Search

IntroductionNeurocritical care focuses on the care of critically ill patients with an acute neurologic disorder and has grown significantly in the past few years. However, there is a lack of data that describe the scope of practice of neurointensivists and epidemiological data on the types of patients and treatments used in neurocritical care units worldwide. To address these issues, we designed a multicenter, international, point-prevalence, cross-sectional, prospective, observational, non-interventional study in the setting of neurocritical care (PRINCE Study).MethodsIn this manuscript, we analyzed data from the initial phase of the study that included registration, hospital, and intensive care unit (ICU) organizations. We present here descriptive statistics to summarize data from the registration case report form. We performed the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by the Dunn procedure to test for differences in practices among world regions.ResultsWe analyzed information submitted by 257 participating sites from 47 countries. The majority of those sites, 119 (46.3%), were in North America, 44 (17.2%) in Europe, 34 (13.3%) in Asia, 9 (3.5%) in the Middle East, 34 (13.3%) in Latin America, and 14 (5.5%) in Oceania. Most ICUs are from academic institutions (73.4%) located in large urban centers (44% > 1 million inhabitants). We found significant differences in hospital and ICU organization, resource allocation, and use of patient management protocols. The highest nursing/patient ratio was in Oceania (100% 1:1). Dedicated Advanced Practiced Providers are mostly present in North America (73.7%) and are uncommon in Oceania (7.7%) and the Middle East (0%). The presence of dedicated respiratory therapist is common in North America (85%), Middle East (85%), and Latin America (84%) but less common in Europe (26%) and Oceania (7.7%). The presence of dedicated pharmacist is highest in North America (89%) and Oceania (85%) and least common in Latin America (38%). The majority of respondents reported having a dedicated neuro-ICU (67% overall; highest in North America: 82%; and lowest in Oceania: 14%).ConclusionThe PRINCE Study results suggest that there is significant variability in the delivery of neurocritical care. The study also shows it is feasible to undertake international collaborations to gather global data about the practice of neurocritical care.

Introduction: We determined if targeted education of emergency physicians (EPs)regarding the treatment of mental illness will improve their comfort level in treatingpsychiatric patients boarding in the emergency department (ED) awaiting admission.Methods: We performed a pilot study examining whether an educational interventionwould change an EP’s comfort level in treating psychiatric boarder patients (PBPs). Weidentified a set of psychiatric emergencies that typically require admission or treatmentbeyond the scope of practice of emergency medicine. Diagnoses included majordepression, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar affective disorder, generalanxiety disorder, suicidal ideation, and criminal behavior. We designed equivalentsurveys to be used before and after an educational intervention. Each survey consistedof 10 scenarios of typical psychiatric patients. EPs were asked to rate their comfort levelsin treating the described patients on a visual analogue scale. We calculated summaryscores for the non intervention survey group (NINT) and intervention survey group (INT)and compared them using Student’s t-test.Results: Seventy-nine percent (33/42) of eligible participants completed the preinterventionsurvey (21 attendings, 12 residents) and comprised the NINT group. Fiftyfivepercent (23/42) completed the post-intervention survey (16 attendings, 7 residents)comprising the INT group. A comparison of summary scores between ‘NINT’ and ‘INT’groups showed a highly significant improvement in comfort levels with treating thepatients described in the scenarios (P = 0.003). Improvements were noted on separateanalysis for faculty (P = 0.039) and for residents (P = 0.012). Results of a sensitivityanalysis excluding one highly significant scenario showed decreased, but still importantdifferences between the NINT and INT groups for all participants and for residents, butnot for faculty (all: P = 0.05; faculty: P = 0.25; residents: P = 0.03).Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that the comfort level of EPs, when asked to treatPBPs, may be improved with education. We believe our data support further study of thisidea and of whether an improved comfort level will translate to a willingness to treat.[West J Emerg Med. 2012;13(6):453-457]

