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Objectives: A wide variety of electrocardiographic (ECG) changes has been described in the context of neurological catastrophe. There has been diverse and plentiful literature emphasizing the cardiac changes in acute cerebrovascular events and traumatic brain injury. In stark contrast, there is scarce literature on the incidence of cardiac dysfunction caused by raised intracranial pressure (ICP) resulting from brain tumors. The study aimed to observe the ECG changes concurrent with intracranial hypertension resulting from supratentorial brain tumors. Materials and Methods: This is a pre-specified subgroup analysis of a prospective and observational study on cardiac function in patients presenting for neurosurgery. Data of 100 consecutive patients of either sex between 18 and 60 years who presented with primary supratentorial brain tumors were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 consisted of patients without clinical and radiological features of raised ICP and Group 2 consisted of patients with clinical and radiological features of raised ICP. A 12-lead ECG was obtained for every patient on the day before the neurosurgical procedure as part of the pre-anesthetic assessment. The cardiologist and the neuroanesthetist independently examined the ECG, and it was then classified and coded as per the standardized Minnesota code. Statistical analysis was performed with IBM SPSS (release 22.0; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The normality of the distribution of continuous variables was tested using the Shapiro–Wilk test. Normally distributed variables were expressed as Mean ± SD. All nominal or categorical variables are described as frequencies and percentages. Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test. The normally distributed continuous variables were compared using Student’s t-test. “P < 0.05” was considered statistically significant. Results: About 6% in Group 1 and 32% in Group 2 had abnormal ECG. This was significantly different in Group 2 compared to Group 1 (P < 0.05). No patients in Group 1 had sinus bradycardia, whereas it was observed in 12% of the patients in Group 2 (P = 0.02). ST-segment depression was found in 12% of patients in Group 2, whereas none had it in Group 1 (P = 0.02). ST-segment elevation was noticed in 16 % in Group 2 and 2% in Group 1 (P = 0.01). T-wave abnormalities were found in 16% compared to 4% in Group 1 (P = 0.03). Conclusion: In patients with supratentorial tumors, we observed that those with raised ICP had a higher incidence of ECG changes than those with normal ICP. In addition, repolarization abnormalities and arrhythmias were significantly higher in patients with raised ICP.

Objectives Neurosurgical patients with cervical spine pathologies, craniofacial and craniovertebral junction anomalies, recurrent cervical spine, and posterior fossa surgeries frequently present with an airway that is anticipated to be difficult. Although the routine physical evaluation is nonaerosol-generating, Mallampati scoring, mouth opening, and assessment of lower cranial nerve function could potentially generate aerosols, imposing a greater risk of acquiring severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Moreover, airway evaluation requires the patient to remove the mask, thereby posing a greater risk to the assessing anesthesiologist. Thus, we designed this study to evaluate the efficacy of virtual airway assessment (VAA) done via telemedicine in comparison to direct airway assessment (DAA), and assess the feasibility of VAA as a part of the preanesthetic evaluation (PAE) of patients presenting for neurosurgery in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods A total of 55 patients presenting for elective neurosurgical procedures were recruited in this prospective, observational study. The preoperative assessment of the airway was first done by a remote anesthetist via an encrypted video call, using a smartphone which served the purpose of telemedicine equipment, followed by a direct assessment by the attending anesthetist. The following parameters were assessed: mouth opening (MO), presence of any anomalies of tongue and palate, Mallampati classification (MPC) grading, thyromental distance (TMD), upper lip bite test (ULBT), neck movements, and Look-Evaluate-Mallampati-Obstruction-Neck mobility (LEMON) scoring system. Statistical Analysis Demographic parameters were expressed as mean ± SD. Agreement between the values obtained by VAA and DAA parameters were analyzed with the Kappa test. Results We observed a “perfect agreement” between the DAA and VAA with regard to MO. Assessment of ULBT, neck movements, and the LEMON score had an overall “almost perfect agreement” between the DAA and VAA. We also observed a “substantial agreement” between VAA and DAA during the assessment of MPC grading and TMD. Conclusion Our study shows that PAE and VAA via telemedicine can reliably be used as an alternative to direct physical preanesthetic consultation in the COVID-19 scenario. This could reduce unnecessary exposure of anesthesiologists to potential asymptomatic COVID-positive patients, thereby protecting the available skilled workforce, without any significant compromise to patient care.

