B12 levels. Parameters were evaluated with respect to stroke type and according to Glasgow coma scale (< or =8 or > or =9)., Results: Eighty-seven patients with ischemic stroke (mean age: 65 +/- 10 years, 53% male) and 27 patients with hemorrhagic stroke (mean age: 60 +/- 10 years, 56% male) were included in the study. A significant direct correlation was found between Glasgow coma scale and mean plasma B12 levels in ischemic, but not hemorrhagic, stroke (r=112.75 and p=0.007, respectively). A significant direct correlation was found between Glasgow coma scale and mean plasma folic acid levels in hemorrhagic, but not ischemic, stroke (r=1.03 and p=0.017, respectively). In patients with Glasgow coma scale < or =8 (either hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke), a significant direct correlation was found between Glasgow coma scale and blood vitamin B12 levels. Vitamin B12 levels were significantly lower in patients with Glasgow coma scale < or =8 than in patients with Glasgow coma score > or =9 (p=0.04)., Conclusions: In patients with ischemic stroke, low vitamin B12 levels, and in patients with hemorrhagic stroke, low blood folic acid levels, are associated with lower Glasgow coma scale values and higher hospital mortality.

Objective: The two most commonly used aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage grading scales are the Hunt and Hess and World Federation of Neurological Societies scales. Neither has achieved universal acceptance, however, owing to concerns regarding either subjectivity or lack of correlation with outcomes, respectively. A grading scale based entirely on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was recently proposed. We have prospectively evaluated the GCS grading system and compared it with the Hunt and Hess and World Federation of Neurological Societies scales for predictive accuracy., Methods: Data from 1532 consecutive patients with intracranial aneurysms admitted to our institution between January 1991 and June 2005 were analyzed. The Glasgow Outcome Scale was the primary outcome measure. Mortality and length of stay were secondary measures. The scales were evaluated using simple and multivariable logistic and linear regression. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess predictive accuracy for the Glasgow Outcome Scale. Prognostic factors were assessed with ordinal multivariable logistic regression., Results: The GCS grading system was most strongly associated with all outcome measures and was the strongest predictor of mortality and persistent vegetative state. Age, vasospasm, hydrocephalus, and intracranial hematoma were found to be significant prognostic elements., Conclusion: The GCS grading system is more strongly associated with outcomes than either the Hunt and Hess or World Federation of Neurological Societies scales, and it is an equivalent to a slightly better predictor of Glasgow Outcome Scale outcomes. Its simplicity, proven inter-rater reliability, and wide level of familiarity among health care personnel render the GCS grading system a superior grading scale for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage severity, warranting its consideration for universal use.

Background: Age and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on admission are considered important predictors of outcome after traumatic brain injury. We investigated the predictive value of the GCS in a large group of patients whose computerised multimodal bedside monitoring data had been collected over the previous 10 years., Methods: Data from 358 subjects with head injury, collected between 1992 and 2001, were analysed retrospectively. Patients were grouped according to year of admission. Glasgow Outcome Scores (GOS) were determined at six months. Spearman's correlation coefficients between GCS and GOS scores were calculated for each year., Results: On average 34 (SD: 7) patients were monitored every year. We found a significant correlation between the GCS and GOS for the first five years (overall 1992-1996: r = 0.41; p<0.00001; n = 183) and consistent lack of correlations from 1997 onwards (overall 1997-2001: r = 0.091; p = 0.226; n = 175). In contrast, correlations between age and GOS were in both time periods significant and similar (r = -0.24 v r = -0.24; p<0.002)., Conclusions: The admission GCS lost its predictive value for outcome in this group of patients from 1997 onwards. The predictive value of the GCS should be carefully reconsidered when building prognostic models incorporating multimodality monitoring after head injury.