The Impatient Patient and the Unreceptive Receptionist: Darnley v Croydon Health Services NHS Trust [2018] UKSC 50.

In Darnley v Croydon Health Services NHS Trust [2018] UKSC 50, the Supreme Court held that a hospital receptionist's misleading statement about A&E waiting times constituted a breach of duty and that the claimant's decision, based on this misinformation, to leave the hospital did not break the chain of causation when he was left paralysed as a result of a head injury. In this commentary, I argue that while the Supreme Court's treatment of duty of care and breach is, for the most part, a model of doctrinal clarity, its treatment of the causation issue is problematic as it elides the test of whether there has been a break in the chain of causation with that for remoteness. I then comment on the Supreme Court's construction of the patient in medical negligence cases.

Life After the Neurosurgical Ward in Sub-Saharan Africa: Neurosurgical Treatment and Outpatient Outcomes in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: In the past decade, neurosurgery in Uganda experienced increasing surgical volume and a new residency training program. Although research has examined surgical capacity, minimal data exist on the patient population treated by neurosurgery and their eventual outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: Patients admitted to Mulago National Referral Hospital neurosurgical ward over 2 years (2014 and 2015) were documented in a prospective database. In total, 1167 were discharged with documented phone numbers and thus eligible for follow-up. Phone surveys were developed and conducted in the participant's language to assess mortality, neurologic outcomes, and follow-up health care. RESULTS: During the study period, 2032 patients were admitted to the neurosurgical ward, 80% for traumatic brain injury. A total of 7.8% received surgical intervention. The in-hospital mortality rate was 18%. A total of 870 patients were reached for phone follow-up, a 75% response rate, and 30-day and 1-year mortality were 4% and 8%, respectively. Almost one-half of patients had not had subsequent health care after the initial encounter. Most patients had Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended scores consistent with good recovery and mild disability, with patients experiencing trauma faring best and patients with tumor faring worst. A total of 85% felt they returned to baseline work performance, and 76% of guardians felt that children returned to baseline school performance. CONCLUSIONS: The neurosurgical service provided health care to a large proportion of nonoperative patients. Phone surveys captured data on patients in whom nearly one-half would be lost to subsequent health care. Although mortality during initial hospitalization was high, more than 90% of those discharged survived at 1-year follow up, and the vast majority returned to work and school.

[Infantile acquired brain injury, a personal experience. Demands from the socio-familial point of view]. / Daño cerebral sobrevenido infantil, una experiencia personal. Reclamaciones desde el punto de vista sociofamiliar.

We report on the experience of a family in which the youngest child has acquired brain injury and the struggle undertaken by the family to improve the neurorehabilitation resources in the public health service. The article outlines the main demands, from the socio-familial point of view, as regards the improvement of neurological rehabilitation and the resources needed to deliver it.

TITLE: Daño cerebral sobrevenido infantil, una experiencia personal. Reclamaciones desde el punto de vista sociofamiliar.Se describe la experiencia de una familia en la que el hijo menor tiene daño cerebral sobrevenido y la lucha emprendida por la familia para mejorar los recursos neurorrehabilitadores de la sanidad publica. Se recogen las principales reclamaciones, desde el punto de vista sociofamiliar, en cuanto a la mejora en la atencion neurorrehabilitadora y los recursos necesarios.

Comparative Assessment of the Prognostic Value of Biomarkers in Traumatic Brain Injury Reveals an Independent Role for Serum Levels of Neurofilament Light.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common cause of death and disability, worldwide. Early determination of injury severity is essential to improve care. Neurofilament light (NF-L) has been introduced as a marker of neuroaxonal injury in neuroinflammatory/-degenerative diseases. In this study we determined the predictive power of serum (s-) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF-) NF-L levels towards outcome, and explored their potential correlation to diffuse axonal injury (DAI). A total of 182 patients suffering from TBI admitted to the neurointensive care unit at a level 1 trauma center were included. S-NF-L levels were acquired, together with S100B and neuron-specific enolase (NSE). CSF-NF-L was measured in a subcohort (n = 84) with ventriculostomies. Clinical and neuro-radiological parameters, including computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging, were included in the analyses. Outcome was assessed 6 to 12 months after injury using the Glasgow Outcome Score (1-5). In univariate proportional odds analyses mean s-NF-L, -S100B and -NSE levels presented a pseudo-R2 Nagelkerke of 0.062, 0.214 and 0.074 in correlation to outcome, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, in addition to a model including core parameters (pseudo-R2 0.33 towards outcome; Age, Glasgow Coma Scale, pupil response, Stockholm CT score, abbreviated injury severity score, S100B), S-NF-L yielded an extra 0.023 pseudo-R2 and a significantly better model (p = 0.006) No correlation between DAI or CT assessed-intracranial damage and NF-L was found. Our study thus demonstrates that S-NF-L correlates to TBI outcome, even if used in models with S100B, indicating an independent contribution to the prediction, perhaps by reflecting different pathophysiological processes, not possible to monitor using conventional neuroradiology. Although we did not find a predictive value of NF-L for DAI, this cannot be completely excluded. We suggest further studies, with volume quantification of axonal injury, and a prolonged sampling time, in order to better determine the connection between NF-L and DAI.