Some patient positions employed to facilitate neurosurgery can compromise cerebral venous drainage and lead to increased intracranial pressure, intraoperative bleeding, and brain bulge. This study evaluated the impact of different surgical positions on internal jugular vein (IJV) flow as a measure of cerebral venous drainage and on optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) as an indirect assessment of intracranial pressure.Ninety patients scheduled for elective primary brain tumor resection surgery were included in 3 groups of 30 each according to the surgical position: supine, prone, or lateral. Bilateral IJV flow was recorded at 3-time points: before the induction of anesthesia in the supine position (T0), 10 minutes after the induction of anesthesia in the supine position (T1), and 10 minutes after final positioning (T2). The ONSD was measured at T1 and T2.Mean IJV flow decreased from baseline by 36%, 10% and 38% in the supine, prone and lateral position groups, respectively. Mean IJV flow was 1005.9±463 mL/min versus 634.7±245 mL/min (P=0.036) in Group S, 752.5±384.8 mL/min versus 672.3±391.0 mL/min (P=0.002) in group P, and 831.8±337.4 mL/min versus 514.4±305.3 mL/min (P0.001) in group L at T0 and T2, respectively. Mean ONSD did not change between T1 and T2 in Groups S and P but increased in group L (P0.05).Mean IJV flow decreased from baseline following the final neurosurgical positioning. Ultrasound-guided assessment of IJV flow could be a useful tool to quantify position-related changes in IJV drainage.

One of the primary goals in Neuroanesthesia is to preserve cerebral oxygenation and protect the brain from secondary injuries. Seizures have severe implications in the intraoperative period, as it can instigate an increase in cerebral metabolism and oxygen demand, thus causing cerebral hypoxia. Detection of intraoperative seizures is imperative in neurosurgical cases as the ramifications of intracranial hypertension and cerebral hypoxia caused by it can affect patient prognosis and perioperative outcomes. We report a case of detecting intraoperative seizures with the aid of patient state index and near infrared spectroscopy. Multi-modality monitoring aided in the management of a time-sensitive complication, which could otherwise have possibly led to secondary brain insult.

Background Patients with acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) experience excruciating headache that is difficult to manage in resource-constrained settings. Pregabalin’s (β-isobutyl-GABA) analgesic, antiepileptic, and antiemetic properties make it an attractive adjuvant in pain management for these patients. Methods We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial on 40 aSAH patients undergoing aneurysmal clipping to assess the effect of perioperative pregabalin in decreasing perioperative headache, anesthetic, and opioid requirement. Patients received either pregabalin (75 mg) or placebo twice daily soon after admission till 24-hour postoperative, in addition to paracetamol 650 mg thrice daily. Headache assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) at five time points was compared using a mixed effects regression model. Results Pain assessed by VAS declined significantly more from the baseline in pregabalin recipients compared with placebo at preinduction (–3.6 vs.–1.8; p = 0.004), 12-hour (4.3 vs. 2.8; p = 0.014), and 24-hour postsurgery (4.7 vs. 2.9; p = 0.007), but not at the 6-hour postoperation (4.9 vs. 3.8; p = 0.065). Pregabalin recipients required a lower minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane to maintain a prespecified bispectral index of 40 and 60 (0.8 vs. 0.9; p = 0.014) and required fewer rescue analgesic doses in the 24 hours following surgery (1.8 vs. 3.3; p = 0.005). The intraoperative fentanyl requirement was not significantly different between the groups (10 μg/kg vs. 11.4 μg/kg; p = 0.065). There was no significant difference in the sedation scores. Conclusions Pregabalin 75 mg administered twice daily, during the perioperative period, was an effective adjunct in the management of the severe headache experienced by patients with aSAH and decreased the opioid and anesthetic requirement without significantly increasing sedation.

