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Two patients with large bilateral subdural haematomas with patterns of non-enhanced brain computed tomography (CT) falsely suggesting coexistent subarachnoid haemorrhage are presented. The CT images showed marked effacement of the [...]

Racial and ethnic disparities in acute stroke care in the United States have been previously reported. This study investigated possible racial and ethnic disparities in the administration and outcome of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) therapy for acute ischemic stroke in whites, blacks, Hispanics, and Asian/Pacific Islanders. Using the National Inpatient Sample for 2001-2008, we selected patients with a primary diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke who received treatment with rtPA. Patient data were stratified by race (white, black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander). We analyzed the association of patient race on rtPA utilization rate, in-hospital morbidity (ie, discharge to long-term facility), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) rate, and in-hospital mortality. We performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine independent predictors of poor outcomes. White patients had a higher rate of tPA utilization than black and Hispanic patients (2.3% vs 1.8% and 2.0%, respectively; P < .0001 for both groups). There was no difference in the rate of tPA utilization between whites and Asian/Pacific Islanders (2.3% vs 2.2% P = .07). Multivariate analysis of morbidity, mortality, and ICH rates found that Asian/Pacific Islanders had significantly higher rates of mortality (odds ratio, 1.22, 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.44; P = .02) and ICH (odds ratio, 2.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.91-2.11; P < .0001) compared with whites. rtPA utilization was greater in white and Asian/Pacific Islander patients than in black and Hispanic patients. Asian/Pacific Islander race was associated with increased risk of ICH and mortality after rtPA administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vasospasm is a major complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and affects clinical outcome. The ability to predict cerebral vasospasm after SAH would allow the neuro-intensivist to institute preemptive and more aggressive therapy.Methods: Social, clinical, and radiological information on adult SAH patients recently admitted to our hospital were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate statistical methods were used to examine the impact of patient demographics, clinical variables, and radiologic characteristics on the development of angiographic vasospasm.Results: One hundred and sixty three patients were identified (102 females, 63%). A total of 34 patients (21%) developed angiographic vasospasm. In univariate analysis, occurrence of cerebral vasospasm was associated with poor World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS 4-5, P = 0.003) and modified Fisher (MFS 3-4, P = 0.02) grades, elevated Hijdra sum score (HSS > or =23, P = 0.0001), female gender (P = 0.04), development of hydrocephalus (P = 0.01), and a history of tobacco use (P = 0.02). In multivariable analysis, only the HSS > or =23 (P = 0.01) and history of smoking (P = 0.02) predicted cerebral vasospasm. Combined history of smoking and HSS >23 had positive and negative predictive values of 37 and 88%, respectively, for prediction of cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal hemorrhage.Conclusions: Hijdra sum score and a history of smoking are the strongest predictors of cerebral vasospasm on angiography. HSS is superior to the MFS as a radiologic grading tool to predict occurrence of angiographic vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aging of the general population and the availability of noninvasive imaging studies, carotid artery stenosis is a disease commonly seen in general medical practice. Differentiation between symptomatic and asymptomatic disease is critical to the treatment course because the natural history differs markedly between them. Antiplatelet therapy and aggressive treatment of vascular risk factors are the mainstays of medical therapy. Class I evidence shows that carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is effective in preventing ipsilateral ischemic events in patients with symptomatic moderate- and high-grade stenosis. The procedure is also effective in selected patients with asymptomatic stenosis, but the benefit is marginal. In the past decade, carotid angioplasty and stenting has been proposed as a valid alternative to CEA. Currently, it is unclear whether carotid angioplasty and stenting is as safe as CEA in patients with carotid artery stenosis who need invasive treatment. Large clinical trials are under way to answer this question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To establish the rate of successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and to study outcome predictors in patients who experienced in-hospital cardiac arrest after being admitted to the neurologic-neurosurgical intensive care unit (ICU) with a primary neurologic diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We identified patients admitted to the neurologic-neurosurgical ICU between 1994 and 2001 who experienced in-hospital cardiac arrest and received CPR. Functional outcome was assessed using the modified Rankin scale. RESULTS: During the study period, 38 consecutive patients experienced in-hospital cardiac arrest and received CPR. The median age of the patients was 65 years (range, 16-81 years), and the mean interval from admission to CPR was 12 days (range, 3 hours to 47 days). Acute intracranial disease was present in 32 patients (84%). Twenty-one patients (55%) were in the ICU at the time of the cardiac arrest; cardiac arrests in the wards occurred at a mean interval of 9 days (range, 1-45 days) after ICU discharge. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation achieved return of spontaneous circulation in 23 patients (61%). Seven patients (18%) were discharged from the hospital, 5 of whom later achieved a modified Rankin scale score of 2 or lower. Cardiac arrest after a deteriorating clinical course resulted in uniformly fatal outcomes. Duration of CPR shorter than 5 minutes and CPR in the ICU were associated with survival and good functional recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a worthwhile procedure in severely ill neurologic-neurosurgical patients, regardless of the patient's age. However, the outcome after CPR appears much worse in patients with a prior deteriorating clinical course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Devastating stroke can produce irreversible brain damage of massive proportions. In those patients, continuation of aggressive medical or surgical care may be futile and may unnecessarily prolong the suffering of families. Therefore, it is essential for clinicians to be aware of key clinical and radiologic features predictive of poor outcome. There has not been a critical review of the data used to make decisions of withdrawal of care in patients with severe strokes. DATA SOURCE: Literature review. DATA SYNTHESIS: Although in many instances the studies that validate these prognosticators represent class III or class IV evidence, there are several clinico-radiologic profiles that have consistently been predictive of mortality or dependency after cerebrovascular catastrophes. CONCLUSIONS: Inconclusiveness remains in the determination of futility of care after major stroke. However, predictors of dismal outcome after several types of stroke have been identified and are relevant information in regard to withdrawal of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Several studies demonstrated that patients with low blood pressure upon presentation with acute ischemic stroke have worse outcomes. Elevated mean arterial pressure (MAP) directly improves cerebral perfusion. Phenylephrine is a selective alpha-1 agonist with peripheral vasoconstrictive effect, raising the blood pressure without constricting brain vessels.Methods: We report a 63-year-old lady presenting with an acute high carotid T occlusion causing hemispheric ischemia that was completely reversed by implementing blood pressure augmentation with fluids and intravenous phenylephrine.Results: She arrived 4 h after symptoms onset. At its nadir, the NIHSS was 17. Head CT did not reveal hemorrhage or acute ischemic changes. CT angiogram confirmed the presence of a right internal carotid artery occlusion at the level of the neck. Hemodynamic support in the form of IV normal saline was initiated, followed by a bolus of phenylephrine. The patient responded to blood pressure augmentation with marked improvement in her level of consciousness, therefore an infusion of phenylephrine at 140 mcg/min titrated to a MAP of 110-120 mmHg was begun. There was complete resolution of the left hemiparesis less than an hour later.Conclusion: This case lends support to the growing body of literature that sustains the use of pharmacological blood pressure augmentation to treat acute brain ischemia. Patients with cervical carotid occlusion represent the ideal candidates for hemodynamic augmentation treatment, as collateral flow can recruited from multiple pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]