Addressing the Evidence Gap in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: The Need for a Pragmatic Randomized Trial Platform.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) occurs less often than other stroke types but affects younger patients, imposing a disproportionately high burden of long-term disability. Although management advances have improved outcomes over time, relatively few aSAH treatments have been tested in randomized clinical trials (RCTs). One lesson learned from COVID-19 is that trial platforms can facilitate the efficient execution of multicenter RCTs even in complex diseases during challenging conditions. An aSAH trial platform with standardized eligibility criteria, randomization procedures, and end point definitions would enable the study of multiple targeted interventions in a perpetual manner, with treatments entering and leaving the platform based on predefined decision algorithms. An umbrella institutional review board protocol and clinical trial agreement would allow individual arms to be efficiently added as amendments rather than stand-alone protocols. Standardized case report forms using the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke common data elements and general protocol standardization across arms would create synergies for data management and monitoring. A Bayesian analysis framework would emphasize frequent interim looks to enable early termination of trial arms for futility, common controls, borrowing of information across arms, and adaptive designs. A protocol development committee would assist investigators and encourage pragmatic designs to maximize generalizability, reduce site burden, and execute trials efficiently and cost-effectively. Despite decades of steady clinical progress in the management of aSAH, poor patient outcomes remain common, and despite the increasing availability of RCT data in other fields, it remains difficult to perform RCTs to guide more effective care for aSAH. The development of a platform for pragmatic RCTs in aSAH would help close the evidence gap between aSAH and other stroke types and improve outcomes for this important disease with its disproportionate public health burden.

Wuchereria bancrofti Lymphatic Filariasis, Barrancabermeja, Colombia, 2023.

We describe a recent case of lymphatic filariasis in Colombia caused by Wuchereria bancrofti nematodes. Our study combines clinical-epidemiologic findings with phylogenetic data. Resurgence of lymphatic filariasis may be linked to increasing urbanization trends and migration from previously endemic regions. Fieldwork can be a beneficial tool for screening and containing transmission.

In-Hospital Neurologic Complications, Neuromonitoring, and Long-Term Neurologic Outcomes in Patients With Sepsis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Although delirium is well described in patients with sepsis, there are limited data on other neurologic complications. We aimed to systematically review the prevalence, neuromonitoring tools, and neurocognitive outcomes in sepsis patients with neurologic complications. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE and six other databases (Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov ) were searched through January 2023. STUDY SELECTION: Studies of adult patients with sepsis reported neurologic complications, use of neuromonitoring tools, neuropathology, and cognitive outcomes. DATA EXTRACTION: Two independent reviewers extracted the data. Random-effect meta-analyses were used to pool data. DATA SYNTHESIS: Seventy-four studies ( n = 146,855) were included. Neurologic complications were reported in 38 studies ( n = 142,193) including septic encephalopathy (36%, 95% CI, 27-46%; I 2 = 99%), ischemic stroke (5%, 95% CI, 2.1-11.5; I 2 = 99%), intracranial hemorrhage (2%, 95% CI, 1.0-4.4%; I 2 = 96%), seizures (1%, 95% CI, 0.2-7%; I 2 = 96%), posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (9%), and hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (7%). In the meta-regression analysis, pulmonary infection, sepsis induced by a gram-positive organism, higher sequential organ failure assessment score, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score at admission, and longer ICU length of stay were associated with higher risk of developing septic encephalopathy. Three studies ( n = 159) reported postmortem neuropathological findings, acute brain injury was noted in 47% of patients. Twenty-six studies ( n = 1,358) reported the use of neuromonitoring tools, electroencephalogram was the most used tool for seizure detection. Transcranial Doppler and near infrared spectroscopy were used for monitoring cerebral hemodynamic changes to detect early ischemia. Six studies reported cognitive outcomes ( n = 415) up to 12 months postdischarge and cognitive impairment (≥ one domain) was reported in 30%. CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital neurologic complications are common in patients with sepsis. However, the mechanism and timing of those sepsis-associated complications are poorly understood and there are limited data on standardized neuromonitoring in this population.

Exploring Rigid and Flexible Scaffolds to Develop Potent Glucuronic Acid Glycodendrimers for Dengue Virus Inhibition.

