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Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with high mortality and long-term functional impairment. Data on clinical management and functional outcomes from developing countries are scarce. We aimed to define patient profiles and clinical practices and evaluate long-term outcomes after SAH in a middle-income country.This was a prospective study including consecutive adult patients admitted with SAH to two reference centers in Brazil from January 2016 to February 2020. The primary outcome was functional status at 6 months using the modified Rankin Scale. Mixed multivariable analysis was performed to determine the relationship between clinical variables and functional outcomes.From 471patients analyzed, the median time from symptom onset to arrival at a study center was 4 days (interquartile range 0-9). Median age was 55 years (interquartile range 46-62) and 353 (75%) patients were women. A total of 426 patients (90%) were transferred from nonspecialized general hospitals, initial computed tomography revealed thick hemorrhage in 73% of patients (modified Fisher score of 3 or 4), and 136 (29%) had poor clinical grade (World Federation of Neurological Surgeons score of 4 or 5). A total of 312 (66%) patients underwent surgical clipping, and 119 (25%) underwent endovascular coiling. Only 34 patients (7%) underwent withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining therapy during their hospital stay, and in-hospital mortality was 24%. A total of 187 (40%) patients had an unfavorable long-term functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 4 to 6). Factors associated with unfavorable outcome were age (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.08), hypertension (adjusted OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.04-3.16), poor clinical grade (adjusted OR 4.92, 95% CI 2.85-8.48), external ventricular drain (adjusted OR 3.8, 95% CI 2.31-6.24), postoperative deterioration (adjusted OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.32-4.13), cerebral infarction (adjusted OR 3.16, 95% CI 1.81-5.52), rebleeding (adjusted OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.13-7.69), and sepsis (adjusted OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.42-5.05).Our study demonstrated that SAH management in a middle-income country diverges significantly from published cohorts and current guidelines, despite comparable clinical profiles on presentation and admission to high-volume referral centers. Earlier aneurysm occlusion and increased use of endovascular therapy could potentially reduce modifiable in-hospital complications and improve functional outcomes in Brazil.

Acute physiologic derangements and multiple organ dysfunction are common after subarachnoid hemorrhage. We aimed to evaluate the simplified acute physiology score 3 (SAPS-3) and the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores for the prediction of in-hospital mortality in a large multicenter cohort of SAH patients. This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from 45 ICUs in Brazil, during 2014 and 2015. Patients admitted with non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were included. Clinical and outcome data were retrieved from an electronic ICU quality registry. SAPS-3 and SOFA scores, without the neurological components (i.e., nSAPS-3 and nSOFA, respectively) were recorded, as well as the World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) scale. We used multilevel logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality. We evaluated performance using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), as well as calibration belts and precision–recall plots. The study included 997 patients, from which 426 (43%) had poor clinical grade (WFNS 4 or 5) and in-hospital mortality was 34%. Median nSAPS-3 and nSOFA score at admission were 46 (IQR: 38–55) and 2 (0–5), respectively. Non-survivors were older, had higher nSAPS-3 and nSOFA, and more often poor grade. After adjustment for age, poor grade and withdrawal of life sustaining therapies, multivariable analysis identified nSAPS-3 and nSOFA score as independent clinical predictors of in-hospital mortality. The AUROC curve that included nSAPS-3 and nSOFA scores significantly improved the already good discrimination and calibration of age and WFNS to predict in-hospital mortality (AUROC: 0.89 for the full final model vs. 0.85 for age and WFNS; P

Background Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is an acute cerebrovascular disease associated with high mortality and long-term functional impairment among survivors. Systemic inflammatory responses after acute injury and nosocomial infections are frequent complications, making the management of these patients challenging. Here, we hypothesized that sepsis might be associated with early and long-term mortality and functional outcomes. Our objective was to define the incidence of sepsis, diagnosed prospectively with the Sepsis-3 criteria, and to determine its impact on mortality and functional outcomes of patients with SAH. Methods We prospectively included all adult patients with aneurysmal SAH admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a reference center between April 2016 and May 2018. Daily clinical and laboratory follow-up data were analyzed during the first 14 days, with data collected on sepsis according to the Sepsis-3 criteria. The main outcome was the functional outcome using the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS), which was assessed at hospital discharge and 3, 6 and 12 months post-discharge. Results In total, 149 patients were enrolled. The incidence of sepsis was 28%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that death or functional dependence (defined as an mRS score of 4 to 6) at hospital discharge was independently associated with sepsis (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.16–9.96, p = 0.026) even after controlling for World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) Scale (OR 4.66, 95% CI 1.69–12.88, p = 0.003), hydrocephalus (OR 4.55, 95% CI 1.61–12.85, p = 0.004) and DCI (OR 3.86, 95% CI 1.39–10.74, p = 0.01). Long-term follow-up mortality rates were significantly different in the septic and nonseptic groups (log-rank test p

ObjectivesCritically ill patients with COVID-19 may suffer from a cytokine release syndrome (CRS) characterized by remarkably high levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6). We assessed the effects of tocilizumab, an IL-6 receptor antagonist, on intra-hospital mortality and development of positive cultures in patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU.DesignPatients with COVID 19 admitted in the ICU who were treated with tocilizumab plus standard care were enrolled and compared to controls.SettingCOVID-19 severe diseasePatientsPatients with severe COVID-19 disease admitted in the ICU.InterventionsTocilizumab 400 mg IV two doses. Standard and intensive medical care as per institutional clinical protocol.Measures and Main ResultsMain outcome: 1) intra-hospital mortality; Secondary Outcomes: 1) the need for renal replacement therapy, 2) use of antibiotics and positive culture, and 3) inflammatory and oxygenation markers. There was no difference in mortality, need for renal replacement therapy, use of antibiotics or positive cultures between the two groups. The use of corticosteroids was more frequent in the treatment group. Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and WBC (white blood cells) counts declined significantly faster in the treatment group. Oxygenation markers rose significantly higher in patients in the tocilizumab group as compared to controls.ConclusionTocilizumab was associated with rapid improvement in oxygenation and a faster decrease of CRP and WBC counts in patients with COVID-19 and should be evaluated as rescue therapy for patients with progressive disease

Objective Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is an acute cerebrovascular event that leads to devastating consequences. Early brain infarction (EBI) develops very early, within the first 72 hours after bleeding, and may have a significant impact on long-term outcomes. The incidence and impact of EBI in the prognosis of aSAH remain uncertain. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the incidence of EBI in patients with aSAH and determine its effect on mortality and functional outcomes. Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis. Inclusion criteria were 1) studies that evaluated aSAH within 72 hours after bleeding; 2) performed a brain imaging study up to 72 hours of hemorrhage; 3) used computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging; and 4) included a description of the findings of the brain imaging study (whether or not an infarct was present). Results Ten studies that met the criteria were included. The incidence of EBI was 17%. The risk ratio for 3-month mortality was 2.18 (95% confidence interval 1.48–3.30). The overall risk ratio for poor outcome was 2.26 (95% confidence interval 1.75–2.93). Conclusions EBI plays an important role in the outcome of patients with aSAH. Its significant impact could represent a new therapeutic frontier for improving outcomes of these patients.