A priori estimation of sample size and subject accrual in multi‐site, time‐to‐event clinical trials is often challenging. Such trials are powered based on the number of events needed to detect a clinically significant difference. Sample size based on number of events relates to the expected duration of observation time for each subject. Temporal patterns in site initiation and subject enrollment ultimately affect when subjects can be accrued into the study. Lag times are common as the site start‐up process optimizes, resulting in delays that may curtail observational follow‐up and therefore undermine power. The proposed method introduces a Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) model into the sample size estimation which accounts for the lag in site start‐up. Additionally, a PERT model is introduced into a Poisson‐Gamma subject accrual model to predict the quantity of study sites needed. The introduction of the PERT model provides greater flexibility in both a priori power assessment and planning the number of sites, as it specifically allows for the inclusion of anticipated delays in site start‐up time. This model results in minimal power loss even when PERT distribution inputs are misspecified compared to the traditional assumption of simultaneous start‐up for all sites. Together these updated formulations for sample size and subject accrual models offer an improved method for designing a multi‐site time‐to‐event clinical trial that accounts for a flexible site start‐up process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cilostazol, a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, appears to be a promising agent for preventing cerebral ischemia in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Here, the authors perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantitatively assess the effects of cilostazol on brain structural and functional outcomes in animal models of cerebral ischemia and subarachnoid hemorrhage–induced cerebral vasospasm. Methods: By using the PRISMA guidelines, a search of the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted to identify relevant studies. Study quality of each included study for both systematic reviews were scored by using an adapted 15-item checklist from the Collaborative Approach to Meta-Analysis of Animal Data from Experimental Studies. We calculated a standardized mean difference as effect size for each comparison. For each outcome, comparisons were combined by using random-effects modeling to account for heterogeneity, with a restricted maximum likelihood estimate of between-study variance. Results: A total of 22 (median [Q1, Q3] quality score of 7 [5, 8]) and 6 (median [Q1, Q3] quality score of 6 [6, 6]) studies were identified for cerebral ischemia and subarachnoid hemorrhage–induced cerebral vasospasm, respectively. Cilostazol significantly reduced the infarct volume in cerebral ischemia models with a pooled standardized mean difference estimate of − 0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI] [− 1.07 to − 0.70], p < 0.0001). Cilostazol significantly reduced neurofunctional deficits in cerebral ischemia models with a pooled standardized mean difference estimate of − 0.66 (95% CI [− 1.06 to − 0.28], p < 0.0001). Cilostazol significantly improved the basilar artery diameter in subarachnoid hemorrhage–induced cerebral vasospasm with a pooled standardized mean difference estimate of 2.30 (95% CI [0.94 to 3.67], p = 0.001). Cilostazol also significantly improved the basilar artery cross-section area with a pooled standardized mean estimate of 1.88 (95% CI [0.33 to 3.43], p < 0.05). Overall, there was between-study heterogeneity and asymmetry in the funnel plot observed in all comparisons. Conclusions: Published animal data support the overall efficacy of cilostazol in reducing infarct volume and neurofunctional deficits in cerebral ischemia models and cerebral vasospasm in subarachnoid hemorrhage models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We performed this meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials to compare the outcomes in patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy who receive prior intravenous thrombolysis with those who do not receive such treatment. Recently, one randomized trial reported outcomes to address this issue, so timely update of meta-analysis is needed to determine the value of administering intravenous thrombolysis before endovascular thrombectomy. Materials and methods: Four randomized clinical trials are included in our meta-analysis. We calculated pooled odds ratios and 95% CIs using random-effects models. The primary efficacy endpoint was a favorable outcome defined by a modified Rankin Scale score of 0 (no symptoms), 1 (no significant disability), or 2 (slight disability) at 90 days post-randomization. Secondary endpoints analyzed were any intracerebral hemorrhage, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, and mortality. Results: Of the 1633 patients randomized, the proportion of patients who achieved a favorable outcome was similar between endovascular thrombectomy alone and combined approach with intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy (1631 patients analyzed; odds ratio 1.02; CI 0.84–1.25; p = 0.83). Risk of any intracerebral hemorrhage was significantly lower among those randomized to endovascular thrombectomy alone (1633 patients analyzed; odds ratio 0.75; CI 0.57–0.99; p = 0.04). Rates of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (p = 0.36) and mortality (p = 0.62) were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: Compared with endovascular thrombectomy preceded by intravenous thrombolysis, endovascular thrombectomy resulted in similar rates of favorable outcome with a lower rate of intracerebral hemorrhage. A large phase 3 trial is required to conclusively demonstrate equivalency of both approaches to guide future practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study attempts to evaluate the efficacy of Aspirin plus extended-release Dipyridamole against Clopidogrel in the treatment of recurrent stroke. Results conclude that both Aspirin plus extended-release Dipyridamole as well Clopidogrel were equally effective in treatment of recurrent stroke.

A study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Telmisartan as a form of treatment to prevent recurrent stroke and cardiovascular events. Results indicated that telmisartan therapy was not very effective in significantly reducing the rate of recurrent stroke, major cardiovascular events or diabetes.