Patient Outcomes in Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (itSAH) are often transferred to a Level I or II trauma center for neurosurgical evaluation. Recent literature suggests that some patients, such as those with high Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, may be safely observed without neurosurgical consultation. The objective of this study was to investigate characteristics of patients with itSAH to determine the clinical utility of neurosurgical evaluation and repeat imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 350 patients aged ≥ 18 y with initial computed tomography head (CTH) showing itSAH and GCS scores of 13-15. Patient demographics, medical history, medications, length of stay, transfer status, injury type and severity, and CTH results were extracted for analysis. Bivariate analyses were conducted to determine whether any factors were associated with a worsening repeat CTH. RESULTS: Most patients were female (57.4%) with blunt injuries (99.1%). The median age was 73 y. Neurosurgery was consulted for 342 (97.7%) patients, with one (0.3%) requiring intervention. Of 311 (88.9%) repeat imaging, 16 (5.1%) showed worsening. Factors with statistically significant associations with worsening CTH included injury severity; neurological deficit; lengths of stay; and a history of congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, or substance use disorder. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that patients with itSAH and high GCS scores may be able to be managed safely without neurosurgical oversight. The factors strongly associated with worsening CTH may be useful in identifying patients who need transfer for intensive care. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and develop appropriate management strategies for patients with itSAH.

Association Between Intensive Care Unit Admission Practices and Outcomes in Patients with Isolated Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Nationwide Inpatient Database Analysis in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Patients with traumatic brain injury associated with intracranial hemorrhage are commonly admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU); however, the need for ICU care for patients with isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (tSAH) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between the ICU admission practices and outcomes in patients with isolated tSAH. METHODS: This observational study used a nationwide administrative database in Japan. We identified patients with isolated tSAH from the Japanese Diagnostic Procedure Combination inpatient database from July 1, 2010, to March 31, 2020. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, whereas the secondary outcomes were neurosurgical interventions, activities of daily living at discharge, and total hospitalization cost. We performed a risk-adjusted mixed-effect regression analysis to evaluate the association between hospital-level ICU admission rates and study outcomes. The ICU admission rates were categorized into quartiles: lowest, middle-low, middle-high, and highest. Moreover, we assessed the robustness of the results with a patient-level instrumental variable analysis. RESULTS: Of the 61,883 patients with isolated tSAH treated at 962 hospitals, 16,898 (27.3%) patients were admitted to the ICU on the day of admission. Overall, 2465 (4.0%) patients died in the hospital, and 783 (1.3%) patients underwent neurosurgical interventions. There was no significant difference between the lowest and highest ICU admission quartile in terms of in-hospital mortality (3.7% vs. 4.3%; adjusted odds ratio 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.78-1.10), neurosurgical interventions, and activities of daily living at discharge. However, the total hospitalization cost in the lowest ICU admission quartile was significantly lower than that in the highest quartile (US $3032 vs. $4095; adjusted difference US $560; 95% CI 33-1087). The patient-level instrumental variable analysis did not reveal a significant difference in in-hospital mortality between the patients who were admitted to the ICU and those who were not (risk difference 0.2%; 95% CI - 0.1 to 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant association between the ICU admission practices and outcomes in patients with isolated tSAH, whereas higher ICU admission rates were associated with significantly higher hospitalization costs. Our results provide an opportunity for improved health care allocation in the management of patients with isolated tSAH.

Long-Term Outcomes after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Older Adults. A Registry-based Cohort Study.