[Assessment of therapeutic passive hypothermia in newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy that need interhospital transport]. / Valoración de la hipotermia terapéutica pasiva del recién nacido con encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica que precisa traslado interhospitalario.

INTRODUCTION: Induced hypothermia for the first hours of life in a newborn is an effective treatment to reduce mortality and serious effects in neonates that had suffered a hypoxia episode. This method needs an universal attendance independently of the place of birth being usually necessary a transfer to the reference hospital. AIM: To analyze the efficacy of the newborn with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy transfer in passive hypothermia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Descriptive study of series of cases with retrospective character of newborn from Cadiz's province that need induced hypothermia. 46 newborn were included in the study: 33 of them (71.74%) needed being transfer by the Critical Patients Transport service (CPT group), the rest (28.26%) were born into the reference hospital. RESULTS: Both groups are similar in age gestational at birth, sex, weight and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy degree. It analyzed variables related to hypothermia therapy and in addition in CPT group transfer specific variables. At discharge, it does not exist significant differences between groups in the efficiency-consequence of neuroprotection therapy with hypothermia (p = 0.159). It does not find complications derived from the interhospital move. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal inter-hospital transfer in passive therapeutic hypothermia is effective, safe and necessary for the therapy compliance. It is required reach an agreement between the attendance and the reference service, setting up guides for the support and suitable range of temperature.

TITLE: Valoracion de la hipotermia terapeutica pasiva del recien nacido con encefalopatia hipoxico-isquemica que precisa traslado interhospitalario.Introduccion. La hipotermia inducida durante las primeras horas de vida del recien nacido es un tratamiento eficaz para reducir la mortalidad y secuelas graves en neonatos que han sufrido un episodio de hipoxia perinatal. Este procedimiento requiere una asistencia universalizada independiente del centro donde haya nacido, siendo necesario su traslado al hospital de referencia. Objetivo. Evaluar la eficacia del traslado interhospitalario del neonato con encefalopatia hipoxico-isquemica en hipotermia pasiva. Pacientes y metodos. Estudio descriptivo de series de casos con caracter retrospectivo. Se estudiaron neonatos de la provincia de Cadiz que precisaron hipotermia inducida. Se incluyo a un total de 46 neonatos en el analisis: 33 de ellos (71,74%) precisaron traslado por el Servicio de Traslados de Pacientes Criticos (grupo TPC); el resto (28,26%) nacio en el centro de referencia. Resultados. Ambos grupos son comparables en edad gestacional al nacimiento, sexo, peso y grado de encefalopatia hipoxico-isquemica. Se analizan variables relacionadas con la aplicacion de la hipotermia, y en el grupo TPC se analizan variables relacionadas con el traslado. No se aprecian diferencias significativas entre los grupos en la efectividad-consecuencia de la terapia neuroprotectora con hipotermia al alta hospitalaria (p = 0,159). No se encuentran complicaciones derivadas del traslado interhospitalario. Conclusiones. El traslado interhospitalario del neonato en hipotermia terapeutica realizado de forma pasiva es efectivo, seguro y necesario para el cumplimiento de la terapia. Es preciso consensuar la asistencia con el servicio de referencia, estableciendo guias en cuanto al soporte y rango de temperatura adecuada, consolidando asi una asistencia integral.

'A disease that makes criminals': encephalitis lethargica (EL) in children, mental deficiency, and the 1927 Mental Deficiency Act.

Encephalitis lethargica (EL) was an epidemic that spread throughout Europe and North America during the 1920s. Although it could affect both children and adults alike, there were a strange series of chronic symptoms that exclusively affected its younger victims: behavioural disorders which could include criminal propensities. In Britain, which had passed the Mental Deficiency Act in 1913, the concept of mental deficiency was well understood when EL appeared. However, EL defied some of the basic precepts of mental deficiency to such an extent that amendments were made to the Mental Deficiency Act in 1927. I examine how clinicians approached the sequelae of EL in children during the 1920s, and how their work and the social problem that these children posed eventually led to changes in the legal definition of mental deficiency. EL serves as an example of how diseases are not only framed by the society they emerge in, but can also help to frame and change existing concepts within that same society.

