Risk for morbidity and mortality after neurosurgery in older patients with high grade gliomas - a retrospective population based study.

BACKGROUND: Although high grade gliomas largely affect older patients, current evidence on neurosurgical complications is mostly based on studies including younger study populations. We aimed to investigate the risk for postoperative complications after neurosurgery in a population-based cohort of older patients with high grade gliomas, and explore changes over time. METHODS: In this retrospective study we have used data from the Swedish Brain Tumour Registry and included patients in Sweden age 65 years or older, with surgery 1999-2017 for high grade gliomas. We analysed number of surgical procedures per year and which factors contribute to postoperative morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: The study included 1998 surgical interventions from an area representing 60% of the Swedish population. Over time, there was an increase in surgical interventions in relation to the age specific population (p < 0.001). Postoperative morbidity for 2006-2017 was 24%. Resection and not having a multifocal tumour were associated with higher risk for postoperative morbidity. Postoperative mortality for the same period was 5%. Increased age, biopsy, and poor performance status was associated with higher risk for postoperative mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows an increase in surgical interventions over time, probably representing a more active treatment approach. The relatively low postoperative morbidity- and mortality-rates suggests that surgery in older patients with suspected high grade gliomas can be a feasible option. However, caution is advised in patients with poor performance status where the possible surgical intervention would be a biopsy only. Further, this study underlines the need for more standardised methods of reporting neurosurgical complications.

Older meningioma patients: a retrospective population-based study of risk factors for morbidity and mortality after neurosurgery.

BACKGROUND: Meningioma is the most common primary CNS tumour. Most meningiomas are benign, and most patients are 65 years or older. Surgery is usually the primary treatment option. Most prior studies on early surgical outcomes in older patients with meningioma are small, and there is a lack of larger population-based studies to guide clinical decision-making. We aimed to explore the risks for perioperative mortality and morbidity in older patients with meningioma and to investigate changes in surgical incidence over time. METHODS: In this retrospective population-based study on patients in Sweden, 65 years or older with surgery 1999-2017 for meningioma, we used data from the Swedish Brain Tumour Registry. We analysed factors contributing to perioperative mortality and morbidity and used official demographic data to calculate yearly incidence of surgical procedures for meningioma. RESULTS: The final study cohort included 1676 patients with a 3.1% perioperative mortality and a 37.6% perioperative morbidity. In multivariate analysis, higher age showed a statistically significant association with higher perioperative mortality, whereas larger tumour size and having preoperative symptoms were associated with higher perioperative morbidity. A numerical increased rate of surgical interventions after 2012 was observed, without evidence of worsening short-term surgical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Higher mortality with increased age and higher morbidity risk in larger and/or symptomatic tumours imply a possible benefit from considering surgery in selected older patients with a growing meningioma before the development of tumour-related symptoms. This study further underlines the need for a standardized method of reporting and classifying complications from neurosurgery.

Correlation of Cerebral and Subcutaneous Glycerol in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury and Association with Tissue Damage.

BACKGROUND: This study is a substudy of a prospective consecutive double-blinded randomized study on the effect of prostacyclin in severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI). The aims of the present study were to investigate whether there was a correlation between brain and subcutaneous glycerol levels and whether the ratio of interstitial glycerol in the brain and subcutaneous tissue (glycerolbrain/sc) was associated with tissue damage in the brain, measured by using the Rotterdam score, S-100B, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), the Injury Severity Score (ISS), the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Score (APACHE II), and trauma type. A potential association with clinical outcome was explored. METHODS: Patients with sTBI aged 15-70 years presenting with a Glasgow Coma Scale Score ≤ 8 were included. Brain and subcutaneous adipose tissue glycerol levels were measured through microdialysis in 48 patients, of whom 42 had complete data for analysis. Brain tissue damage was also evaluated by using the Rotterdam classification of brain computed tomography scans and the biochemical biomarkers S-100B and NSE. RESULTS: In 60% of the patients, a positive relationship in glycerolbrain/sc was observed. Patients with a positive correlation of glycerolbrain/sc had slightly higher brain glycerol levels compared with the group with a negative correlation. There was no significant association between the computed tomography Rotterdam score and glycerolbrain/sc. S-100B and NSE were associated with the profile of glycerolbrain/sc. Our results cannot be explained by the general severity of the trauma as measured by using the Injury Severity Score or Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Score. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that peripheral glycerol may flux into the brain. This effect is associated with worse brain tissue damage. This flux complicates the interpretation of brain interstitial glycerol levels. We remind the clinicians that a damaged blood-brain barrier, as seen in sTBI, may alter the concentrations of various substances, including glycerol in the brain. Awareness of this is important in the interpretation of the data bedside as well in research.