Rationale: Older adults (≥65 yr old) account for an increasing proportion of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), yet clinical trials and outcome studies contain relatively few of these patients.Objectives: To determine functional status 6 months after severe TBI in older adults, changes in this status over 2 years, and outcome covariates.Methods: This was a registry-based cohort study of older adults who were admitted to hospitals in Victoria, Australia, between 2007 and 2016 with severe TBI. Functional status was assessed with Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE) 6, 12, and 24 months after injury. Cohort subgroups were defined by admission to an ICU. Features associated with functional outcome were assessed from the ICU subgroup.Measurements and Main Results: The study included 540 older adults who had been hospitalized with severe TBI over the 10-year period; 428 (79%) patients died in hospital, and 456 (84%) died 6 months after injury. There were 277 patients who had not been admitted to an ICU; at 6 months, 268 (97%) had died, 8 (3%) were dependent (GOSE 2-4), and 1 (0.4%) was functionally independent (GOSE 5-8). There were 263 patients who had been admitted to an ICU; at 6 months, 188 (73%) had died, 39 (15%) were dependent, and 32 (12%) were functionally independent. These proportions did not change over longer follow-up. The only clinical features associated with a lower rate of functional independence were Injury Severity Score ≥25 (adjusted odds ratio, 0.24 [95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.67]; P = 0.007) and older age groups (P = 0.017).Conclusions: Severe TBI in older adults is a condition with very high mortality, and few recover to functional independence.

Repeat Head CT for Neurologically Stable Patients With Mild Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage During Interfacility Transfer and Follow-Up Does Not Alter Patient Care [Formula: see text].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of repeat head computed tomography (CT) during (1) interfacility transfer and (2) inpatient and/or outpatient follow-up on management, cost-effectiveness, and radiation dose in neurologically stable patients with mild traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (tSAH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective study evaluating patients with mild tSAH presenting between January 2017 and July 2019. A total of 101 and 140 patients met the eligibility criteria for the first and second subgroups, respectively. Common inclusion criteria were isolated mild tSAH, Glasgow Coma Scale between 13 and 15, and neurological stability. Additional inclusion criteria for the first subgroup were availability of brain imaging at the outside institution prior to transfer and the second subgroup was the availability of follow-up imaging. RESULTS: In the first subgroup, 76.20% of patients had stable SAH, 18.80% had reduced SAH, while 5% had an interval increase in SAH. None required any surgical intervention. Additional per-patient mean radiation exposure was 1.77 ± 0.26 mSv. In the second subgroup, all 140 patients had complete resolution of tSAH. One patient had a new tiny subdural hemorrhage, which subsequently resolved on follow-up. The additional mean radiation exposure was 2.47 ± 1.29 mSv. A total of 256 avoidable CT scans were performed resulting in excess health care costs of about US$531 696. CONCLUSION: In neurologically stable isolated tSAH patients, repeat brain imaging during interfacility transfer and inpatient and/or outpatient follow-up do not alter patient management despite increased health care costs and radiation burden.

Warfarin Reinitiation After Intracranial Hemorrhage: A Case Series of Heart Valve Patients.

Patients with mechanical heart valves are at high thrombotic risk and require warfarin. Among those developing intracranial hemorrhage, limited data are available to guide clinicians with antithrombotic reinitiation. This 13-patient case series of warfarin-associated intracranial hemorrhages found the time to reinitiate antithrombotic therapy (17 days, interquartile range 21.5 days), and changes to international normalized ratio targets were variable and neither correlated with the type, location, or etiology of bleed, nor the valve and associated thromboembolic risk. The initial presentation significantly impacted prognosis, and diligent assessment and follow-up may support positive long-term outcomes.

Isolated Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: An Evaluation of Critical Care Unit Admission Practices and Outcomes From a North American Perspective.