Multivalent glycodendrimers are valuable tools for studying carbohydrate-protein interactions, and their scaffolds represent important components to increase specificity and affinity. Previous work by our group described the preparation of a tetravalent glucuronic acid rigid dendron that binds with good affinity to the dengue virus envelope protein (KD = 22 µM). Herein, the chemical synthesis and binding analysis of three new sets of rigid, semirigid, and flexible glucuronic acid-based dendrimers bearing different levels of multivalency and their interactions with the dengue virus envelope protein are described. The different oligoalkynyl scaffolds were coupled to glucuronic acid azides by a copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction through optimized synthetic strategies to afford the desired glycodendrimers with good yields. Surface plasmon resonance studies have demonstrated that glycodendrimers 12b and 12c, with flexible scaffolds, give the best binding interactions with the dengue virus envelope protein (12b: KD = 0.487 µM and 12c: KD = 0.624 µM). Their binding constant values were 45 and 35 times higher than the one obtained in previous studies with a rigid tetravalent glucuronic acid dendron (KD = 22 µM), respectively. Molecular modeling studies were carried out in order to understand the difference in behavior observed for 12b and 12c. This work reports an efficient glycodendrimer chemical synthesis process that provides an appropriate scaffold that offers an easy and versatile strategy to find new active compounds against the dengue virus.

Neurological Complications of Cannabinoids.

Cannabinoid use, particularly for recreational purposes, is increasing exponentially across all age groups, especially in younger populations, due to its perceived low risk and legalization. While cannabinoids may be largely considered as safe, there is mounting evidence of increased risk of systemic and neurological complications through their interaction with the poorly understood endocannabinoid receptor network within the central nervous system and other organ systems. Acute cannabinoid exposure can cause neuropsychiatric symptoms in addition to altering cerebral blood flow, leading to cerebrovascular complications such as ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS). Chronic use, particularly among adolescents, may be associated with increased risk of long-term cognitive deficits, schizophrenia, and other neuropsychiatric effects. Synthetic cannabinoids have increased potency, with reports of causing profound neurological complications including coma, seizures, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, and RCVS. Despite increasing evidence, the quality of literature describing neurologic complications with cannabinoids remains limited to case series and retrospective cohort studies, with significant confounding factors such as concomitant use of other illicit drugs, limiting interpretation. In this review, we summarize the effect of cannabinoids on the neurologic system and associated neurological complications.

An Update on Curing Coma Campaign.

The Curing Coma Campaign (CCC) and its contributing collaborators identified multiple key areas of knowledge and research gaps in coma and disorders of consciousness (DoC). This step was a crucial effort and essential to prioritize future educational and research efforts. These key areas include defining categories of DoC, assessing DoC using multimodal approach (e.g., behavioral assessment tools, advanced neuroimaging studies), discussing optimal clinical trials' design and exploring computational models to conduct clinical trials in patients with DoC, and establishing common data elements to standardize data collection. Other key areas focused on creating coma care registry and educating clinicians and patients and promoting awareness of DoC to improve care in patients with DoC. The ongoing efforts in these key areas are discussed.

Coma Prevalence in Critical Care Units in Chile: Results of a Cross-Sectional Survey on World Coma Day.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of coma among patients in critical care units in Chile. We also aimed to provide insight into the demographic characteristics, etiologies, and complications associated with coma. METHODS: A single day cross-sectional study was conducted through a national survey of public and private hospitals with critical and intensive cardiac care units across Chile. Data were collected using an online questionnaire that contained questions regarding critically ill patients' information, demographic characteristics, etiology and duration of coma, medical complications, and support requirements. RESULTS: A total of 84% of all health facilities answered, accounting for a total of 2,708 patients. The overall coma prevalence was 2.9%. The median age of the comatose patients was 61 years (interquartile range 50-72) and 66.2% were male. The median coma duration was five days (interquartile range 2-9). Cerebral hemorrhage was the most common etiology, followed by severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, acute ischemic stroke, and traumatic brain injury. A total of 48.1% of coma patients experienced acute and ongoing treatment complications, with pneumonia being the most common complication, and 97.4% required support during comatose management. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides an overview of the prevalence of coma in Chilean critical and cardiac care units. Coma is a common condition. Comatose patients frequently experience medical complications during their hospitalization.

Optimal Design of Clinical Trials Involving Persons with Disorders of Consciousness.

