Between Scylla and Charybdis: risks of early therapeutic anticoagulation for venous thromboembolism after acute intracranial hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of hematoma expansion in patients with acute intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) requiring therapeutic anticoagulation for the treatment of venous thromboembolism. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients at our institution between 2014 and 2019 who were therapeutically anticoagulated for venous thromboembolism within 4 weeks after ICH. We included subtypes of traumatic ICH and spontaneous intraparenchymal hemorrhage. Our main outcome was the incidence of hematoma expansion within 14 days from initiating therapeutic anticoagulation. Hematoma expansion was defined as (1) radiographically proven expansion leading to cessation of therapeutic anticoagulation or (2) death due to hematoma expansion. Secondary outcomes included mortality due to hematoma expansion and characteristics associated with hematoma expansion. RESULTS: Fifty patients met inclusion criteria (mean age: 54 years, 80% male, 76% Caucasian); 24% had undergone a neurosurgical procedure prior to therapeutic anticoagulation. Median time from ICH to therapeutic anticoagulation initiation was 9.5 days (IQR 4-17), 40% received therapeutic anticoagulation in <7 days after ICH. Six patients (12%) developed hematoma expansion, of whom two (4%) died. While not statistically significant, patients with hematoma expansion tended to be older (57.8 vs. 53.5 years), were anticoagulated sooner (4 vs. 10 days), presented with lower GCS (50% vs. 39% with GCS <8), higher hematoma volume (50% vs. 42% >30 cc), and higher SDH diameter (16 mm vs. 8.35 mm). There was a trend towards greater risk of hematoma expansion for patients undergoing endoscopic ICH evacuation (16% vs. 2%, p = 0.09); patients with hematoma expansion were more likely to present with hydrocephalus (67% vs. 16%, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Our study is among the first to explore characteristics associated with hematoma expansion in patients undergoing therapeutic anticoagulation after acute ICH. Larger studies in different ICH subtypes are needed to identify determinants of hematoma expansion in this high-acuity population.

Natural History of Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury: Experience Over a 10-year Period at a Level I Trauma Center.

Background Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) is associated with increased stroke and mortality risk. However, the most appropriate follow-up strategy remains uncertain. Purpose To better understand the natural history of BCVI and help define the most optimal timing and length of follow-up imaging. Materials and Methods In this retrospective HIPAA-compliant study, data from all patients treated for BCVI at a level I trauma center between April 1, 2005, and June 30, 2015, were reviewed. For patients with at least one follow-up study, time-to-event analysis was performed to assess the trend in injury evolution. Association of injury grade and injury evolution was also assessed. The Fisher exact test and multivariable logistic regression were used to evaluate association of the number of injured vessels, vessel grade, and vessel type (internal carotid artery, vertebral artery) with BCVI-associated stroke. Results A total of 1204 patients (800 men; mean age ± standard deviation, 45 years ± 22) with 1604 vessel injuries were evaluated. High-grade (grades 3-5) injuries were less likely to resolve (hazard ratio [HR], 0.2; P < .001) than low-grade injuries. High-grade injuries were more likely to progress than low-grade injuries (HR, 3.3; P = .005). Of the injuries that improved or resolved (343 of 419 [81.9%]), 76% (259 of 343) changed within 30 days after the initial injury, and the remaining 24% (84 of 343) changed between 30 and 90 days. Of the injuries that progressed (46 of 419 [11.0%]), 87% (40 of 46) changed within 90 days. Beyond 90 days, no improvement or resolution occurred, and only 1.4% (six of 419) of injuries progressed. Higher injury grade (adjusted odds ratio, 2.0 per one-grade increase [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.6, 2.4]; P < .001), carotid injuries versus vertebral artery injuries (49 of 420 [11.7%] vs 35 of 667 [5.2%]; P < .001), and increasing number of vessels injured per patient (adjusted odds ratio, 1.6 per one-vessel increase [95% CI: 1.3, 2.2]; P < .001) were associated with increased risk for BCVI-related stroke. Conclusion Most blunt cerebrovascular injury-related changes occurred within 30 days; changes rarely occurred beyond 90 days. Follow-up imaging is therefore unlikely to be helpful beyond 90 days. © RSNA, 2020 See also the editorial by Talbott in this issue.