OBJECTIVES: Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage is a common radiographic finding associated with traumatic brain injury. The objective of this investigation is to evaluate the association between hospital-level ICU admission practices and clinically important outcomes for patients with isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage and mild clinical traumatic brain injury. DESIGN: Multicenter observational cohort. SETTING: Trauma centers participating in the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program spanning January 2012 to March 2014. PATIENTS: A total of 14,146 subjects, 16 years old and older, admitted to 215 trauma centers with isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage and Glasgow Coma Scale score 13 or greater. Patients with concurrent intracranial injuries, severe injury to other body regions, or tests positive for alcohol or illicit substances were excluded. INTERVENTION: ICU admission. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome was need for neurosurgical intervention, defined as insertion of an intracranial monitor/drain or craniectomy/craniotomy. Secondary outcomes describing the clinical course included hospital discharge disposition, in-hospital mortality, and length of stay. Admission to ICU was common within the cohort (44.6%), yet the need for neurosurgical intervention was rare (0.24%). Variability was high between centers and remained so after adjusting for differences in case-mix and hospital-level characteristics (median odds ratio, 4.1). No significant differences in neurosurgical interventions, mortality, or discharge disposition to home under self-care were observed between groups of the highest and lowest ICU admitting hospitals. However, those in highest admitting group "stayed" in hospital 1.13 (95% CI, 1.07-1.20; p < 0.001) times that of the lowest admitting group. CONCLUSIONS: Critical care admission for mild traumatic brain injury patients with isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage is frequent and highly variable despite low probability of requiring neurosurgical intervention. Reevaluation of hospital-level practices may represent an opportunity for resource optimization when managing patients with mild clinical traumatic brain injury and associated isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Pediatric Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Patient With Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Takotsubo Syndrome.

Takotsubo syndrome is rare in pediatric patients but must be considered in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage with pulmonary edema and cardiomyopathy. A systematic, collaborative approach is needed to facilitate emergent transfer of patients where extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (e-CPR) is used as a lifesaving measure. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use in transport requires preplanning, role delineation, resources, and research efforts to be successful. We present an unusual transport case of successful e-CPR/ECMO treatment of Takotsubo syndrome in a 12-year-old boy with an isolated traumatic intracranial injury, cardiomyopathy with pulmonary edema, and multiple cardiac arrests.

The clinical significance of small subarachnoid hemorrhages.

With advancing technology, the sensitivity of computed tomography (CT) for the detection of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (tSAH) continues to improve. Increased resolution has allowed for the detection of hemorrhage that is limited to one or two images of the CT exam. At our institution, all patients with a SAH require intensive care unit (ICU) admission, regardless of size. It was our hypothesis that patients with small subarachnoid hemorrhage experience favorable outcomes, and may not require the intensive monitoring offered in the ICU. This retrospective study evaluated 62 patients between 2011 and 2014 who presented to our Level I trauma center emergency room for acute traumatic injuries, and found to have subarachnoid hemorrhages on CT examination. The grade of subarachnoid hemorrhage was determined using previously utilized scoring systems, such as the Fisher, Modified Fisher, and Claassen grading systems. Electronic medical records were used to evaluate for medical decline, neurological decline, neurosurgical intervention, and overall hospital course. Admitting co-morbidities were noted, as were the presence of patient intoxication and use of anticoagulants. Patient outcomes were based on discharge summaries upon which the neurological status of the patient was assessed. Each patient was given a score based on the Glasgow outcome scale. The clinical and imaging profile of 62 patients with traumatic SAH were studied. Of the 62 patients, 0 % underwent neurosurgical intervention, 6.5 % had calvarial fractures, 25.8 % had additional intracranial hemorrhages, 27.4 % of the patients had significant co-morbidities, and 1.6 % of the patients expired. Patients with low-grade tSAH spent less time in the ICU, demonstrated neurological and medical stability during hospitalization. None of the patients with low-grade SAH experienced seizure during their admission. In our study, patients with low-grade tSAH demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes. This suggests that patients may not require as aggressive monitoring as is currently provided for those with tSAH.