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist regarding the optimal clinical trial design for studies involving persons with disorders of consciousness (DoC), and only a few therapies have been tested in high-quality clinical trials. To address this, the Curing Coma Campaign Clinical Trial Working Group performed a gap analysis on the current state of clinical trials in DoC to identify the optimal clinical design for studies involving persons with DoC. METHODS: The Curing Coma Campaign Clinical Trial Working Group was divided into three subgroups to (1) review clinical trials involving persons with DoC, (2) identify unique challenges in the design of clinical trials involving persons with DoC, and (3) recommend optimal clinical trial designs for DoC. RESULTS: There were 3055 studies screened, and 66 were included in this review. Several knowledge gaps and unique challenges were identified. There is a lack of high-quality clinical trials, and most data regarding patients with DoC are based on observational studies focusing on patients with traumatic brain injury and cardiac arrest. There is a lack of a structured long-term outcome assessment with significant heterogeneity in the methodology, definitions of outcomes, and conduct of studies, especially for long-term follow-up. Another major barrier to conducting clinical trials is the lack of resources, especially in low-income countries. Based on the available data, we recommend incorporating trial designs that use master protocols, sequential multiple assessment randomized trials, and comparative effectiveness research. Adaptive platform trials using a multiarm, multistage approach offer substantial advantages and should make use of biomarkers to assess treatment responses to increase trial efficiency. Finally, sound infrastructure and international collaboration are essential to facilitate the conduct of trials in patients with DoC. CONCLUSIONS: Conduct of trials in patients with DoC should make use of master protocols and adaptive design and establish international registries incorporating standardized assessment tools. This will allow the establishment of evidence-based practice recommendations and decrease variations in care.

Development of a Smartwatch with Gas and Environmental Sensors for Air Quality Monitoring.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in developing portable and personal devices for measuring air quality and surrounding pollutants, partly due to the need for ventilation in the aftermath of COVID-19 situation. Moreover, the monitoring of hazardous chemical agents is a focus for ensuring compliance with safety standards and is an indispensable component in safeguarding human welfare. Air quality measurement is conducted by public institutions with high precision but costly equipment, which requires constant calibration and maintenance by highly qualified personnel for its proper operation. Such devices, used as reference stations, have a low spatial resolution since, due to their high cost, they are usually located in a few fixed places in the city or region to be studied. However, they also have a low temporal resolution, providing few samples per hour. To overcome these drawbacks and to provide people with personalized and up-to-date air quality information, a personal device (smartwatch) based on MEMS gas sensors has been developed. The methodology followed to validate the performance of the prototype was as follows: firstly, the detection capability was tested by measuring carbon dioxide and methane at different concentrations, resulting in low detection limits; secondly, several experiments were performed to test the discrimination capability against gases such as toluene, xylene, and ethylbenzene. principal component analysis of the data showed good separation and discrimination between the gases measured.

2023 Guideline for the Management of Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Guideline From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

AIM: The "2023 Guideline for the Management of Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage" replaces the 2012 "Guidelines for the Management of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage." The 2023 guideline is intended to provide patient-centric recommendations for clinicians to prevent, diagnose, and manage patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. METHODS: A comprehensive search for literature published since the 2012 guideline, derived from research principally involving human subjects, published in English, and indexed in MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline, was conducted between March 2022 and June 2022. In addition, the guideline writing group reviewed documents on related subject matter previously published by the American Heart Association. Newer studies published between July 2022 and November 2022 that affected recommendation content, Class of Recommendation, or Level of Evidence were included if appropriate. Structure: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is a significant global public health threat and a severely morbid and often deadly condition. The 2023 aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage guideline provides recommendations based on current evidence for the treatment of these patients. The recommendations present an evidence-based approach to preventing, diagnosing, and managing patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, with the intent to improve quality of care and align with patients' and their families' and caregivers' interests. Many recommendations from the previous aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage guidelines have been updated with new evidence, and new recommendations have been created when supported by published data.

Human Lobomycosis Caused by Paracoccidioides (Lacazia) loboi, Panama, 2022.

We report a patient from Panama who had lobomycosis caused by Paracoccidioides (Lacazia) loboi. We used combined clinical-epidemiologic and phylogenetic data, including a new gene sequence dataset on this fungus in Panama, for analysis. Findings contribute useful insights to limited knowledge of this fungal infection in the Mesoamerican Biologic Corridor.