Prostacyclin Affects the Relation Between Brain Interstitial Glycerol and Cerebrovascular Pressure Reactivity in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral injury may alter the autoregulation of cerebral blood flow. One index for describing cerebrovascular state is the pressure reactivity (PR). Little is known of whether PR is associated with measures of brain metabolism and indicators of ischemia and cell damage. The aim of this investigation was to explore whether increased interstitial levels of glycerol, a marker of cell membrane damage, are associated with PR, and if prostacyclin, a membrane stabilizer and regulator of the microcirculation, may affect this association in a beneficial way. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients suffering severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) were treated according to an intracranial pressure (ICP)-targeted therapy based on the Lund concept and randomized to an add-on treatment with prostacyclin or placebo. Inclusion criteria were verified blunt head trauma, Glasgow Coma Score ≤ 8, age 15-70 years, and a first measured cerebral perfusion pressure of ≥ 10 mmHg. Multimodal monitoring was applied. A brain microdialysis catheter was placed on the worst affected side, close to the penumbra zone. Mean (glycerolmean) and maximal glycerol (glycerolmax) during the 96-h sampling period were calculated. The mean PR was calculated as the ICP/mean arterial pressure (MAP) regression coefficient based on hourly mean ICP and MAP during the first 96 h. RESULTS: Of the 48 included patients, 45 had valid glycerol and PR measurements available. PR was higher in the placebo group as compared to the prostacyclin group (p = 0.0164). There was a positive correlation between PR and the glycerolmean (ρ = 0.503, p = 0.01) and glycerolmax (ρ = 0.490, p = 0.015) levels in the placebo group only. CONCLUSIONS: PR is correlated to the glycerol level in patients suffering from sTBI, a relationship that is not seen in the group treated with prostacyclin. Glycerol has been associated with membrane degradation and may support glycerol as a biomarker for vascular endothelial breakdown. Such a breakdown may impair the regulation of cerebrovascular PR.

A study of the opinions of Swedish healthcare personnel regarding acceptable outcome following decompressive hemicraniectomy for ischaemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Decompressive hemicraniectomy (DC) is an established lifesaving treatment for malignant infarction of the middle cerebral artery (mMCAI). However, surgical decompression will not reverse the effects of the stroke and many survivors will be left severely disabled. The objective of this study was to assess what neurological outcome would be considered acceptable in these circumstances amongst Swedish healthcare workers. METHOD: Healthcare workers were invited to participate in a presentation that outlined the pathophysiology of mMCAI, the rationale behind DC and outcome data from randomised controlled trials that have investigated efficacy of the procedure. They were then asked which neurological outcome would they feel to be acceptable based on the modified Rankin Score (mRS) and the Aphasia Handicap Scale (AHS). Information regarding sex, age, marital status, relatives, religion, earlier experience of stroke and occupation was also collected. RESULTS: Six hundred and nine persons participated. The median accepted mRS was 3. An mRS of 4 or 5 was perceived to be acceptable by only 30.5% of participants. Therefore the most likely outcome, based on the results of the randomised controlled trials, would be unacceptable to most of the participants [OR 0.39 (CI, 0.22-0.69)]. The median accepted AHS was 3. A worst language outcome of restricted autonomy of verbal communication (AHS 3) or better would be accepted by 44.6%. CONCLUSIONS: This study has highlighted the ethical problems when obtaining consent for DC following mMCAI, because for many of the participants the most likely neurological outcome would be deemed unacceptable. These issues need to be considered prior to surgical intervention and the time may have come for a broader societal discussion regarding the value of a procedure that converts death into survival with severe disability given the attendant financial and healthcare resource implications.