The ability of magnetic resonance black blood vessel wall imaging to evaluate blunt cerebrovascular injury following acute trauma.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) is associated with a significant risk of ischemic stroke when left untreated. Cross-sectional imaging is vital to early BCVI diagnosis and treatment; however, conventional luminal vessel imaging is limited in its ability to evaluate for vessel wall pathology. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VWI) to detect and evaluate BCVI in acutely injured trauma patients relative to neck computed tomographic angiography (CTA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Trauma patients with suspected BCVI on initial neck CTA were prospectively recruited for VWI evaluation. Two neuroradiologists blinded to patient clinical history and CTA findings evaluated each artery independently on VWI and noted the presence and grade of BCVI. These results were subsequently compared to neck CTA findings relative to expert clinical consensus review. Interrater reliability of VWI for detecting BCVI was evaluated using a weighted Cohen κ-statistic. RESULTS: Ten trauma patients (40 cervical arteries) were prospectively evaluated using both CTA and VWI. Out of 18 vascular lesions identified as suspicious for BCVI on CTA, six lesions were determined to represent true BCVI by expert consensus review. There was almost perfect agreement between VWI and expert consensus regarding the presence and grade of BCVI (κ=0.82). This agreement increased when considering only low grade BCVI. There was only fair agreement between CTA and expert clinical consensus (κ=0.36). This agreement decreased when considering only low grade BCVI. CONCLUSIONS: VWI can potentially accurately identify and evaluate BCVI in acutely injured trauma patients with excellent inter-rater reliability.

Traumatic Brain Injury and the Risk for Subsequent Crime Perpetration.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at higher risk for subsequent crime perpetration compared with injured patients without TBI and those hospitalized for reasons other than injury. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Patients hospitalized in Washington State from 2006-2007. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study using linked statewide datasets. MAIN MEASURES: Primary outcomes were arrest for any violent or nonviolent crime within 5 years of discharge. Adjusted subhazard ratios were calculated using regression models incorporating death as a competing risk. RESULTS: Compared with uninjured patients (n = 158 247), the adjusted rate of arrest for any crime was greater among injured patients with TBI (n = 6894; subdistribution hazard ratios [sHR], 1.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49-1.62) and without TBI (n = 40 035; sHR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.49-1.62). When patients with TBI were directly compared with injured patients without TBI, no effect of TBI on subsequent arrests was found (sHR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.94-1.11). TBI did not increase the likelihood of either violent or nonviolent crime when these outcomes were examined separately. CONCLUSIONS: TBI survivors do not appear to be at increased risk for criminality compared with injured individuals without TBI. However, injured persons with or without TBI may be at elevated risk of crime perpetration compared with those who are uninjured.

Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in neurological surgery and neurocritical care.

Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography is an inexpensive, noninvasive means of measuring blood flow within the arteries of the brain. In this review, the authors outline the technology underlying TCD ultrasonography and describe its uses in patients with neurosurgical diseases. One of the most common uses of TCD ultrasonography is monitoring for vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage. In this setting, elevated blood flow velocities serve as a proxy for vasospasm and can herald the onset of ischemia. TCD ultrasonography is also useful in the evaluation and management of occlusive cerebrovascular disease. Monitoring for microembolic signals enables stratification of stroke risk due to carotid stenosis and can also be used to clarify stroke etiology. TCD ultrasonography can identify patients with exhausted cerebrovascular reserve, and after extracranial-intracranial bypass procedures it can be used to assess adequacy of flow through the graft. Finally, assessment of cerebral autoregulation can be performed using TCD ultrasonography, providing data important to the management of patients with severe traumatic brain injury. As the clinical applications of TCD ultrasonography have expanded over time, so has their importance in the management of neurosurgical patients. Familiarity with this diagnostic tool is crucial for the modern neurological surgeon.

Magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging in cerebrovascular diseases

Cerebrovascular diseases manifest as abnormalities of and disruption to the intracranial vasculature and its capacity to carry blood to the brain. However, the pathogenesis of many cerebrovascular diseases begins in the vessel wall. Traditional luminal and perfusion imaging techniques do not provide adequate information regarding the differentiation, onset, or progression of disease. Intracranial high-resolution MR vessel wall imaging (VWI) has emerged as an invaluable technique for understanding and evaluating cerebrovascular diseases. The location and pattern of contrast enhancement in intracranial VWI provides new insight into the inflammatory etiology of cerebrovascular diseases and has potential to permit earlier diagnosis and treatment. In this report, technical considerations of VWI are discussed and current applications of VWI in vascular malformations, blunt cerebrovascular injury/dissection, and steno-occlusive cerebrovascular vasculopathies are reviewed.

Intensive Care Unit Admission Patterns for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in the USA.

BACKGROUND: Patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) are frequently admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), but routine ICU use may be unnecessary. It is not clear to what extent this practice varies between hospitals. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Trauma Data Bank. Patients with at least one TBI ICD-9-CM diagnosis code, a head abbreviated injury score (AIS) ≤ 4, and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) ≥ 13 were included; individuals with only a concussion and those with a non-head AIS > 2 were excluded. Primary outcomes were ICU admission and "overtriage" to the ICU, defined by: ICU stay ≤ 1 day; hospital stay ≤ 2 days; no intubation; no neurosurgery; and discharged to home. Mixed effects multivariable models were used to identify patient and facility characteristics associated with these outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 595,171 patients were included, 44.7% of whom were admitted to an ICU; 17.3% of these met the criteria for overtriage. Compared with adults, children < 2 years were more likely to be admitted to an ICU (RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.16-1.26) and to be overtriaged (RR 2.06, 95% CI 1.88-2.25). Similarly, patients with isolated subarachnoid hemorrhage were at greater risk of both ICU admission (RR 2.36, 95% CI 2.31-2.41) and overtriage (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.17-1.28). The probabilities of ICU admission and overtriage varied as much as 16- and 11-fold across hospitals, respectively; median risk ratios were 1.67 and 1.53, respectively. The likelihood of these outcomes did not vary substantially with the characteristics of the treating facility. CONCLUSIONS: There is considerable variability in ICU admission practices for mild TBI across the USA, and some of these patients may not require ICU-level care. Refined ICU use in mild TBI may allow for reduced resource utilization without jeopardizing patient outcomes.

Primary External Ventricular Drainage Catheter Versus Intraparenchymal ICP Monitoring: Outcome Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is central to the care of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). External ventricular drains (EVD) allow ICP control via cerebrospinal fluid drainage, whereas intraparenchymal monitors (IPM) for ICP do not, but it is unclear whether EVD placement improves outcomes. To evaluate whether there exists a difference in patient outcomes with the use of EVD versus IPM in severe TBI patients, we conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the Citicoline Brain Injury Treatment trial. METHODS: Adults with Glasgow Coma Score < 9 who had either an EVD or IPM placed within 6 h of study center arrival were included. We compared patients with EVD placement to those without on Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOS-E) and neuropsychological performance at 180 days, mortality, and intensive care unit length of stay. We used regression models with propensity score weighting for probability of EVD placement to test for association between EVD use and outcomes. Of 224 patients included, 45% received an EVD. RESULTS: EVD patients had lower GOS-E at 180 days [3.8 ± 2.2 vs 4.9 ± 2.2, p = 0.002; weighted difference - 0.97, 95% CI (- 1.58, - 0.37)], higher in-hospital mortality [23% vs 10%, p = 0.014; weighted OR 2.46, 95% CI (1.20, 5.05)], and did significantly worse on all 8 neuropsychological measures. Additional sensitivity analysis was performed to minimize confounding effects supported our initial results. CONCLUSIONS: Our retrospective data analysis suggests that early placement of EVDs in severe TBI is associated with worse functional and neuropsychological outcomes and higher mortality than IPMs and future prospective trials are needed to determine whether these results represent an important consideration for clinicians.