Background Dexmedetomidine could be a suitable adjuvant in neuroanesthesia due to its analgesic and anesthetic-sparing properties with the added advantage of facilitating intraoperative neuromonitoring. However, its recovery profile is still debated upon, as in neuroanesthesia, a prompt recovery is essential for postoperative neurologic assessment. We designed this study to evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on the anesthetic and recovery profile of patients presenting for supratentorial neurosurgeries. Materials and Methods Forty adult patients undergoing supratentorial surgeries were recruited in this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study and were divided into two groups: group S and group SD. Both groups received sevoflurane and fentanyl for maintenance, whereas group SD alone received a low dose of dexmedetomidine infusion. Recovery parameters, opioid consumption, Richmond Agitation–Sedation Scale (RASS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, incidence of nausea and vomiting, and intraoperative hemodynamics were analyzed. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the groups S and SD in case of recovery parameters—time taken (in minutes, presented as median with interquartile range [IQR]) for (1) eye-opening to command: 9.5 (8–18) versus 22.5 (5–47.5) (p = 0.414); 2) following verbal command: 10.5 (8.25–29.5) versus 25 (10–28.75) (p = 0.512); (3) extubation: 11 (9.25–22) versus 25 (10–30) (p = 0.277); and (4) getting oriented to place, time, and date: 23 (20–52.75) versus 27.5 (25–36.5) (p = 0.121). Fentanyl consumption was significantly less in group SD (451 ± 39.3) versus group S (524.3 ± 144.1) (p = 0.034). The median RASS score with IQR and the median VAS scores with IQR were comparable between the groups at all time points. Of the 20 patients in group S, 5 had complaints of nausea and vomiting compared with none in the group SD, although it was not statistically significant. The hemodynamic parameters did not show a significant difference between the groups except for a surge in mean arterial pressure at 30 minutes in group S. Conclusion Low-dose dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to sevoflurane- and fentanyl-based anesthesia could provide stable hemodynamics and lesser anesthetics and opioid consumption, without adversely affecting the recovery profile in patients undergoing supratentorial neurosurgical procedures.

Background Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection affecting immunocompromised patients, with the rhinocerebral variant as the most common presentation.1 Garcin syndrome is the progressive involvement of the cranial nerves resulting in total unilateral paralysis of cranial nerves, absence of sensory or motor deficits, and not associated with features of raised intracranial pressure.2 We report a case of invasive rhinocerebral mucormycosis presenting as Garcin syndrome and acute ischemic stroke. How to cite this article Nagendra V, Thakkar KD, Prasad Hrishi A, Prathapadas U. A Rare Case of Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis Presenting as Garcin Syndrome and Acute Ischemic Stroke. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(11):1137–1138.

The Brain-Heart interaction is becoming increasingly important as the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms become better understood. “Neurocardiology” is a new field which explores the pathophysiological interplay of the brain and cardiovascular systems. Brain-heart cross-talk presents as a result of direct stimulation of some areas of the brain, leading to a sympathetic or parasympathetic response or it may present as a result of a neuroendocrine response attributing to a clinical picture of a sympathetic storm. It manifests as cardiac rhythm disturbances, hemodynamic perturbations and in the worst scenarios as cardiac failure and death. Brain-Heart interaction (BHI) is most commonly encountered in traumatic brain injury and subarachnoid hemorrhage presenting as dramatic electrocardiographic changes, neurogenic stunned myocardium or even as ventricular fibrillation. A well-known example of BHI is the panic disorders and emotional stress resulting in Tako-tsubo syndrome giving rise to supraventricular and ventricular tachycardias and transient left ventricular dysfunction. In this review article, we will discuss cardiovascular changes caused due to the disorders of specific brain regions such as the insular cortex, brainstem, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and the hypothalamus; neuro-cardiac reflexes namely the Cushing's reflex, the Trigemino-cardiac reflex and the Vagal reflex; and other pathological states such as neurogenic stunned myocardium /Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. There is a growing interest among intensivists and anesthesiologists in brain heart interactions as there are an increasing number of cases being reported and there is a need to address unanswered questions, such as the incidence of these interactions, the multifactorial pathogenesis, individual susceptibility, the role of medications, and optimal management. Key Messages BHI contribute in a significant way to the morbidity and mortality of neurological conditions such as traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage, cerebral infarction and status epilepticus. Constant vigilance and a high index of suspicion have to be exercised by clinicians to avoid misdiagnosis or delayed recognition. The entire clinical team involved in patient care should be aware of brain heart interaction to recognize these potentially life-threatening scenarios. How to cite this article Hrishi AP, Lionel KR, Prathapadas U. Head Rules Over the Heart: Cardiac Manifestations of Cerebral Disorders. Indian J Crit Care Med 2019;23(7):329–335.