Prostacyclin influences the pressure reactivity in patients with severe traumatic brain injury treated with an ICP-targeted therapy.

BACKGROUND: This prospective consecutive double-blinded randomized study investigated the effect of prostacyclin on pressure reactivity (PR) in severe traumatic brain injured patients. Other aims were to describe PR over time and its relation to outcome. METHODS: Blunt head trauma patients, Glasgow coma scale ≤8, age 15-70 years were included and randomized to prostacyclin treatment (n = 23) or placebo (n = 25). Outcome was assessed using the extended Glasgow outcome scale (GOSE) at 3 months. PR was calculated as the regression coefficient between the hourly mean values of ICP versus MAP. Pressure active/stable was defined as PR ≤0. RESULTS: Mean PR over 96 h (PRtot) was 0.077 ± 0.168, in the prostacyclin group 0.030 ± 0.153 and in the placebo group 0.120 ± 0.173 (p < 0.02). There was a larger portion of pressure-active/stable patients in the prostacyclin group than in the placebo group (p < 0.05). Intra-individual changes over time were common. PRtot correlated negatively with GOSE score (p < 0.04). PRtot was 0.117 ± 0.182 in the unfavorable (GOSE 1-4) and 0.029 ± 0.140 in the favorable outcome group (GOSE 5-8). Area under the curve for prediction of death (ROC) was 0.742 and for favorable outcome 0.628. CONCLUSIONS: Prostacyclin influenced the PR in a direction of increased pressure stability and a lower PRtot was associated with improved outcome. The individual PR varied substantially over time. The predictive value of PRtot for outcome was not solid enough to be used in the clinical situation.

Increased paired box transcription factor 8 has a survival function in glioma.

BACKGROUND: The molecular basis to overcome therapeutic resistance to treat glioblastoma remains unclear. The anti-apoptotic b cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) gene is associated with treatment resistance, and is transactivated by the paired box transcription factor 8 (PAX8). In earlier studies, we demonstrated that increased PAX8 expression in glioma cell lines was associated with the expression of telomerase. In this current study, we more extensively explored a role for PAX8 in gliomagenesis. METHODS: PAX8 expression was measured in 156 gliomas including telomerase-negative tumours, those with the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism or with a non-defined telomere maintenance mechanism (NDTMM), using immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR. We also tested the affect of PAX8 knockdown using siRNA in cell lines on cell survival and BCL2 expression. RESULTS: Seventy-two percent of glioblastomas were PAX8-positive (80% telomerase, 73% NDTMM, and 44% ALT). The majority of the low-grade gliomas and normal brain cells were PAX8-negative. The suppression of PAX8 was associated with a reduction in both cell growth and BCL2, suggesting that a reduction in PAX8 expression would sensitise tumours to cell death. CONCLUSIONS: PAX8 is increased in the majority of glioblastomas and promoted cell survival. Because PAX8 is absent in normal brain tissue, it may be a promising therapeutic target pathway for treating aggressive gliomas.

The complications and the position of the Codman MicroSensor™ ICP device: an analysis of 549 patients and 650 Sensors.