'Lead us not into temptation': adolescence and alcohol policy in Europe.

Although the World Health Organization and the European Community recognize harm to children and young people due to alcohol-whether their own or someone else's drinking-effective policies to reduce harm are not widely followed. The alcohol beverage industry's drive to use social networking systems blurs the line between user-generated and industry marketing materials, such that young people are more frequently and at a younger age, potentially exposed to the promotion of alcoholic drinks. This contravenes recommendations arising out of the emerging scientific literature that delaying the onset of drinking and reducing the prevalence of heavy session drinking are likely to promote a healthier next generation.

Sickle cell disease: time for a closer look at treatment options?

Tremendous progress has been made in the care of individuals with sickle cell over the past several decades. Major successes have been comprehensive infection prophylaxis, prediction and prevention of stroke, and better transfusion care, the latter including both prevention of alloimmunization and treatment of iron overload. However, definitive therapies remain limited to hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea) and stem cell transplantation, both of which have been in use for at least two decades. Despite knowing the progressive natural history of the disease with organ dysfunction, failure, and ultimately death at a young age, definitive therapies are considered for only a small proportion of individuals. Consequently, while life expectancy has improved dramatically from the last century, the ongoing pace of advancement has slowed or stalled. We believe that it is time to broaden the use of definitive therapy for those with asymptomatic disease, being cautiously more aggressive in our approach.

[Clinical profile in subjects with acquired brain injury in chronic phase in a social and health care center]. / Perfil del sujeto con daño cerebral adquirido en fase crónica en un recurso de atención sociosanitaria.

INTRODUCTION: There are few resources for acquired brain injury (ABI) in post-hospitalary phase in our country. At this level of carefulness, Personal Autonomy Promotion Center in Bergondo contemplates like a social and health care resource in order to facilitate community integration in subjects with ABI. AIMS. To describe clinical profile in the subjects admitted in our unit, and to assess intervention possibilities with clinico-functional recovery goals in the chronic phases in ABI. PATIENTS AND METHOD: . Sample of 105 subjects admitted in our center until December 2010. 86 men and 19 women, with a mean age of 32.16 years old and a most frequent evolution time of less than 5 years (64.76%). Variables collected were: sex, age, etiology, evolution time, personality changes diagnosis, admission FIM, previous participation in rehabilitation programmes and have recovery goals. RESULTS: The main etiology was traumatic brain injury (62.5%). The 54.28% of the subjects was taking physical rehabilitation at the moment of admission, while the 49.52% had participated in neuropsychological interventions. Physical recovery goals were identified in the 42.85% of the subjects and the 78.09% had goals in neuropsychology field. CONCLUSION: The clinical profile observed was young man with sequelae caused by a traumatic brain injury suffered in last five years, who has received poor neuropsychological care and that still takes physiotherapy treatment.

Early neurological deterioration within 24 hours after intravenous rt-PA therapy for stroke patients: the Stroke Acute Management with Urgent Risk Factor Assessment and Improvement rt-PA Registry.

BACKGROUND: The initial 24 h after thrombolysis are critical for patients' conditions, and continuous neurological assessment and blood pressure measurement are required during this time. The goal of this study was to identify the clinical factors associated with early neurological deterioration (END) within 24 h of stroke patients receiving intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) therapy and to clarify the effect of END on 3-month outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective, multicenter, observational study was conducted in 10 stroke centers in Japan. A total of 566 consecutive stroke patients [211 women, 72 ± 12 years old, the median initial NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 13] treated with intravenous rt-PA (0.6 mg/kg alteplase) was studied. END was defined as a 4-point or greater increase in the NIHSS score at 24 h from the NIHSS score just before thrombolysis. RESULTS: END was present in 56 patients (9.9%, 18 women, 72 ± 10 years old) and was independently associated with higher blood glucose [odds ratio (OR) 1.17, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.07-1.28 per 1 mmol/l increase, p < 0.001], lower initial NIHSS score (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.87-0.97 per 1-point increase, p = 0.002), and internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion (OR 5.36, 95% CI 2.60-11.09, p < 0.001) on multivariate analysis. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within the initial 36 h from thrombolysis was more common in patients with END than in the other patients (per NINDS/Cochrane protocol, OR 10.75, 95% CI 4.33-26.85, p < 0.001, and per SITS-MOST protocol, OR 12.90, 95% CI 2.76-67.41, p = 0.002). At 3 months, no patients with END had a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-1. END was independently associated with death and dependency (mRS 3-6, OR 20.44, 95% CI 6.96-76.93, p < 0.001), as well as death (OR 19.43, 95% CI 7.75-51.44, p < 0.001), at 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperglycemia, lower baseline NIHSS score, and ICA occlusion were independently associated with END after rt-PA therapy. END was independently associated with poor 3-month stroke outcome after rt-PA therapy.