Delayed post-traumatic large subgaleal hematoma caused by diastasis of rhomboid skull suture on the transverse sinus.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to consider an appropriate treatment for large subgaleal hematoma with skull fracture and epidural hematoma (EDH). CASE REPORT: A 6-year-old boy presented at our hospital with head trauma, and computed tomography (CT) showed a thin EDH in the right temporo-occipital area and cranial diastasis in the right lambdoidal suture. However, no neurological deficits were identified in the patient. One week after trauma, he visited our hospital again with a massive fluctuant watery mass extending from the forehead to the right temporoparietal areas, and laboratory data revealed that he was anemic. CT showed a massive subgaleal hematoma with extremely high density around the cranial diastasis. Damage of the transverse sinus was suspected, and emergent sinus repair surgery was performed. The surgery disclosed that bleeding from the transverse sinus was flowing out extracranially through the cranial diastasis. The subgaleal and epidural hematomas were removed, and bleeding from the sinus was stopped by dural tacking sutures along the transverse sinus. Postoperative CT demonstrated complete disappearance of epidural and subgaleal hematomas. The patient recovered from general fatigue without blood transfusion and was discharged 9 days after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The therapeutic strategy for massive subgaleal hematoma is individualized. However, treatment for massive subgaleal hematoma with skull fracture should not be considered the same as for hematoma without skull fracture. Emergent surgery is recommended before neurological deterioration is recognized in the patient if damage to the dural sinus is suspected.

A tangential gunshot wound to the head: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Patients with tangential gunshot wounds (TGSWs) commonly present with a good Glasgow Coma Scale score and without a history of loss of consciousness. Typically, the bullet does not breach the skull, however, there is a considerable force directed into the brain, and these patients are best treated as sustaining a moderate-to-severe blunt head injury. These patients require observation and repeat imaging. Physicians should be aware of this entity as these patients can deteriorate in a delayed fashion. OBJECTIVES: The authors present a case of a TGSW to the head in a neurologically intact patient. The initial post-injury computed tomography (CT) scan showed a very small subdural hematoma (SDH) with no overlying fracture of the skull. A delayed CT scan performed 4 h after arrival to the Emergency Department and 6 h after injury demonstrated an increase in size of the SDH, new traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, and bilateral cerebral contusions. Clinically, the patient showed worsening of her neurological examination. She underwent aggressive non-surgical treatment for increased intracranial pressure with almost complete recovery. CONCLUSION: Although patients with TGSWs are typically in good condition upon presentation, these injuries are not always trivial, and these patients should have, at minimum, a non-contrast brain CT scan to evaluate underlying damage to the brain and skull. In addition, a delayed CT scan and close observation on a neurosurgical service are indicated.

Do All Isolated Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhages Need to Be Transferred to a Level 1 Trauma Center?

BACKGROUND: The management of isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (itSAH) in non-trauma centers usually results in transfer to a Level 1 trauma center with neurosurgical capabilities. Due to lack of trauma center resources, we sought to evaluate if patients with itSAH need transfer to a Level I trauma center. METHODS: A retrospective review of the trauma registry was conducted from Jan 2015-Dec 2020. Patients with itSAH on initial computed tomographic imaging and a Glasgow Coma Scale score >13 were included. Patients with any other intracranial pathology, skull fractures, multi-system trauma or age less than 15 were excluded. RESULTS: 120 patients were identified with itSAH. Mean age was 63 years, and 44% were male. Mean injury severity score was 4.7 with 48% on anticoagulation/antiplatelet therapy. Radiology Reports were reviewed and only 2 scans (1.7%) showed an increase in itSAH, 98.3% reports revealed no change, improvement, or resolution. No patients deteriorated and no patients underwent neurosurgical intervention. Once admitted, 27 (23%) were treated for acute medical conditions and 39 (33%) required subspecialty medical consultations. There was no difference in increased itSAH on repeat imaging between patients on anticoagulation/antiplatelet therapy and those without. The population taking anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy was older, more likely to have suffered a fall, have more comorbid conditions, was more likely to be treated for a non-traumatic medical condition and have a subspecialty medical consultation. DISCUSSION: Patients with itSAH do not require transfer to a Level 1 trauma center for acute neurosurgical intervention.

Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Scoping Review.