BACKGROUND: Complications of and insertion depth of the Codman MicroSensor ICP monitoring device (CMS) is not well studied. OBJECTIVE: To study complications and the insertion depth of the CMS in a clinical setting. METHODS: We identified all patients who had their intracranial pressure (ICP) monitored using a CMS device between 2002 and 2010. The medical records and post implantation computed tomography (CT) scans were analyzed for occurrence of infection, hemorrhage and insertion depth. RESULTS: In all, 549 patients were monitored using 650 CMS. Mean monitoring time was 7.0 ± 4.9 days. The mean implantation depth was 21.3 ± 11.1 mm (0-88 mm). In 27 of the patients, a haematoma was identified; 26 of these were less than 1 ml, and one was 8 ml. No clinically significant bleeding was found. There was no statistically significant increase in the number of hemorrhages in presumed coagulopathic patients. The infection rate was 0.6 % and the calculated infection rate per 1,000 catheter days was 0.8. CONCLUSION: The risk for hemorrhagic and infectious complications when using the CMS for ICP monitoring is low. The depth of insertion varies considerably and should be taken into account if patients are treated with head elevation, since the pressure is measured at the tip of the sensor. To meet the need for ICP monitoring, an intraparenchymal ICP monitoring device should be preferred to the use of an external ventricular drainage (EVD).

Non-surgical patient characteristics best predict outcome after 6 months in patients surgically treated for chronic subdural haematoma.

BACKGROUND: Chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) is one of the most common conditions encountered in neurosurgical practice. After surgery, the patients often improve dramatically; but their long-term outcome is more uncertain. The purpose of this study was to investigate predictors of outcome 6 months after surgery. METHODS: Retrospective data were collected on patients in Orebro County, Sweden, who had undergone surgery for CSDH at the Orebro University Hospital between 2013 and 2019. The outcomes were defined as favourable or unfavourable in terms of the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). A favourable outcome was defined as either mRS 0-2 or an unchanged mRS score in patients scoring 3-5 before surgery. From the variables in the data collected, a multiple logistic regression model was constructed. RESULTS: The study comprised 180 patients, of whom 134 (74.4%) were male. Median age was 79.2 years (IQR 71.7-85.5), and 129 (71.7%) patients had a favourable outcome at 6 months. In the group with an unfavourable outcome, 18 (10%) had died and 33 (18.3%) had either lost their independence in daily living or become somewhat less independent. The final multiple logistic regression model consisted of pre-surgery variables only: age (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.87-0.97), CRP (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.99), GCS > 13 (OR 3.66, 95% CI 1.09-12.3), Hb (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.05), and ASA score < 3 (OR 2.58, 95% CI 0.98-6.79). The whole model had an AUC of 0.88. CONCLUSION: CSDH requiring surgery is associated with high morbidity and mortality at 6 months after surgery. Age, CRP, GCS, Hb and ASA score on admission for surgery are the variables that best predicts outcome. This knowledge can help to identify the patients at greatest risk for an unfavourable outcome, who may need additional support from the health care system. UNSTRUCTURED ABSTRACT: Chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) is one of the most common conditions encountered in neurosurgical practice. After surgery, the patients often improve dramatically; but their long-term outcome is more uncertain. The purpose of this study was to investigate predictors of outcome, in terms of the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), 6 months after surgery. The study comprised 180 patients, of whom 134 (74.4%) were male. Median age was 79.2 years (IQR 71.7-85.5), and 129 (71.7%) patients had a favourable outcome at 6 months. In the group with an unfavourable outcome, 18 (10%) had died and 33 (18.3%) had either lost their independence in daily living or become somewhat less independent. The final multiple logistic regression model consisted of pre-surgery variables only: age (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.87-0.97), CRP (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.99), GCS > 13 (OR 3.66, 95% CI 1.09-12.3), Hb (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.05), and ASA score < 3 (OR 2.58, 95% CI 0.98-6.79). The whole model had an AUC of 0.88. In conclusion, CSDH requiring surgery is associated with high morbidity and mortality at 6 months after surgery. Age, CRP, GCS, Hb and ASA score on admission for surgery are the variables that best predicts outcome. This knowledge can help to identify the patients at greatest risk for an unfavourable outcome, who may need additional support from the health care system.