Transcranial Doppler Microemboli Monitoring for Stroke Risk Stratification in Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether microemboli burden, assessed noninvasively by bedside transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, correlates with risk of subsequent stroke greater than 24 hours after hospital arrival among patients with blunt cerebrovascular injury. The greater than 24-hour time frame provides a window for transcranial Doppler examinations and therapeutic interventions to prevent stroke. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Level I trauma center. PATIENTS: One thousand one hundred forty-six blunt cerebrovascular injury patients over 10 years. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We identified 1,146 blunt cerebrovascular injury patients; 54 (4.7%) experienced stroke detected greater than 24 hours after arrival. Among those with isolated internal carotid artery injuries, five of nine with delayed stroke had positive transcranial Dopplers (at least one microembolus detected with transcranial Dopplers) before stroke, compared with 46 of 248 without (risk ratio, 5.05; 95% CI, 1.41-18.13). Stroke risk increased with the number of microemboli (adjusted risk ratio, 1.03/microembolus/hr; 95% CI, 1.01-1.05) and with persistently positive transcranial Dopplers over multiple days (risk ratio, 16.0; 95% CI, 2.00-127.93). Among patients who sustained an internal carotid artery injury with or without additional vessel injuries, positive transcranial Dopplers predicted stroke after adjusting for ipsilateral and contralateral internal carotid artery injury grade (adjusted risk ratio, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.42-5.97). No patients with isolated vertebral artery injuries had positive transcranial Dopplers before stroke, and positive transcranial Dopplers were not associated with delayed stroke among patients who sustained a vertebral artery injury with or without additional vessel injuries (risk ratio, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.21-3.83). CONCLUSIONS: Microemboli burden is associated with higher risk of stroke due to internal carotid artery injuries, but monitoring was not useful for vertebral artery injuries.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunting Complications in Children.

Although cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt placement is the most common procedure performed by pediatric neurosurgeons, shunts remain among the most failure-prone life-sustaining medical devices implanted in modern medical practice. This article provides an overview of the mechanisms of CSF shunt failure for the 3 most commonly employed definitive CSF shunts in the practice of pediatric neurosurgery: ventriculoperitoneal, ventriculopleural, and ventriculoatrial. The text has been partitioned into the broad modes of shunt failure: obstruction, infection, mechanical shunt failure, overdrainage, and distal catheter site-specific failures. Clinical management strategies for the various modes of shunt failure are discussed as are research efforts directed towards reducing shunt complication rates. As it is unlikely that CSF shunting will become an obsolete procedure in the foreseeable future, it is incumbent on the pediatric neurosurgery community to maintain focused efforts to improve our understanding of and management strategies for shunt failure and shunt-related morbidity.

Incidence and Risk Model of Post-Traumatic Hydrocephalus in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury.

OBJECTIVE: Post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) is a complication following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to improving outcomes. We report the incidence and risk factors of PTH in a large TBI population while considering death as a competing risk. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on consecutive TBI patients with radiographic intracranial abnormalities admitted to our academic medical center from 2009 to 2015. We assessed patient demographics, perioperative data, and in-hospital data as risk factors for PTH using survival analysis with death as a competing risk. RESULTS: Among 7,473 patients, the overall incidence of PTH requiring shunt surgery was 0.94%. The adjusted cumulative incidence was 0.99%. The all-cause cumulative hazard for death was 32.6%, which was considered a competing risk during analysis. Craniectomy (HR 11.53, P < 0.001, 95% CI 5.57-223.85), venous sinus injury (HR 4.13, P = 0.01, 95% CI 1.53-11.16), and age ≤5 (P < 0.001) were significant risk factors for PTH. Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) > 13 was protective against shunt placement (HR 0.50, P = 0.04, 95% CI 0.26-0.97). Shunt surgery occurred after hospital discharge in 60% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: We describe the incidence and risk factors for PTH in a large traumatic brain injury (TBI) population. Most cases of PTH were diagnosed after hospital discharge, suggesting that close follow-up and multidisciplinary diagnostic vigilance for PTH are needed to prevent morbidity and disability.

