Multimodal prediction of residual consciousness in the intensive care unit: the CONNECT-ME study.

Functional MRI (fMRI) and EEG may reveal residual consciousness in patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC), as reflected by a rapidly expanding literature on chronic DoC. However, acute DoC is rarely investigated, although identifying residual consciousness is key to clinical decision-making in the intensive care unit (ICU). Therefore, the objective of the prospective, observational, tertiary centre cohort, diagnostic phase IIb study 'Consciousness in neurocritical care cohort study using EEG and fMRI' (CONNECT-ME, NCT02644265) was to assess the accuracy of fMRI and EEG to identify residual consciousness in acute DoC in the ICU. Between April 2016 and November 2020, 87 acute DoC patients with traumatic or non-traumatic brain injury were examined with repeated clinical assessments, fMRI and EEG. Resting-state EEG and EEG with external stimulations were evaluated by visual analysis, spectral band analysis and a Support Vector Machine (SVM) consciousness classifier. In addition, within- and between-network resting-state connectivity for canonical resting-state fMRI networks was assessed. Next, we used EEG and fMRI data at study enrolment in two different machine-learning algorithms (Random Forest and SVM with a linear kernel) to distinguish patients in a minimally conscious state or better (≥MCS) from those in coma or unresponsive wakefulness state (≤UWS) at time of study enrolment and at ICU discharge (or before death). Prediction performances were assessed with area under the curve (AUC). Of 87 DoC patients (mean age, 50.0 ± 18 years, 43% female), 51 (59%) were ≤UWS and 36 (41%) were ≥ MCS at study enrolment. Thirty-one (36%) patients died in the ICU, including 28 who had life-sustaining therapy withdrawn. EEG and fMRI predicted consciousness levels at study enrolment and ICU discharge, with maximum AUCs of 0.79 (95% CI 0.77-0.80) and 0.71 (95% CI 0.77-0.80), respectively. Models based on combined EEG and fMRI features predicted consciousness levels at study enrolment and ICU discharge with maximum AUCs of 0.78 (95% CI 0.71-0.86) and 0.83 (95% CI 0.75-0.89), respectively, with improved positive predictive value and sensitivity. Overall, both machine-learning algorithms (SVM and Random Forest) performed equally well. In conclusion, we suggest that acute DoC prediction models in the ICU be based on a combination of fMRI and EEG features, regardless of the machine-learning algorithm used.

Multimodal Prediction of 3- and 12-Month Outcomes in ICU Patients with Acute Disorders of Consciousness.

BACKGROUND: In intensive care unit (ICU) patients with coma and other disorders of consciousness (DoC), outcome prediction is key to decision-making regarding prognostication, neurorehabilitation, and management of family expectations. Current prediction algorithms are largely based on chronic DoC, whereas multimodal data from acute DoC are scarce. Therefore, the Consciousness in Neurocritical Care Cohort Study Using Electroencephalography and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (i.e. CONNECT-ME; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02644265) investigates ICU patients with acute DoC due to traumatic and nontraumatic brain injuries, using electroencephalography (EEG) (resting-state and passive paradigms), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) (resting-state) and systematic clinical examinations. METHODS: We previously presented results for a subset of patients (n = 87) concerning prediction of consciousness levels in the ICU. Now we report 3- and 12-month outcomes in an extended cohort (n = 123). Favorable outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score ≤ 3, a cerebral performance category score ≤ 2, and a Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended score ≥ 4. EEG features included visual grading, automated spectral categorization, and support vector machine consciousness classifier. fMRI features included functional connectivity measures from six resting-state networks. Random forest and support vector machine were applied to EEG and fMRI features to predict outcomes. Here, random forest results are presented as areas under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curves or accuracy. Cox proportional regression with in-hospital death as a competing risk was used to assess independent clinical predictors of time to favorable outcome. RESULTS: Between April 2016 and July 2021, we enrolled 123 patients (mean age 51 years, 42% women). Of 82 (66%) ICU survivors, 3- and 12-month outcomes were available for 79 (96%) and 77 (94%), respectively. EEG features predicted both 3-month (AUC 0.79 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77-0.82]) and 12-month (AUC 0.74 [95% CI 0.71-0.77]) outcomes. fMRI features appeared to predict 3-month outcome (accuracy 0.69-0.78) both alone and when combined with some EEG features (accuracies 0.73-0.84) but not 12-month outcome (larger sample sizes needed). Independent clinical predictors of time to favorable outcome were younger age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.04 [95% CI 1.02-1.06]), traumatic brain injury (HR 1.94 [95% CI 1.04-3.61]), command-following abilities at admission (HR 2.70 [95% CI 1.40-5.23]), initial brain imaging without severe pathological findings (HR 2.42 [95% CI 1.12-5.22]), improving consciousness in the ICU (HR 5.76 [95% CI 2.41-15.51]), and favorable visual-graded EEG (HR 2.47 [95% CI 1.46-4.19]). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that EEG and fMRI features and readily available clinical data predict short-term outcome of patients with acute DoC and that EEG also predicts 12-month outcome after ICU discharge.

