The Association Between Illness Severity Scores and In-hospital Mortality After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to examine the association with in-hospital mortality of 8 illness severity scores in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, we investigated the association with in-hospital mortality of admission Hunt and Hess (HH) score, Fisher grade, severity of illness and risk of mortality scores, and serial Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score in patients with aSAH. We also explored the changes in GCS between admission and discharge using a multivariate model adjusting for age, clinical vasospasm, and external ventricular drain status. RESULTS: Data from 480 patients with aSAH, of which 383 (79.8%) aneurysms were in the anterior circulation, were included in analysis. Patients were female (n=340, 70.8%) with a median age of 56 (interquartile range: 48 to 66) years. The majority (n=332, 69.2%) had admission HH score 3 to 5, Fisher grade 3 to 4 (n=437, 91%), median severity of illness 3 (range: 1 to 4), median risk of mortality 3 (range: 1 to 4), and median admission GCS of 13 (interquartile range: 7 to 15). Overall, 406 (84.6%) patients received an external ventricular drain, 469 (97.7%) underwent aneurysm repair, and 60 died (12.5%). Compared with admission HH score, GCS 24 hours after admission (area under the curve: 0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79-0.88) and 24 hours after aneurysm repair (area under the curve: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.82-0.90) were more likely to be associated with in-hospital mortality. Among those who died, the greatest decline in GCS was noted between 24 hours after aneurysm repair and discharge (-3.38 points, 95% CI: -4.17, -2.58). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with admission HH score, GCS 24 hours after admission (or 24 h after aneurysm repair) is more likely to be associated with in-hospital mortality after aSAH.

Nickels and tines: the myth of nickel allergy in intracranial stents.

BACKGROUND: Most intracranial stents contain nickel alloy, and nickel allergy or hypersensitivity is common. Neurological injury following endovascular treatment with a nickel containing intracranial stent has been reported in patients with purported nickel allergy, but it is unclear whether these reactions represent true nickel hypersensitivity. We quantified nickel release from commonly used intracranial stents to investigate whether such stents should be avoided in patients with nickel allergy. METHODS: We examined nickel release from seven commonly used intracranial stents: Enterprise, LVIS Jr, Neuroform, Wingspan, Zilver, Pipeline Flex Embolization Device, and Surpass Evolve. We incubated each stent in human plasma-like media for 30 days. Dimethylglyoxime (DMG) spot testing was performed on each stent to detect released nickel at 0 and 30 days. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was then used to quantify the nickel concentration of the media at 30 days. Nickel currency and nickel standard for atomic absorption spectrometry were used as positive controls. RESULTS: DMG spot tests indicated nickel release only from nickel currency at 0 and 30 days of incubation. No nickel release was detected from any stent at 30 days using ICP-OES. CONCLUSIONS: Nickel release from commonly used intracranial stents is negligible. These results suggest that previously reported hypersensitivity to these stents may be misattributed to nickel allergy, and that patients with nickel allergy may be safely treated with select nickel-containing stents.

Associations Between Transcranial Doppler Vasospasm and Clinical Outcomes After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to examine the relationship between transcranial Doppler cerebral vasospasm (TCD-vasospasm), and clinical outcomes in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, using univariate and multivariate analysis, we examined the association between TCD-vasospasm (defined as Lindegaard ratio >3) and patient's ability to ambulate without assistance, the need for tracheostomy and gastrostomy tube placement, and the likelihood of being discharged home from the hospital. RESULTS: We studied 346 patients with aSAH; median age 55 years (Interquartile range IQR 46,64), median Hunt and Hess 3 [IQR 1-5]. Overall, 68.6% (n=238) had TCD-vasospasm, and 28% (n=97) had delayed cerebral ischemia. At hospital discharge, 54.3% (n=188) were able to walk without assistance, 5.8% (n=20) had received a tracheostomy, and 12% (n=42) had received a gastrostomy tube. Fifty-three percent (n=183) were discharged directly from the hospital to their home. TCD-vasospasm was not associated with ambulation without assistance at discharge (adjusted odds ratio, aOR 0.54, 95% 0.19,1.45), tracheostomy placement (aOR 2.04, 95% 0.23,18.43), gastrostomy tube placement (aOR 0.95, 95% CI 0.28,3.26), discharge to home (aOR 0.36, 95% CI 0.11,1.23). CONCLUSION: This single-center retrospective study finds that TCD-vasospasm is not associated with clinical outcomes such as ambulation without assistance, discharge to home from the hospital, tracheostomy, and gastrostomy feeding tube placement. Routine screening for cerebral vasospasm and its impact on vasospasm diagnostic and therapeutic interventions and their associations with improved clinical outcomes warrant an evaluation in large, prospective, case-controlled, multi-center studies.