A comparison of computed tomography angiography and digital subtraction angiography for the diagnosis of penetrating cerebrovascular injury: a prospective multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: In this research, the authors sought to characterize the incidence and extent of cerebrovascular lesions after penetrating brain injury in a civilian population and to compare the diagnostic value of head computed tomography angiography (CTA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in their diagnosis. METHODS: This was a prospective multicenter cohort study of patients with penetrating brain injury due to any mechanism presenting at two academic medical centers over a 3-year period (May 2020 to May 2023). All patients underwent both CTA and DSA. The sensitivity and specificity of CTA was calculated, with DSA considered the gold standard. The number of DSA studies needed to identify a lesion requiring treatment that had not been identified on CTA was also calculated. RESULTS: A total of 73 patients were included in the study, 33 of whom had at least 1 penetrating cerebrovascular injury, for an incidence of 45.2%. The injuries included 13 pseudoaneurysms, 11 major arterial occlusions, 9 dural venous sinus occlusions, 8 dural arteriovenous fistulas, and 6 carotid cavernous fistulas. The sensitivity of CTA was 36.4%, and the specificity was 85.0%. Overall, 5.6 DSA studies were needed to identify a lesion requiring treatment that had not been identified with CTA. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebrovascular injury is common after penetrating brain injury, and CTA alone is insufficient to diagnosis these injuries. Patients with penetrating brain injuries should routinely undergo DSA.

Development of a Randomized Trial Comparing ICP-Monitor-Based Management of Severe Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury to Management Based on Imaging and Clinical Examination Without ICP Monitoring-Research Algorithms.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The efficacy of our current approach to incorporating intracranial pressure (ICP) data into pediatric severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) management is incompletely understood, lacking data from multicenter, prospective, randomized studies. The National Institutes of Health-supported Benchmark Evidence from Latin America-Treatment of Raised Intracranial Pressure-Pediatrics trial will compare outcomes from pediatric sTBI of a management protocol based on ICP monitoring vs 1 based on imaging and clinical examination without monitoring. Because no applicable comprehensive management algorithms for either cohort are available, it was necessary to develop them. METHODS: A consensus conference involving the 21 intensivists and neurosurgeons from the 8 trial sites used Delphi-based methodology to formulate management algorithms for both study cohorts. We included recommendations from the latest Brain Trauma Foundation pediatric sTBI guidelines and the consensus-based adult algorithms (Seattle International Brain Injury Consensus Conference/Consensus Revised Imaging and Clinical Examination) wherever relevant. We used a consensus threshold of 80%. RESULTS: We developed comprehensive management algorithms for monitored and nonmonitored cohort children with sTBI. We defined suspected intracranial hypertension for the nonmonitored group, set minimum number and timing of computed tomography scans, specified minimal age-adjusted mean arterial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure targets, defined clinical neuroworsening, described minimal requisites for intensive care unit management, produced tiered management algorithms for both groups, and listed treatments not routinely used. CONCLUSION: We will study these protocols in the Benchmark Evidence from Latin America-Treatment of Raised Intracranial Pressure-Pediatrics trial in low- and middle-income countries. Second, we present them here for consideration as prototype pediatric sTBI management algorithms in the absence of published alternatives, acknowledging their limited evidentiary status. Therefore, herein, we describe our study design only, not recommended treatment protocols.

Incidence and Risk Model of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a significant source of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. We describe our experience with VTE prophylaxis and treatment in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), risk factors for VTE, and a hazard model describing the daily risk of VTE. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients with aSAH admitted from 2014 to 2018. Patients were screened for VTE based on clinical suspicion. Demographics, perioperative data, and in-hospital data were assessed as risk factors for VTE using survival analysis with death as a competing risk. RESULTS: Among 485 patients, the overall incidence of VTE, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism were 5.6%, 4.3%, and 2.3%, respectively. Increasing length of stay in the intensive care unit (hazard ratio [HR], 1.79; P < 0.0001; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49-2.16) and ventilation immediately after aneurysm treatment was associated with VTE (HR, 8.87; P < 0.01; 95% CI, 1.86-42.38). Hunt and Hess grade was negatively associated with VTE (HR, 0.61; P = 0.045; 95% CI, 0.37-1.00) due to its increased association with the competing risk of death (HR, 2.57; P < 0.0001; 95% CI, 1.89-3.49). The adjusted 4-year cumulative incidence for VTE is 11.1% and at mean day of hospital discharge is 5.4%. Treatment of VTEs with anticoagulation and/or inferior vena cava filter placement was not associated with immediate complications. CONCLUSIONS: We describe the largest single-institution cohort of VTEs in aSAH patients. Our hazard model quantifies the cumulative incidence of VTEs during the course of hospitalization. We suggest a standardized protocol for screening, prophylaxis, and treatment of VTEs in this patient population.