[Treatment of traumatic brain injury in the acute setting - An overview]. / Modern handläggning minimerar följder av traumatisk hjärnskada.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death among the young, and has an increasing incidence among the elderly. In Sweden there are 20 000 new TBI cases each year, of which most are mild. The primary impact can lead to different types of brain hemorrhages, fractures and diffuse axonal injuries. The level of consciousness is used to define injury severity. Of all TBIs,  4-5 percent require surgical intervention. The primary impact initiates injury processes exacerbating the initial brain injury, and the goal of the acute management and neurointensive care treatment is to prevent these secondary insults. Among unconscious TBI patients, monitoring of intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP, defined as the difference between the mean arterial pressure and intracranial pressure) is routine. In this article we present an overview on different types of TBI, and describe the treatment of patients in the acute setting.

Subarachnoid haemorrhage induces an inflammatory response followed by a delayed persisting increase in asymmetric dimethylarginine.

OBJECTIVE: Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is associated with an inflammatory systemic response and cardiovascular complications. Asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, mediates vasoconstriction and might contribute to cerebral vasoconstriction and cardiovascular complications after SAH. ADMA is also involved in inflammation and induces endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether and how CRP (marker for systemic inflammation) and ADMA increased in patients during the acute phase (first week) after SAH. The ADMA level was also assessed in the patients in a non-acute phase (three months), and in healthy controls. METHODS: A prospective study of 20 patients with aneurysmal SAH. ADMA and CRP were followed daily during the first week after SAH and a follow up sample for ADMA was obtained 3 months later. A single blood sample for ADMA was collected from age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 40, two for each case). RESULTS: CRP increased significantly from day 2; 16 (Confidence interval (CI) 10-23) mg/L to day 4; 84 (CI 47-120) mg/L, (p < 0.01). ADMA increased significantly from day 2; 0.22 (CI 0.17-0.27) µmol/L, to day 7; 0.37 (CI 0.21-0.54) µmol/L, p < 0.01. ADMA remained elevated at a 3-month follow-up: 0.36 (CI 0.31-0.42) µmol/L. ADMA in the first sample from the patients (day 1-3); 0.25 (CI 0.19-0.30) µmol/L, was not different from ADMA in matched healthy controls; 0.25 (CI 0.20-0.31), p > 0.05. CONCLUSION: After SAH, CRP and ADMA in serum increased significantly during the first week and ADMA remained elevated 3 months later.

The IMPACT prognosis calculator used in patients with severe traumatic brain injury treated with an ICP-targeted therapy.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) is important. The International Mission on Prognosis in Traumatic Brain Injury (IMPACT) study group has developed a prediction calculator for the outcome of patients with sTBI, and this has been made available on the World Wide Web. We have studied the use of the IMPACT calculator on sTBI patients treated with an ICP-targeted therapy based on the Lund concept. METHOD: The individual clinical data of patients in a prospective sTBI protocol-driven trial of the treatment of sTBI using the Lund concept were entered into the prognosis calculator, and the individual prognosis for each patient was calculated and compared with the actual outcome at 6 months. FINDINGS: The use of the IMPACT calculator led to an overestimation of mortality and of an unfavourable outcome. Compared with the IMPACT database, the absolute risk reduction (ARR) for mortality was 13.6 %. There is a statistically significant probability for the prediction of mortality and unfavourable outcome. A ROC curve analysis shows an area under the curve (AUC) in the Core model for mortality of 0.744 and of unfavourable outcome of 0.731, in the Extended model of 0.751 and 0.721 respectively, and in the Lab model of 0.779 and 0.810 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The IMPACT prognosis calculator should be used with caution for the prediction of outcome for an individual patient with sTBI treated with an ICP-targeted therapy based on the Lund concept. We conclude that we have to initiate treatment in all patients with blunt sTBI and an initial cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)≥10 mmHg [corrected]. It seems that the outcome in sTBI patients treated in this fashion is better than would have been expected from the IMPACT prognosis.