Empiric treatment of healthcare-associated central nervous system infections in Denmark: do we need carbapenems?

BACKGROUND: Carbapenems are widely used for empiric treatment of healthcare-associated central nervous system (CNS) infections. We investigated the feasibility of a carbapenem-sparing strategy, utilising a third-generation cephalosporin (ceftriaxone or cefotaxime) (combined with vancomycin) for the empirical treatment of healthcare-associated CNS infections in Eastern Denmark. METHODS: The departments of neurosurgery and neuro-intensive care at Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet. First, we analysed local microbiological data (1st January 2020-31st August 2022) to identify microorganisms non-susceptible to third-generation cephalosporin. Subsequently, we assessed all carbapenem prescriptions over a three-month period for their indication and justification. RESULTS: In total, 25,247 bacterial cultures were identified, of which 2,563 CNS-related, were included in the analysis. The positivity rate was 10.5% (n = 257/2439) for cerebrospinal-fluid samples and 75.8% (n = 95/124) for brain parenchyma. CNS samples from five individual patients revealed bacteria non-susceptible to third generation cephalosporins (Enterobacter spp. (n = 3), Pseudomonas spp. (n = 2), Klebsiella spp. (n = 2), Citrobacter freundii (n = 1)). All five patients had been hospitalised for ≥10days at the time-point of antibiotic therapy. Out of 11,626 sets of blood cultures, a total of 10 individual patients had Gram-negative blood-stream infections with resistance to ceftriaxone and piperacillin/tazobactam. 140 days-of-therapy (32%) with carbapenem in 18 patients (36%) were definitively or possibly indicated according to guidelines, none were indicated for healthcare-associated CNS-infections. CONCLUSION: An empiric treatment strategy relying on a third-generation cephalosporin appears suitable for healthcare-associated CNS infections at our tertiary hospital, serving a population of 2.6 million. However, in patients with prolonged hospitalization (≥10 days), immunosuppression, prior broad-spectrum antibiotic use, or history of resistant Gram-negative bacteria, empirical prescription of carbapenem may be needed.

Time to CT scan for patients with acute severe neurological symptoms: a quality assurance study.

Emergent brain computed tomography (CT) scan allows for identification of patients presenting with acute severe neurological symptoms in whom medical and surgical interventions may be lifesaving. The aim of this study was to evaluate if time to CT from arrival at the emergency department exceeded 30 min in patients admitted with acute severe neurological symptoms. This was a retrospective register-based quality assurance study. We identified patients admitted to the emergency department with acute severe neurological symptoms between April 1st, 2016 and September 30th, 2020. Data were retrieved from the registry of acute medical team activations. We considered that time to CT from arrival at the emergency department should not exceed 30 min in more than 10% of patients. A total of 559 patients were included. Median time from arrival at the emergency department until CT scan was 24 min (IQR 16-35) in children (< 18 years), 10 min (IQR 7-17) for adults (18-59 years), and 11 min (IQR 7-16) for elders (> 60 years). This time interval exceeded 30 min for 8.2% (95% CI 6.1-10.9) of all included patients, 35.3% of children, 5.9% of adults, and 8.6% of elders. No children died within 30 days. The 30-day mortality was 21.3% (95% CI 16.4-27) in adults, and 43.9% (95% CI 38.2-49.8) in elders. Time from arrival at our emergency department until brain CT scan exceeded 30 min in 8.2% of all included patients but exceeded the defined quality aim in children and could be improved.

Impact of MRI on decision-making in ICU patients with disorders of consciousness.

BACKGROUND: Recovery of consciousness is the most important survival factor in patients with acute brain injury and disorders of consciousness (DoC). Since most deaths in the intensive care unit (ICU) occur after withdrawal of life-support, medical decision-making is crucial for acute DoC patients. Neuroimaging informs decision-making, yet the precise effects of MRI on decision-making in the ICU are poorly understood. We investigated the impact of brain MRI on prognostication, therapeutic decisions and physician confidence in ICU patients with DoC. METHODS: In this simulated decision-making study utilizing a prospective ICU cohort, a panel of neurocritical experts first reviewed clinical information (without MRI) from 75 acute DoC patients and made decisions about diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Following review of the MRI, the panel then decided if the initial decisions needed revision. In parallel, a blinded neuroradiologist reassessed all neuroimaging. RESULTS: MRI led to changes in clinical management of 57 (76%) of patients (Number-Needed-to-Test for any change: 1.32), including revised diagnoses (20%), levels of care (21%), diagnostic confidence (43%) and prognostications (33%). Decisions were revised more often with stroke than with other brain injuries (p = 0.02). However, although MRI revealed additional pathology in 81%, this did not predict revised clinical decision-making (p-values ≥0.08). CONCLUSION: MRI results changed decision-making in 3 of 4 ICU patients, but radiological findings were not predictive of clinical decision-making. This highlights the need to better understand the effects of neuroimaging on management decisions. How MRI influences decision-making in the ICU is an important avenue for research to improve acute DoC management.