Acute Extra-Arachnoid Subdural Hematomas in Patients 50 Years and Older: When Subdurals Act Like Epidurals.

BACKGROUND: Some patients with subdural hematoma (SDH) with acute extra-arachnoid lesions and without concomitant subarachnoid blood or contusions may present in similarly grave neurological condition compared with the general population of patients with SDH. However, these patients often make an impressive neurological recovery. This study compared neurological outcomes in patients with extra-arachnoid SDH with all other SDH patients. METHODS: We compared a prospective series of extra-arachnoid SDH patients without subarachnoid hemorrhage or other concomitant intracranial injury with a Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in TBI control group with SDH only. We performed inverse probability weighting for key characteristics and ordinal regression with and without controlling for midline shift comparing neurological outcomes (Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale score) at 2 weeks. We used the Corticosteroid Randomization After Significant Head Injury prognostic model to predict mortality based on age, Glasgow Coma Scale score, pupil reactivity, and major extracranial injury. RESULTS: Mean midline shift was significantly different between extra-arachnoid SDH and control groups (7.2 mm vs. 2.7 mm, P < 0.001). After weighting for group allocation and controlling for midline shift, extra-arachnoid SDH patients had 5.68 greater odds (P < 0.001) of a better 2-week Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale score than control patients. Mortality in the extra-arachnoid SDH group was less than predicted by the Corticosteroid Randomization After Significant Head Injury prognostic model (10% vs. 21% predicted). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with extra-arachnoid SDH have significantly better 2-week neurological outcomes and lower mortality than predicted by the Corticosteroid Randomization After Significant Head Injury model. Neurosurgeons should consider surgery for this patient subset even in cases of poor neurological examination, older age, and large hematoma with high degree of midline shift.

Complications associated with early cranioplasty for patients with traumatic brain injury: a 25-year single-center analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Cranioplasty is a technically simple procedure, although one with potentially high rates of complications. The ideal timing of cranioplasty should minimize the risk of complications, but research investigating cranioplasty timing and risk of complications has generated diverse findings. Previous studies have included mixed populations of patients undergoing cranioplasty following decompression for traumatic, vascular, and other cerebral insults, making results challenging to interpret. The objective of the current study was to examine rates of complications associated with cranioplasty, specifically for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) receiving this procedure at the authors' high-volume level 1 trauma center over a 25-year time period. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective review was conducted of patients undergoing cranioplasty after decompression for trauma. Patients were identified and clinical and demographic variables obtained from 2 neurotrauma databases. Patients were categorized into 3 groups based on timing of cranioplasty: early (≤ 90 days after craniectomy), intermediate (91-180 days after craniectomy), and late (> 180 days after craniectomy). In addition, a subgroup analysis of complications in patients with TBI associated with ultra-early cranioplasty (< 42 days, or 6 weeks, after craniectomy) was performed. RESULTS: Of 435 patients identified, 141 patients underwent early cranioplasty, 187 patients received intermediate cranioplasty, and 107 patients underwent late cranioplasty. A total of 54 patients underwent ultra-early cranioplasty. Among the total cohort, the mean rate of postoperative hydrocephalus was 2.8%, the rate of seizure was 4.6%, the rate of postoperative hematoma was 3.4%, and the rate of infection was 6.0%. The total complication rate for the entire population was 16.8%. There was no significant difference in complications between any of the 3 groups. No significant differences in postoperative complications were found comparing the ultra-early cranioplasty group with all other patients combined. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of patients with TBI, early cranioplasty, including ultra-early procedures, was not associated with higher rates of complications. Early cranioplasty may confer benefits such as shorter or fewer hospitalizations, decreased financial burden, and overall improved recovery, and should be considered based on patient-specific factors.