Dynamics of brain tissue changes induced by traumatic brain injury assessed with the Marshall, Morris-Marshall, and the Rotterdam classifications and its impact on outcome in a prostacyclin placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: The present study evaluates the types and dynamics of intracranial pathological changes in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) who participated in a prospective, randomized, double-blinded study of add-on treatment with prostacyclin. Further, the changes of brain CT scan and their correlation to Glasgow Coma Scale score (GCS), maximal intracranial pressure (ICP(max)), minimal cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP(min)), and Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) at 3, 6, and 12 months were studied. METHODS: Forty-eight subjects with severe traumatic brain injury were treated according to an ICP-targeted therapy protocol based on the Lund concept with the addition of prostacyclin or placebo. The first available CT scans (CT(i)) and follow-up scans nearest to 24 h (CT(24)) were evaluated using the Marshall, Rotterdam, and Morris-Marshall classifications. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation of the initial Marshall, Rotterdam, Morris-Marshall classifications and GOS at 3 and 12 months. The CT(24) Marshall classification did not significantly correlate to GOS while the Rotterdam and the Morris-Marshall classification did. The CT(i) Rotterdam classification predicted outcome evaluated as GOS at 3 and 12 months. Prostacyclin treatment did not influence the dynamic of tissue changes. CONCLUSIONS: The Rotterdam classification seems to be appropriate for describing the evolution of the injuries on the CT scans and contributes in predicting of outcome in patients treated with an ICP-targeted therapy. The Morris-Marshall classification can also be used for prognostication of outcome but it describes only the impact of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (tSAH).

Prostacyclin treatment and clinical outcome in severe traumatic brain injury patients managed with an ICP-targeted therapy: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively assess clinical outcome in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) managed according to an ICP-targeted programme as well as additional treatment with prostacyclin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inclusion criteria were GCS ≤8, age 15-70 years, first recorded cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) > 10 mm Hg. Exclusion criteria were pregnancy, breastfeeding or penetrating brain injury. The patients were treated using the same ICP-guided protocol, with one group randomized to receive prostacyclin in a low dose (0.5 ng kg(-1 )min(-1)). The clinical outcome was prospectively assessed at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months using structured interviews. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were included, mean age 35.5 years, median GCS 6 (3-8), 69% were multi-traumatized. Mortality at 3 months was 12.5%. Median Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at all follow-up points was 4. Favourable outcome (GOS 4-5) at 3 months was 52%, at 24 months 64%. Favourable outcome increased over time. There was a statistically significant association between GOS, GCS at admission and age. Higher ICP(max) was associated with worse outcome. CONCLUSION: With this treatment protocol, a low number of deaths and a high number of favourable outcomes in sTBI were observed. Prostacyclin in this low dose does not seem to improve the outcome. ICP(max) is a positive predictor of worse outcome. Higher GCS at admission and lower age are correlated to better outcome.

Frequency of non-convulsive seizures and non-convulsive status epilepticus in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients in need of controlled ventilation and sedation.

BACKGROUND: Non-convulsive seizures (NCSZ) can be more prevalent than previously recognized among comatose neuro-intensive care patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of NCSZ and non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) in sedated and ventilated subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients. METHODS: Retrospective study at a university hospital neuro-intensive care unit, from January 2008 until June 2010. Patients were treated according to a local protocol, and were initially sedated with midazolam or propofol or combinations of these sedative agents. Thiopental was added for treatment of intracranial hypertension. No wake-up tests were performed. Using NicoletOne(®) equipment (VIASYS Healthcare Inc., USA), continuous EEG recordings based on four electrodes and a reference electrode was inspected at full length both in a two electrode bipolar and a four-channel referential montage. RESULTS: Approximately 5,500 h of continuous EEG were registered in 28 SAH patients (33 % of the patients eligible for inclusion). The median Glasgow Coma scale was 8 (range 3-14) and the median Hunt and Hess score was 4 (range 1-4). During EEG registration, no clinical seizures were observed. In none of the patients inter ictal epileptiform activity was seen. EEG seizures were recorded only in 2/28 (7 %) patients. One of the patients experienced 4 min of an NCSZ and one had a 5 h episode of an NCSE. CONCLUSION: Continuous EEG monitoring is important in detecting NCSZ in sedated patients. Continuous sedation, without wake-up tests, was associated with a low frequency of subclinical seizures in SAH patients in need of controlled ventilation.