Distinguishing a monitoring artifact requires expertise and adeptness. This can be practically challenging during the course of an anesthetic. We report a case, wherein we experienced episodes of aberrant pulse-oximeter values suggestive of desaturation with normal waveforms, occurring during a particular sequence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed under general anesthesia, which in fact was an artifact induced by the 3 T MRI during the diffusion tensor imaging sequence.

Background: Propofol has emerged as an induction agent of choice over the past two decades due to its quick, smooth induction and rapid recovery. The main concern for an anesthesiologist is the hemodynamic instability caused by the standard induction dose of propofol (2–3 mg/kg). Aim: We aim to study the efficacy of propofol auto-coinduction technique in comparison to the standard propofol induction technique in terms of the total induction dose requirement of propofol, the incidence of hemodynamic side effects and pain on injection, and the incidence of fentanyl-induced cough (FIC) in the absence of a synergistic agent like midazolam. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, observer-blinded, randomized controlled trial. The study was initiated after obtaining the institutional ethics committee approval and is registered in the Clinical Trials Registry India. Eighty American Society of Anesthesiology Physical Status I and II patients, of either sex, aged between 18 and 55 years, and scheduled for elective surgeries under general anesthesia were randomized into two equal groups. Patients allocated to Group I (auto-coinduction) received 20% of the calculated dose of injection propofol 2 mg/kg (i.e., 0.4 mg/kg) as the priming dose followed by injection fentanyl 1 μg/kg after 1 min and the remaining propofol was administered in titrated doses till loss of verbal response after 2 min. In Group II (control), patients received injection fentanyl 1 μg/kg followed by single bolus dose of injection propofol up to 2 mg/kg till loss of verbal response. Midazolam was not used for premedication or induction. Intubation was carried out only after ensuring achievement of optimum depth of anesthesia using bispectral index scale. The total dose of propofol administrated for induction, occurrence of pain on injection, severity of cough after fentanyl administration, hemodynamic parameters, and apneic episodes were recorded. Statistical Analysis: All data were expressed as mean ± 2 standard deviation. For statistical analysis, SPSS software version 16 (SPSS Inc., 2007, Chicago, IL, USA) was used. Results: The mean dose of injection propofol required for induction was significantly lower in Group I (67.0 ± 17.9 mg) when compared with Group II (111.3 ± 17.6 mg) (P < 0.01). The mean heart rate was significantly higher (P < 0.01) and the mean blood pressure was significantly lower in Group II (P < 0.01) when compared to Group I at 1 min postinduction, immediately after intubation, and 5 min after induction. The incidence of complications such as hypotension, pain on injection, and FIC was higher in Group II (50%) as compared to Group I (18%). Conclusion: In our study, we found that the induction dose requirement of propofol was significantly lower in the auto-coinduction group when compared to the conventional induction group. The auto-coinduction technique offered a stable hemodynamic profile, reduced pain on injection, and less incidence of FIC as compared to the conventional propofol induction technique.