Sixty-nine million people have a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year, and TBI is the most common cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Traumatic SAH (TSAH) has been described as an adverse prognostic factor leading to progressive neurological deterioration and increased morbidity and mortality. A limited number of studies, however, evaluate recent trends in the diagnosis and management of SAH in the context of trauma. The objective of this scoping review was to understand the extent and type of evidence concerning the diagnostic criteria and management of TSAH. This scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. The review included adults with SAH secondary to trauma, where isolated TSAH (iTSAH) refers to the presence of SAH in the absence of any other traumatic radiographic intracranial pathology, and TSAH refers to the presence of SAH with the possibility or presence of additional traumatic radiographic intracranial pathology. Data extracted from each study included study aim, country, methodology, population characteristics, outcome measures, a summary of findings, and future directives. Thirty studies met inclusion criteria. Studies were grouped into five categories by topic: TSAH associated with mild TBI (mTBI), n = 13), and severe TBI (n = 3); clinical management and diagnosis (n = 9); imaging (n = 3); and aneurysmal TSAH (n = 1). Of the 30 studies, two came from a low- and middle-income country (LMIC), excluding China, nearly a high-income country. Patients with TSAH associated with mTBI have a very low risk of clinical deterioration and surgical intervention and should be treated conservatively when considering intensive care unit admission. The Helsinki and Stockholm computed tomography scoring systems, in addition to the American Injury Scale, creatinine level, age decision tree, may be valuable tools to use when predicting outcome and death.

Should the management of isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage differ from concussion in the setting of mild traumatic brain injury?

BACKGROUND: In the setting of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), the clinical significance of a traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (tSAH) has not been sufficiently studied. We examined the impact of an isolated tSAH on patient outcomes in the mild TBI population. METHODS: We retrospectively identified all mild TBI patients (Glasgow Coma Scale score ≥13) who presented to a Level I trauma center over a 10-year period. We compared isolated tSAH patients with isolated concussion patients. χ(2) and logistic regression analyses were used to compare intensive care unit (ICU) admission, ICU length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, progression of tSAH, in-hospital mortality, and disposition to rehabilitation. RESULTS: There were 1,144 concussion and 117 tSAH patients included in our study. After adjustment, tSAH patients had increased odds of admission to the ICU (odds ratio, [OR] = 8.87; p < 0.0001), yet their ICU LOS was significantly shorter (OR = 0.29; p = 0.01). The overall hospital LOS and mortality rate were not significantly different between the TBI groups. When stratified by age, only the 40-year to 69-year-old tSAH patients had significantly increased adjusted odds of disposition to rehabilitation compared with concussion patients, independent of ICU admission (OR = 7.96; p = 0.004). None of the patients required any neurosurgical interventions. CONCLUSIONS: We encourage healthcare facilities to consider revising or creating ICU admission criteria for the mild TBI population to help optimize the utilization of their ICUs. We believe clinicians should place more emphasis on variables such as age, comorbidities, and neurologic condition rather than the presence of a small volume of blood in the subarachnoid space when admitting mild isolated TBI patients to the ICU.

Assessing the efficacy of mild traumatic brain injury management.

OBJECTIVE: Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is frequently found on computed tomography (CT) after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) prompting transfer to centers with neurosurgical coverage and repeat imaging to confirm hemorrhage stability. Studies suggest routine repeat imaging has little utility in patients with minimal ICH, no anticoagulant/antiplatelet use, and no neurological decline. Additionally, it is unclear which mTBI patients benefit from transfer for neurosurgery consultation. The authors sought to assess the clinical utility and cost effectiveness of routine repeat head CTs and transfer to tertiary centers in patients with low-risk, mTBI. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of patients receiving a neurosurgical consultation for TBI during a 4-year period was performed at a level 1 trauma center. Patients were stratified according to risk for neurosurgical intervention based on their initial clinical evaluation and head CT. Only patients with low-risk, mTBI were included. RESULTS: Of 531 patients, 119 met inclusion criteria. Eighty-eight (74.0 %) received two or more CTs. Direct cost of repeat imaging was $273,374. Thirty-seven (31.1 %) were transferred to our facility from hospitals without neurosurgical coverage, costing $61,384. No patient had neurosurgical intervention or mTBI-related in-hospital mortality despite enlarging ICH on repeat CT in three patients. Two patients had mTBI related 30-day readmission for seizure without ICH expansion. CONCLUSION: Routine repeat head CT or transfer of low-risk, mTBI patients to a tertiary center did not result in neurosurgical intervention. Serial neurological examinations may be a safe, cost-effective alternative to repeat imaging for select mTBI patients. A large prospective analysis is warranted for further evaluation.