Impact of COVID-19 on neurocritical care delivery and outcomes in patients with severe acute brain injury - Assessing the initial response in the first US epicenter.

To investigate the pandemic's impact on critically ill patients with neurological emergencies, we compared care metrics and outcomes of patients with severe acute brain injury (SABI) before and during the initial COVID-19 surge at our institution. We included adult patients with SABI during two separate three-month time periods: 'pre-COVID vs COVID'. We further stratified the COVID cohort to characterize outcomes in patients requiring COVID-19 precautions (Patient Under Investigation, 'PUI'). The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality; secondary endpoints included length of stay (LOS), diagnostic studies performed, time to emergent decompressive craniectomies (DCHC), ventilator management, and end-of-life care. We included 394 patients and found the overall number of admissions for SABI declined by 29 % during COVID (pre-COVID n = 231 vs COVID, n = 163). Our primary outcome of mortality and most secondary outcomes were similar between study periods. There were more frequent extubation attempts (72.1 % vs 76 %) and the mean time to extubation was shorter during COVID (55.5 h vs 38.2 h). The ICU LOS (6.10 days vs 4.69 days) and hospital LOS (15.32 days vs 11.74 days) was shorter during COVID. More PUIs died than non-PUIs (51.7 % vs 11.2 %), but when adjusted for markers of illness severity, this was not significant. We demonstrate the ability to maintain a consistent care delivery for patients with SABI during the pandemic at our institution. PUIs represent a population with higher illness severity at risk for delays in care. Multicenter, longitudinal studies are needed to explore the impact of the pandemic on patients with acute neurological emergencies.

Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization as an Adjuvant Treatment for Bilateral Chronic Subdural Hematomas From Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension: A Case Report.

Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) is an effective initial or adjuvant treatment for chronic subdural hematomas. However, its efficacy in the setting of spontaneous intracranial hypotension has not yet been reported. We present a case of progressive bilateral chronic subdural hematomas secondary to spontaneous intracranial hypotension that failed the initial lumbar epidural blood patch. The patient underwent surgical hematoma evacuation, with adjuvant MMAE and additional epidural blood patch, with good clinical and radiographic results. This case demonstrates the potential value of MMAE for chronic subdural hematomas secondary to spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

Aspirin versus anticoagulation for stroke prophylaxis in blunt cerebrovascular injury: a propensity-matched retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to compare the odds of stroke 24 hours or more after hospital arrival among patients with blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) who were treated with therapeutic anticoagulation versus aspirin. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study at a regional level I trauma center including all patients with BCVI who were treated over a span of 10 years. Individuals with stroke on arrival or within the first 24 hours were excluded, as were those receiving alternative antithrombotic drugs or procedural treatment. Exact logistic regression was used to examine the association between treatment and stroke, adjusting for injury grade. To account for the possibility of residual confounding, propensity scores for the likelihood of receiving anticoagulation were determined and used to match patients from each treatment group; the difference in the probability of stroke between the two groups was then calculated. RESULTS: A total of 677 patients with BCVI receiving aspirin or anticoagulation were identified. A total of 3.8% (n = 23) of 600 patients treated with aspirin sustained a stroke, compared to 11.7% (n = 9) of 77 receiving anticoagulation. After adjusting for injury grade with exact regression, anticoagulation was associated with higher likelihood of stroke (OR 3.01, 95% CI 1.00-8.21). In the propensity-matched analysis, patients who received anticoagulation had a 15.0% (95% CI 3.7%-26.3%) higher probability of sustaining a stroke compared to those receiving aspirin. CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic anticoagulation may be inferior to aspirin for stroke prevention in BCVI. Prospective research is warranted to definitively compare these treatment strategies.