A randomised double-blind controlled study of Deep Brain Stimulation for dystonia in STN or GPi - A long term follow-up after up to 15 years.

AIM: This is a long-term open follow-up of a prospective double-blind crossover study, where electrodes were bilaterally implanted in both the Subthalamic nucleus (STN) and internal pallidum (GPi) in patients with isolated dystonia. METHODS: Patients with isolated dystonia were included to undergo surgery with Deep Brain stimulation (DBS) and after randomization, in a double-blind cross-over study, receiving bilateral stimulation of either STN or GPi for 6 months in each target. Preoperative and postoperative assessments with the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFMDRS) and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were performed. In this long-term follow-up (LFU), these ratings were repeated, and patients were evaluated with cognitive tests. RESULTS: 21 patients were included in the protocol, 9 patients with generalized dystonia, 12 with a diagnosis of cervical dystonia. The mean duration of disease was 19.3 years, age at time of surgery 50.1 years. Fourteen patients participated in the LFU. At a mean follow-up of 10.2 years (range 4.8-15.4), BFMDRS movement score was improved with a mean of 36% (p < 0.05) compared with baseline. At LFU both a statistically significant improvement of stimulation in STN on BFMDRS movement score (p = 0.029) and Gpi (p = 0.008) was demonstrated, no significant difference was found between the two targets (p = 0.076). SF-36 improved for both targets. CONCLUSION: In this study we performed a long-term follow-up in 14 patients with cervical or generalized dystonia, who received stimulation in GPi, STN or both. The mean follow-up time was more than 10 years. Our data support a long-term effect of both STN-DBS and GPi-DBS in dystonia with equal effect and safety for up to 15 years. STN has been proven a viable safe and effective target and may be used as an alternative to GPi in both adult-onset cervical dystonia and generalized dystonia.

[Meralgia paraesthetica].

This review summarises the treatment of meralgia paraesthetica. The condition is easy to recognise clinically, and in most cases the effect of conservative treatment is good. In case of persistent symptoms, further work-up is recommended including neurophysiological testing and ultrasound examination. If surgery is decided, we recommend nerve decompression primarily, since this procedure holds a success rate of 60-70%. In case of persistent symptoms, neurectomy should be performed. Ultrasound examination immediately before surgery can be helpful in localising the nerve and shortening procedural time.

Outcome after emergency surgery without angiography in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage after aneurysm rupture.

BACKGROUND: Patients with large intracerebral haematomas (ICH) from aneurysm rupture often present in a poor clinical condition and have a poor prognosis. Time delay for preoperative angiography might in some cases be unappealing. We evaluated the outcome after immediate haematoma removal and aneurysm occlusion without preoperative angiography. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 13 consecutive patients. We recorded clinical data and evaluated mortality and morbidity with the Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) and Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (TICS). FINDINGS: At follow up seven of thirteen patients had favourable outcome assessed by GOS. Three patients had severe disability and three patients died. None of the survived patients interviewed had impaired cognition. CONCLUSIONS: In patients presented in a critical state with aneurysmal ICH, emergency haematoma removal and aneurysm clipping without the delay for diagnostic angiography may be life saving and a satisfactory outcome can be accomplished.

[Organisation of peripheral nerve surgery in Denmark].

This review summarises the current knowledge of peripheral nerve surgery (PNS) in Denmark, which comprises the surgery of traumatic nerve lesions, entrapment syndromes, nerve tumours, and biopsies. Although the Danish Health Authority generally works towards a centralisation of PNS, it is actually performed at a widespread number of hospitals, of which some perform a very low number of procedures per year. International standards are highly specialised centres with subspecialists of PNS, high caseload, and integrated rehabilitation facilities. The future organisation of PNS in Denmark should comply with international standards.

Accuracy of tunnelated vs. bolt-connected external ventricular drains.

BACKGROUND: Ventriculostomy is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures and an important tool in the treatment and monitoring of elevated intracranial pressure. Low accuracy has frequently been reported in the literature with risk of drain misplacement over 20% and with a need for reinsertion in up to 40%. As an alternative to the tunnelated EVD technique we often use a bolt-connected EVD. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the use of bolt-connected EVDs would lead to higher accuracy, fewer passes and reoperations due to poor placement compared to tunnelated EVDs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified all patients who received an EVD from January 1st 2008 to December 31st 2010. Postoperative images were evaluated for anatomical placement of the EVD-tip, distance from tip to optimal placement and were categorized as optimal, suboptimal and undesired. Patient files were evaluated for EVD technique, number of passes and postoperative complications and handling. RESULTS: 147 patients with 154 separate EVDs met the inclusion criteria. We found a statistical significant higher accuracy in the bolt-group compared to the tunnelated-group (p=0.023). Eleven patients were reoperated following ventriculostomy and we found a statistical significant 11.9% reduction in reoperations due to poor placement in the bolt-group (p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: We have showed in this study that by using a bolt-connected EVD and maintaining the freehanded technique we can significantly increase precision and decrease the number of reoperations due to poor placement.