A Validation Study of Kwon's Prognostic Scoring System for Chronic Subdural Hematoma.

OBJECTIVE: Surgery for chronic subdural hematoma is one of the most frequent operations in neurosurgical practice. Chronic subdural hematoma mostly afflicts the elderly population. In 2018, Kwon and co-workers, published the Kwon scoring system (KSS), whereby 6 clinical and radiological factors are used to facilitate, and promote quality in, surgical decision-making and counseling of relatives. The aim of this study is to validate the KSS. METHODS: Patients operated on for unilateral chronic subdural hematoma at Örebro University Hospital, Sweden, between 2013 and 2019 constituted the study population. General data and the 6 outcome predictors according to the KSS were extracted from the electronic patient records. The preoperative modified Rankin Scale score and the postoperative 6-month modified Rankin Scale score were assessed. RESULTS: We identified 133 patients (69.2% male) with a median age of 80.2 years (interquartile range 72.6-85.9). The median Glasgow Coma Scale score at admission was 15; 57.1% had motor deficits and 36.81% were disoriented. For 39.1% of the patients, the prognosis was a favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0-1) at 6 months. The median KSS score was 9; 63.9% of the patients scored ≥9, and 36 (42.4%) of these patients actually achieved a favorable outcome. This corresponds to a prediction model sensitivity of 0.667 and specificity of 0.424. A receiver operator characteristic curve analysis of the model yielded an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of 0.62441. CONCLUSIONS: In our material, the KSS did not predict outcome precisely enough to base treatment decisions or counseling of relatives on the scores obtained.

The significance of direct transportation to a trauma center on survival for severe traumatic brain injury.

INTRODUCTION: While timely specialized care can contribute to improved outcomes following traumatic brain injury (TBI), this condition remains the most common cause of post-injury death worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in mortality between regional trauma centers in Sweden (which provide neurosurgical services round the clock) and non-trauma centers, hypothesizing that 1-day and 30-day mortality will be lower at regional trauma centers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used data extracted from the Swedish national trauma registry and included adults admitted with severe TBI between January 2014 and December 2018. The cohort was divided into two subgroups based on whether they were treated at a trauma center or non-trauma center. Severe TBI was defined as a head injury with an AIS score of 3 or higher. Poisson regression analyses with both univariate and multivariate models were performed to determine the difference in mortality risk [Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR)] between the subgroups. As a sensitivity analysis, the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method was used to adjust for the effects of confounding. RESULTS: A total of 3039 patients were included. Patients admitted to a trauma center had a lower crude 30-day mortality rate (21.7 vs. 26.4% days, p = 0.006). After adjusting for confounding variables, patients treated at regional trauma center had a 28% [adj. IRR (95% CI): 0.72 (0.55-0.94), p = 0.015] decreased risk of 1-day mortality and an 18% [adj. IRR (95% CI): 0.82 (0.69-0.98)] reduction in 30-day mortality, compared to patients treated at a non-trauma center. After adjusting for covariates in the Poisson regression analysis performed after IPTW, admission and treatment at a trauma center were associated with a 27% and 17% reduction in 1-day and 30-day mortality, respectively. CONCLUSION: For patients suffering a severe TBI, treatment at a regional trauma center confers a statistically significant 1-day and 30-day survival advantage over treatment at a non-trauma center.

Validation of the scandinavian guidelines for initial management of minor and moderate head trauma in children.