The delayed detection of an acute neurological worsening increases traumatic brain injury lethality / [La detección tardía del deterioro neurológico agudo incrementa la letalidad por trauma craneoencefálico.]

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury is a leading worldwide cause of death and disability in young people. Severity classification is based on the Glasgow Coma Scale. However, the neurological worsening in an acute setting does not always correspond to the initial severity suggesting an underestimation of the real magnitude of the injury. Objective: To study the correlation between the initial severity according to the Glasgow Coma Scale and the patient outcome in the context of different clinical and tomography variables. Materials and methods: We analyzed a retrospective cohort of 490 patients with closed traumatic brain injury requiring a stay in the intensive care unit of two third-level hospitals in Barranquilla. The risk was estimated by calculating the OR (95% CI). The significance level was established at an alpha value of 0.05. Results: Forty-one percent of all patients required orotracheal intubation; 51.2% were initially classified with moderate trauma and 6,0% as mild. The delay in the aggressive management of the traumas affected mainly those patients with traumas classified as moderate in whom lethality increased to 100% when there was delay in the detection of the neurological worsening and in the establishment of the aggressive treatment beyond 4 to 8 hours while the lethality in patients who received this treatment within the first hour reduced to <20%. Conclusions: The risk of lethality in traumatic brain injury increases with the delayed detection of neurological worsening in an acute setting, especially when aggressive management is performed after the first hour post-trauma.

Introducción. El trauma craneoencefálico es una de las principales causas de muerte y discapacidad en adultos jóvenes. Su gravedad se define según la escala de coma de Glasgow. Sin embargo, el deterioro neurológico agudo no siempre concuerda con la gravedad inicial indicada por la escala, lo que implica una subestimación de la magnitud real de la lesión. Objetivo. Estudiar la correlación entre la gravedad inicial del trauma craneoencefálico según la escala de coma de Glasgow y la condición final del paciente, en el contexto de diferentes variables clínicas y de los hallazgos de la tomografía. Materiales y métodos. Se analizó una cohorte retrospectiva de 490 pacientes con trauma craneoencefálico cerrado que requirieron atención en la unidad de cuidados intensivos de dos centros de tercer nivel de Barranquilla. La estimación del riesgo se estableció con la razón de momios (odds ratio, OR) y un intervalo de confianza (IC) del 95 %. Se utilizó un alfa de 0,05 como nivel de significación. Resultados. El 41,0 % de los pacientes requirió intubación endotraqueal; el 51,2 % había presentado traumas inicialmente clasificados como moderados y, el 6,0 %, como leves. El retraso en la implementación de un tratamiento agresivo afectó principalmente a aquellos con trauma craneoencefálico moderado, en quienes la letalidad aumentó al 100 % cuando no se detectó a tiempo el deterioro neurológico y, por lo tanto, el tratamiento agresivo se demoró más de 4 a 8 horas. Por el contrario, la letalidad fue de menos de 20 % cuando se brindó el tratamiento agresivo en el curso de la primera hora después del trauma. Conclusiones. El riesgo de letalidad del trauma craneoencefálico aumentó cuando el deterioro neurológico se detectó tardíamente y el tratamiento agresivo se inició después de transcurrida la primera hora a partir del trauma.

Complications, outcomes, and management strategies of non-missile penetrating head injuries.