Detection of Leishmania RNA Virus 1 in Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis Isolates, Panama.

We detected Leishmania RNA virus 1 (LRV1) in 11 isolates of Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis collected during 2014-2019 from patients from different geographic areas in Panama. The distribution suggested a spread of LRV1 in L. (V.) panamensis parasites. We found no association between LRV1 and an increase in clinical pathology.

Psychometric validation of the Spanish version of the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-26.

PURPOSE: To assess the validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the Spanish version of the Expanded Prostate cancer Index Composite (EPIC) with 26 items. METHODS: Multicentric longitudinal study of patients diagnosed with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer (any T, any N, M0) treated with active surveillance, surgery, external radiotherapy, or brachytherapy. The EPIC-50 was administered initially to the cohort (n = 324 patients), until it was replaced in November 2019 by the EPIC-26 (n = 543), in both groups before treatment and 12 months after. We assessed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), reliability with Cronbach's alpha coefficient, criterion validity with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and responsiveness by testing a priori hypotheses on deterioration effect size (ES). RESULTS: The CFA confirmed the five-domain structure of the EPIC-26 proposed by the original instrument (comparative fit index = 0.95). The agreement between EPIC-50 (gold standard) and EPIC-26 domains was excellent (ICC > 0.90). Cronbach's alpha was > 0.7 in almost all domains, and the floor effect was near zero, although ceiling effect was higher than 50% in urinary incontinence and bowel domains. Hypothesized changes between before and 12 months after treatment were confirmed: ES > 0.8 in both urinary incontinence and sexual domains among patients who underwent surgery; and ES ranging 0.44-0.48 for bowel and sexual domains in patients treated with external radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: The Spanish version of the EPIC-26 has demonstrated adequate metric properties, similar to those of the original version, with acceptable goodness-of-fit indices, good criterion validity, reliability, and responsiveness to detect changes after radical prostatectomy or external radiotherapy.

"THE MANTLE" bundle for minimizing cerebral hypoxia in severe traumatic brain injury.

To ensure neuronal survival after severe traumatic brain injury, oxygen supply is essential. Cerebral tissue oxygenation represents the balance between oxygen supply and consumption, largely reflecting the adequacy of cerebral perfusion. Multiple physiological parameters determine the oxygen delivered to the brain, including blood pressure, hemoglobin level, systemic oxygenation, microcirculation and many factors are involved in the delivery of oxygen to its final recipient, through the respiratory chain. Brain tissue hypoxia occurs when the supply of oxygen is not adequate or when for some reasons it cannot be used at the cellular level. The causes of hypoxia are variable and can be analyzed pathophysiologically following "the oxygen route." The current trend is precision medicine, individualized and therapeutically directed to the pathophysiology of specific brain damage; however, this requires the availability of multimodal monitoring. For this purpose, we developed the acronym "THE MANTLE," a bundle of therapeutical interventions, which covers and protects the brain, optimizing the components of the oxygen transport system from ambient air to the mitochondria.

Tracheostomy timing and outcome in critically ill patients with stroke: a meta-analysis and meta-regression.

BACKGROUND: Stroke patients requiring mechanical ventilation often have a poor prognosis. The optimal timing of tracheostomy and its impact on mortality in stroke patients remains uncertain. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of tracheostomy timing and its association with reported all-cause overall mortality. Secondary outcomes were the effect of tracheostomy timing on neurological outcome (modified Rankin Scale, mRS), hospital length of stay (LOS), and intensive care unit (ICU) LOS. METHODS: We searched 5 databases for entries related to acute stroke and tracheostomy from inception to 25 November 2022. We adhered to PRISMA guidance for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Selected studies included (1) ICU-admitted patients who had stroke (either acute ischaemic stroke, AIS or intracerebral haemorrhage, ICH) and received a tracheostomy (with known timing) during their stay and (2) > 20 tracheotomised. Studies primarily reporting sub-arachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) were excluded. Where this was not possible, adjusted meta-analysis and meta-regression with study-level moderators were performed. Tracheostomy timing was analysed continuously and categorically, where early (< 5 days from initiation of mechanical ventilation to tracheostomy) and late (> 10 days) timing was defined per the protocol of SETPOINT2, the largest and most recent randomised controlled trial on tracheostomy timing in stroke patients. RESULTS: Thirteen studies involving 17,346 patients (mean age = 59.8 years, female 44%) met the inclusion criteria. ICH, AIS, and SAH comprised 83%, 12%, and 5% of known strokes, respectively. The mean time to tracheostomy was 9.7 days. Overall reported all-cause mortality (adjusted for follow-up) was 15.7%. One in five patients had good neurological outcome (mRS 0-3; median follow-up duration was 180 days). Overall, patients were ventilated for approximately 12 days and had an ICU LOS of 16 days and a hospital LOS of 28 days. A meta-regression analysis using tracheostomy time as a continuous variable showed no statistically significant association between tracheostomy timing and mortality (ß = - 0.3, 95% CI = - 2.3 to 1.74, p = 0.8). Early tracheostomy conferred no mortality benefit when compared to late tracheostomy (7.8% vs. 16.4%, p = 0.7). Tracheostomy timing was not associated with secondary outcomes (good neurological outcome, ICU LOS and hospital LOS). CONCLUSIONS: In this meta-analysis of over 17,000 critically ill stroke patients, the timing of tracheostomy was not associated with mortality, neurological outcomes, or ICU/hospital LOS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO-CRD42022351732 registered on 17th of August 2022.