BACKGROUND: Head trauma in children is common, with a low rate of clinically important traumatic brain injury. CT scan is the reference standard for diagnosis of traumatic brain injury, of which the increasing use is alarming because of the risk of induction of lethal malignancies. Recently, the Scandinavian Neurotrauma Committee derived new guidelines for the initial management of minor and moderate head trauma. Our aim was to validate these guidelines. METHODS: We applied the guidelines to a population consisting of children with mild and moderate head trauma, enrolled in the study: "Identification of children at very low risk of clinically-important brain injuries after head trauma: a prospective cohort study" by Kuppermann et al. (Lancet 374(9696):1160-1170, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61558-0 , 2009). We calculated the negative predictive values of the guidelines to assess their ability to distinguish children without clinically-important traumatic brain injuries and traumatic brain injuries on CT scans, for whom CT could be omitted. RESULTS: We analysed a population of 43,025 children. For clinically-important brain injuries among children with minimal head injuries, the negative predictive value was 99.8% and the rate was 0.15%. For traumatic findings on CT, the negative predictive value was 96.9%. Traumatic finding on CT was detected in 3.1% of children with minimal head injuries who underwent a CT examination, which accounts for 0.45% of all children in this group. CONCLUSION: Children with minimal head injuries can be safely discharged with oral and written instructions. Use of the SNC-G will potentially reduce the use of CT.

Non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage is associated with subnormal blood creatinine levels.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the hypothesis that patients with non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) have statistically significant subnormal creatinine levels and that the creatinine levels are associated with severity of disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study over 2 years (2005-2006) in which the SAH patients were divided into patients with severe symptoms and patients with mild/moderate symptoms, and were compared to patients with; traumatic brain injury, trauma without brain injury and patients undergoing elective knee surgery. Blood creatinine levels (day 1-3, and day 7) were recorded. RESULTS: Compared to a normal distribution, SAH patients had statistically significant subnormal creatinine levels day one through seven. SAH patients with severe symptoms had statistically significant subnormal creatinine levels already on day one, in contrast to patients with mild/moderate symptoms. Women with severe symptoms had statistically significant subnormal creatinine levels throughout the study period in contrast to men with severe symptoms who had a normal distribution of creatinine at admission. Women with mild/moderate symptoms had a normal distribution of creatinine only at admission in contrast to men who had a normal distribution of creatinine throughout the study period. Male patients with traumatic brain injury, all trauma patients without brain injury and all patients undergoing elective knee surgery had a normal distribution of creatinine on all studied days. CONCLUSIONS: SAH is associated with subnormal serum creatinine levels. This finding is more pronounced in patients with severe symptoms and in women.

Absence of electroencephalographic seizure activity in patients treated for head injury with an intracranial pressure-targeted therapy.

OBJECT: The authors prospectively studied the occurrence of clinical and nonclinical electroencephalographically verified seizures during treatment with an intracranial pressure (ICP)-targeted protocol in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: All patients treated for TBI at the Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Umeå, Sweden, were eligible for the study. The inclusion was consecutive and based on the availability of the electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring equipment. Patients were included irrespective of pupil size, pupil reaction, or level of consciousness as long as their first measured cerebral perfusion pressure was > 10 mm Hg. The patients were treated in a protocol-guided manner with an ICP-targeted treatment based on the Lund concept. The patients were continuously sedated with midazolam, fentanyl, propofol, or thiopental, or combinations thereof. Five-lead continuous EEG monitoring was performed with the electrodes at F3, F4, P3, P4, and a midline reference. Sensitivity was set at 100 muV per cm and filter settings 0.5-70 Hz. Amplitude-integrated EEG recording and relative band power trends were displayed. The trends were analyzed offline by trained clinical neurophysiologists. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients (mean age 40 years) were studied. Their median Glasgow Coma Scale score at the time of sedation and intubation was 6 (range 3-15). In 8.5% of the patients clinical seizures were observed before sedation and intubation. Continuous EEG monitoring was performed for a total of 7334 hours. During this time neither EEG nor clinical seizures were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our protocol-guided ICP targeted treatment seems to protect patients with severe TBI from clinical and subclinical seizures and thus reduces the risk of secondary brain injury.