OBJECTIVE: While high-velocity missile injury (gunshot) is associated with kinetic and thermal injuries, non-missile penetrating head injury (NMPHI) results in primary damage along the tract of the piercing object that can be associated with significant secondary complications. Despite the unique physical properties of NMPHI, factors associated with complications, expected outcomes, and optimal management have not been defined. In this study, the authors attempted to define those factors. METHODS: Consecutive adult patients with NMPHI who presented to Tygerberg Academic Hospital (Cape Town, South Africa) in the period from August 1, 2011, through July 31, 2018, were enrolled in a prospective study using a defined treatment algorithm. Clinical, imaging, and laboratory data were analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-two patients (185 males [96%], 7 females [4%]) with 192 NMPHIs were included in this analysis. The mean age at injury was 26.2 ± 1.1 years (range 18-58 years). Thirty-four patients (18%) presented with the weapon in situ. Seventy-one patients (37%) presented with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 15. Weapons included a knife (156 patients [81%]), screwdriver (18 [9%]), nail gun (1 [0.5%]), garden fork (1 [0.5%]), barbeque fork (1 [0.5%]), and unknown (15 [8%]). The most common wound locations were temporal (74 [39%]), frontal (65 [34%]), and parietal (30 [16%]). The most common secondary complications were vascular injury (37 patients [19%]) and infection (27 patients [14%]). Vascular injury was significantly associated with imaging evidence of deep subarachnoid hemorrhage and an injury tract crossing vascular territory (p ≤ 0.05). Infection was associated with delayed referral (> 24 hours), lack of prophylactic antibiotic administration, and weapon in situ (p ≤ 0.05). A poorer outcome was associated with a stab depth > 50 mm, a weapon removed by the assailant, vascular injury, and eloquent brain involvement (p ≤ 0.05). Nineteen patients (10%) died from their injuries. The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score was linearly related to the admission GCS score (p < 0.001). One hundred forty patients (73%) had a GOS score of 4 or better at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The most common NMPHI secondary complications are vascular injury and infection, which are associated with specific NMPHI imaging and clinical features. Identifying these features and using a systematic management paradigm can effectively treat the primary injury, as well as diagnose and manage NMPHI-related complications, leading to a good outcome in the majority of patients.

Exosomes from Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Can Alleviate Early Brain Injury After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Through miRNA129-5p-HMGB1 Pathway.

In this study, the roles of exosomes (Exo) from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in attenuating early brain injury (EBI) in rat brain after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) had been investigated. The male Sprague-Dawley rats (300-350 g) were used to establish the SAH model using endovascular perforation method. The animals were randomly divided into three groups: sham (n = 25), SAH+PBS (n = 42), and SAH+Exo groups (n = 33). At 1 h after SAH, Exo or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was administered by femoral vein injection. The effects of Exo on the mortality, neurological function, brain water content, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) were explored. Furthermore, the expressions of miRNA129-5p and high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) after Exo treatment were also detected. In addition, immunohistochemistry and western blot were applied to investigate the mechanism of Exo's effects. The results indicated that Exo could improve the neurological functions, reduce brain water content and maintain BBB integrity after SAH. After Exo treatment, the expression of miRNA129-5p was significantly increased, whereas the RNA level of HMGB1 was decreased. The protein levels of proinflammatory and proapoptosis factors, such as HMGB1, Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), tumor necrosis factor-α, and p53, were increased after SAH, which were significantly declined after Exo application. The results indicated that Exo from BMSCs could alleviate EBI after SAH through miRNA129-5p's anti-inflammation and antiapoptosis effects through quenching the activity of HMGB1-TLR4 pathway.

[Extracorporeal liquor-corrective therapy of traumatic subarachnoidal hemorrhage].

Comprehensive analysis of criteria for the severity of clinical conditions in patients with craniocerebral injuries included characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid and lesions of hematoencephalic barrier (HEB). The study revealed the relationship between clinico-neurological conditions of the patients, liquor nitrite levels, and HEB permeability. An attempt was undertaken to evaluate efficiency of liquor-corrective treatment in combination with intense therapy in patients with severe cerebral injuries.