Coagulopathy in Isolated Traumatic Brain Injury: Myth or Reality.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) has been shown to be associated with altered hemostasis and coagulopathy, that correlates with worsening secondary injury and clinical outcomes. Isolated Traumatic Brain Injury (iTBI), that is TBI without significant extracranial injuries, has also been shown to be associated with systemic coagulopathy and derangements in hemostasis. METHODS: Literature Review. RESULTS: Present your results in logical sequence in the text, tables, and figures, giving the main or most important findings first. Do not repeat all the data in the tables or figures in the text; emphasize or summarize only the most important observations. Provide data on all primary and secondary outcomes identified in the Methods section. Give numeric results not only as derivatives (e.g. percentages) but also as the absolute numbers from which the derivatives were calculated, and specify the statistical significance attached to them, if any. DISCUSSION: In this review, we provide an overview of the pathophysiology of the hemostatic disturbances caused by iTBI, review key clinical findings and discrepancies in the way this question has been approached, describe the use and role of global viscoelastic assays such as the thromboelastrogram, and detail principles for reversal of pre-injury blood thinners. CONCLUSIONS: iTBI is clearly associated with the development of coagulopathy, but the extent to which it occurs is confounded by the fact that many of the studies have included patients with moderate extracranial trauma into the iTBI category. The coagulopathy itself has been better studied in preclinical models, and the mechanisms driving it suggest a pattern consistent with disseminated intravascular coagulation with hyperfibrinolysis. We provide pragmatic clinical takeaways and suggestions for future research.

Therapies for Delayed Cerebral Ischemia in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is one of the most important complications of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Despite lack of prospective evidence, medical rescue interventions for DCI include hemodynamic augmentation using vasopressors or inotropes, with limited guidance on specific blood pressure and hemodynamic parameters. For DCI refractory to medical interventions, endovascular rescue therapies (ERTs), including intraarterial (IA) vasodilators and percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty, are the cornerstone of management. Although there are no randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of ERTs for DCI and their impact on subarachnoid hemorrhage outcomes, survey studies suggest that they are widely used in clinical practice with significant variability worldwide. IA vasodilators are first line ERTs, with better safety profiles and access to distal vasculature. The most commonly used IA vasodilators include calcium channel blockers, with milrinone gaining popularity in more recent publications. Balloon angioplasty achieves better vasodilation compared with IA vasodilators but is associated with higher risk of life-threatening vascular complications and is reserved for proximal severe refractory vasospasm. The existing literature on DCI rescue therapies is limited by small sample sizes, significant variability in patient populations, lack of standardized methodology, variable definitions of DCI, poorly reported outcomes, lack of long-term functional, cognitive, and patient-centered outcomes, and lack of control groups. Therefore, our current ability to interpret clinical results and make reliable recommendations regarding the use of rescue therapies is limited. This review summarizes existing literature on rescue therapies for DCI, provides practical guidance, and identifies future research needs.

