Novel artificial intelligence-based hypodensity detection tool improves clinician identification of hypodensity on non-contrast computed tomography in stroke patients.

Introduction: In acute stroke, identifying early changes (parenchymal hypodensity) on non-contrast CT (NCCT) can be challenging. We aimed to identify whether the accuracy of clinicians in detecting acute hypodensity in ischaemic stroke patients on a non-contrast CT is improved with the use of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based, automated hypodensity detection algorithm (HDT) using MRI-DWI as the gold standard. Methods: The study employed a case-crossover within-clinician design, where 32 clinicians were tasked with identifying hypodensity lesions on NCCT scans for five a priori selected patient cases, before and after viewing the AI-based HDT. The DICE similarity coefficient (DICE score) was the primary measure of accuracy. Statistical analysis compared DICE scores with and without AI-based HDT using mixed-effects linear regression, with individual NCCT scans and clinicians as nested random effects. Results: The AI-based HDT had a mean DICE score of 0.62 for detecting hypodensity across all NCCT scans. Clinicians' overall mean DICE score was 0.33 (SD 0.31) before AI-based HDT implementation and 0.40 (SD 0.27) after implementation. AI-based HDT use was associated with an increase of 0.07 (95% CI: 0.02-0.11, p = 0.003) in DICE score accounting for individual scan and clinician effects. For scans with small lesions, clinicians achieved a mean increase in DICE score of 0.08 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.13, p = 0.004) following AI-based HDT use. In a subgroup of 15 trainees, DICE score improved with AI-based HDT implementation [mean difference in DICE 0.09 (95% CI: 0.03, 0.14, p = 0.004)]. Discussion: AI-based automated hypodensity detection has potential to enhance clinician accuracy of detecting hypodensity in acute stroke diagnosis, especially for smaller lesions, and notably for less experienced clinicians.

Prospective analysis of stroke recognition, stroke risk factors, thrombolysis rates and outcomes in Indigenous Australians from a large rural referral hospital.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death and disability in indigenous communities but limited prospective data exist about stroke. AIMS: To estimate the difference in stroke recognition, risk factors, treatment rates and outcomes between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples admitted to the Wagga Wagga Rural Referral Hospital (WWRRH) over a 5-year period with a suspected acute stroke. METHODS: All suspected strokes presenting to the 33 peripheral hospitals within the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) were transferred to the WWRRH and prospectively assessed over a 5-year period from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2017. Actions at stroke onset, risks factors, stroke type, treatment and outcomes were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 1843 patients were included. Of these, 45 (2.5%) patients were indigenous. Only 26.6% of indigenous and 34% of non-indigenous patients knew of the face, arm, speech, time (FAST) acronym. Indigenous patients were younger (mean age 62.0 years vs 74.4 years) and more likely to have diabetes (risk difference (RD) 22.3% (95% CI: 3%, 41.7%)), dyslipidaemia (RD 19.4% (95% CI: 21.%, 36.7%)), and be ever smokers (RD 24.9% (95% CI: 9.5%, 40.3%)). Stroke types were similar except lacunar infarcts were more common (19.2% vs 8.4%). Treatment rates and outcomes were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Indigenous Australians with stroke are a decade younger and have a higher prevalence of important, modifiable stroke-risk factors. Delayed presentation to hospital is more common, due in part to stroke symptoms being underrecognised. When admitted to a specialised stroke unit, treatment rates and outcomes are comparable.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy under continuous spinal anesthesia in a patient with Steinert's disease / Colecistectomia laparoscópica sob raquianestesia contínua em paciente com doença de Steinert

ABSTRACT Steinert's disease is an intrinsic disorder of the muscle with multisystem manifestations. Myotonia may affect any muscle group, is elicited by several factors and drugs used in general anesthesia like hypnotics, sedatives and opioids. Although some authors recommend the use of regional anesthesia or combined anesthesia with low doses of opioids, the safest anesthetic technique still has to be established. We performed a continuous spinal anesthesia in a patient with Steinert's disease undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy using 10 mg of bupivacaine 0.5% and provided ventilatory support in the perioperative period. Continuous spinal anesthesia was safely used in Steinert's disease patients but is not described for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We reported a continuous spinal anesthesia as an appropriate technique for laparoscopic cholecystectomy and particularly valuable in Steinert's disease patients.

RESUMO A doença de Steinert é uma desordem intrínseca do músculo com manifestações multissistêmicas. A miotonia pode afetar qualquer grupo muscular e é provocada por vários fatores e medicamentos usados em anestesia geral, como hipnóticos, sedativos e opiáceos. Embora alguns autores recomendem o uso de anestesia regional ou anestesia combinada com opiáceos em doses baixas, a técnica anestésica mais segura ainda precisa ser estabelecida. Administramos raquianestesia contínua em um paciente com doença de Steinert submetido à colecistectomia laparoscópica, com 10 mg de bupivacaína a 0,5%, e fornecemos suporte ventilatório no período perioperatório. A raquianestesia contínua foi usada com segurança em pacientes com doença de Steinert, mas não foi relatada em colecistectomia laparoscópica. Relatamos a raquianestesia contínua como uma técnica adequada para a colecistectomia laparoscópica e particularmente valiosa em pacientes com doença de Steinert.

Bloqueio do plano transverso abdominal contínuo bilateral em doente com cirurgia abdominal prévia / Continuous bilateral TAP block in patient with prior abdominal surgery / Bloqueo del plano transverso abdominal continuo bilateral en enfermo con cirugía abdominal previa

Os autores apresentam um caso clínico em que foi realizado um bloqueio do plano do músculo transverso abdominal, com colocação de cateter bilateral, para analgesia pós-operatória de laparotomia exploradora, em doente com cirurgia abdominal prévia, insuficiência cardíaca, renal e hepática, em opção à analgesia epidural e aos opioides endovenosos em perfusão.

We present as an option for epidural analgesia and intravenous opioid infusion a clinical case of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block, with bilateral placement of catheter for postoperative analgesia after exploratory laparotomy performed in a patient with previous abdominal surgery and heart, kidney and liver failure.

Los autores presentan un caso clínico en que se realizó un bloqueo del plano del músculo transverso abdominal, con la colocación de catéter bilateral para la analgesia postoperatoria de laparotomía exploratoria, en un enfermo con cirugía abdominal previa, insuficiencia cardíaca renal y hepática, como una opción a la analgesia epidural y a los opioides endovenosos en perfusión.