[Social impact of stroke due to atrial fibrillation]. / Impacto social del ictus producido por fibrilación auricular.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent heart arrhythmia and causes a substantial proportion of ischemic strokes. AF has a marked impact on stroke severity, as well as on morbidity and mortality in these patients. The importance of AF as an etiologic factor of stroke increases in the elderly and in the last few years its detection has increased. The presence of AF leads to more severe initial neurological involvement, longer hospitalization, greater disability and a lower probability of discharge to home. In addition, AF is an independent risk factor for mortality, especially in women and the elderly. All these factors lead to a higher social and economic impact among stroke patients with AF.

Risk in pediatric anesthesia.

Risk in pediatric anesthesia can be conveniently classified as minor or major. Major morbidity includes cardiac arrest, brain damage and death. Minor morbidity can be assessed by clinical audits with small patient samples. Major morbidity is rare. It is best assessed by very large clinical studies and by review of closed malpractice claims. Both minor and major morbidity occur most commonly in infants and children under three, especially those with severe co-morbidities. Knowledge of risk profiles in pediatric anesthesia is a starting point for the reduction of risk.

Errorless learning of functional life skills in an individual with three aetiologies of severe memory and executive function impairment.

Errorless learning (EL) procedures have been shown to be effective in teaching new information and new procedures to individuals with severe memory impairment. The published studies have been based on comparatively short-term interventions delivered to individuals with relatively circumscribed impairments. In this single case study, we explore the usefulness of errorless learning procedures used for seven years with an adult with profound and complicated memory and executive function impairments associated with three distinct aetiologies. In primary functional areas targeted by the intervention, outcome was documented by behavioural descriptions and a frequency rating scale. Caregiver burden was documented with qualitative descriptors. A financial cost-benefit analysis is also provided. In the absence of change in underlying neuropsychological impairments, DI's everyday functioning in critical areas improved substantially, with corresponding reduction in supports and improved quality of life. Caregiver burden was reduced to acceptable levels and cost-benefit analysis demonstrates substantial ongoing cost savings.

Stroke in under-75-year-olds: expectations, concerns and needs.

UNLABELLED: Most studies of functional outcomes in hemiplegic stroke patients use standard disability rating scales (such as the Barthel Index). However, planning the allocation of assistance and resources requires additional information about these patients' expectations and needs. AIMS OF THE STUDY: To assess functional independence in daily living and house holding, changes in home settings, type of technical aid and human helps, and expectations in hemiplegic patients 1 to 2 years after the stroke. METHODS: Sixty-one out of 94 patients admitted to the neurovascular unit of French university hospital for a first-ever documented stroke were consecutively enrolled. The study was restricted to patients under 75, since patients over 75 do not follow the same care network. Patients were examined at their homes or interviewed by phone 17 months (on average) after the stroke. Standard functional assessment tools (such as the Barthel Index and the instrumental activities of daily living [IADL] score) were recorded, along with descriptions of home settings and instrumental and human help. Lastly, patients and caregivers were asked to state their expectations and needs. RESULTS: Although only one person was living in a nursing home after the stroke, 23 (34%) of the other interviewees had needed to make home adjustments or move home. Seven patients (11%) were dependent in terms of the activities of daily living (a Barthel Index below 60) and 11 (18%) had difficulty in maintaining domestic activities and community living (an IADL score over 10). Although the remaining patients had made a good functional recovery, 23 were using technical aids and 28 needed family or caregiver assistance, including 23 patients with full functional independence scores. Twenty-five patients (42%) were suffering from depression as defined by the diagnosis and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th edition, text revision, DSM IV-R). The patients' prime concerns were related to recovery of independence, leisure activities and financial resources. Family members' expectations related to the complexity of administrative matters, lack of information and the delay in service delivery. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In under-75 hemiplegic stroke patients, high scores on standard disability rating scales do not always mean that no help is required.