Intracranial Pressure Monitoring Practice, Treatment, and Effect on Outcome in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring and its management in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is variable worldwide. The present study aimed to explore the practice of ICP monitoring, its variability across countries, and the association with 6-month outcomes in aSAH. METHODS: This was a preplanned subanalysis of SYNAPSE-ICU, a multicenter, international, prospective, observational cohort study focused on patients diagnosed with aSAH. We evaluated the variability in ICP monitoring across countries through a logistic regression model adjusted for case-mix and considered countries as a random effect. The association between ICP probe insertion and 6-month mortality and a poor neurological outcome, defined as an Glasgow Outcome Score Extended ≤ 4, was assessed by using a propensity score approach. RESULTS: A total of 423 patients with aSAH from 92 centers across 32 countries were included in this analysis. ICP monitoring was used in 295 (69.7%) patients. Significant between-country variability in ICP insertion was observed, with an incidence ranging between 4.7% and 79.9% (median odd ratio 3.04). The median duration of ICP monitoring was 12 days (first quartile [Q1] through third quartile [Q3] range 8-18), with an overall daily median ICP value of 14 mm Hg (Q1-Q3 10-19) and a median maximum value of 21 mm Hg (Q1-Q3 16-30). Patients monitored with ICP received more aggressive therapy treatments compared with non-monitored patients (therapy intensity level, TIL, score 10.33 [standard deviation 3.61] vs. 6.3 [standard deviation 4.19], p < 0.001). In more severe patients, ICP monitoring was significantly associated with better 6-month outcome (poor neurological outcome: odds ratio 0.14, 95% confidence interval 0.02-0.53, p = 0.0113; mortality: hazard ratio 0.25, 95% confidence interval 0.13-0.49, p < 0.0001). However, no significant effect was observed in patients with both reactive pupils. CONCLUSIONS: Our cohort demonstrated high variability in ICP insertion practice among countries. A more aggressive treatment approach was applied in ICP-monitored patients. In patients with severe aSAH, ICP monitoring might reduce unfavorable outcomes and mortality at 6 months.

Proceedings of the First Pediatric Coma and Disorders of Consciousness Symposium by the Curing Coma Campaign, Pediatric Neurocritical Care Research Group, and NINDS: Gearing for Success in Coma Advancements for Children and Neonates.

This proceedings article presents the scope of pediatric coma and disorders of consciousness based on presentations and discussions at the First Pediatric Disorders of Consciousness Care and Research symposium held on September 14th, 2021. Herein we review the current state of pediatric coma care and research opportunities as well as shared experiences from seasoned researchers and clinicians. Salient current challenges and opportunities in pediatric and neonatal coma care and research were identified through the contributions of the presenters, who were Jose I. Suarez, MD, Nina F. Schor, MD, PhD, Beth S. Slomine, PhD Erika Molteni, PhD, and Jan-Marino Ramirez, PhD, and moderated by Varina L. Boerwinkle, MD, with overview by Mark Wainwright, MD, and subsequent audience discussion. The program, executively planned by Varina L. Boerwinkle, MD, Mark Wainwright, MD, and Michelle Elena Schober, MD, drove the identification and development of priorities for the pediatric neurocritical care community.

Common Data Elements for Disorders of Consciousness: Recommendations from the Working Group on Hospital Course, Confounders, and Medications.

The convergence of an interdisciplinary team of neurocritical care specialists to organize the Curing Coma Campaign is the first effort of its kind to coordinate national and international research efforts aimed at a deeper understanding of disorders of consciousness (DoC). This process of understanding includes translational research from bench to bedside, descriptions of systems of care delivery, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and ethical frameworks. The description and measurement of varying confounding factors related to hospital care was thought to be critical in furthering meaningful research in patients with DoC. Interdisciplinary hospital care is inherently varied across geographical areas as well as community and academic medical centers. Access to monitoring technologies, specialist consultation (medical, nursing, pharmacy, respiratory, and rehabilitation), staffing resources, specialty intensive and acute care units, specialty medications and specific surgical, diagnostic and interventional procedures, and imaging is variable, and the impact on patient outcome in terms of DoC is largely unknown. The heterogeneity of causes in DoC is the source of some expected variability in care and treatment of patients, which necessitated the development of a common nomenclature and set of data elements for meaningful measurement across studies. Guideline adherence in hemorrhagic stroke and severe traumatic brain injury may also be variable due to moderate or low levels of evidence for many recommendations. This article outlines the process of the development of common data elements for hospital course, confounders, and medications to streamline definitions and variables to collect for clinical studies of DoC.