Effect of Helicopter Transportation of Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients on Mortality and Functional Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The "time is brain" concept denotes the importance of the expedited transfer of patients to stroke care centers. Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) can reduce the time to definitive care, which could improve neurologic prognosis and reduce mortality. METHODS: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, a search for randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized controlled trials, and prospective and retrospective cohort studies was performed through specific databases from inception to February 2020. Helicopter, acute stroke, and their synonyms (according to Medical Subject Headings) were included in this search. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies, and the Egger test was used to assess for publication bias. RESULTS: A total of 8 studies matched the inclusion criteria and were included for meta-analysis. The overall number recruited for helicopter transportation was 1,372, and for emergency standard transportation, it was 8,587. The association among HEMS and mortality was not statistically significant (odds ratio [OR] = 0.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60-1.06; P = .12). There was a significant association between good outcomes and HEMS (OR = 2; 95% CI, 1.79-2.34; P ≤ .001), and the overall poor neurologic outcome was reduced (OR = 0.52; 95% CI, 0.46-0.60; P ≤ .001). CONCLUSION: A good neurologic outcome was higher with HEMS compared with emergency standard transportation. The mortality rate was less in the emergency standard transportation group after pooled analysis but was not significant; the reduction in a poor outcome was statistically significant.

Bilateral hyperplasia of choroid plexus with severe CSF production: a case report and review of the glymphatic system.

BACKGROUND: An important feature of hydrocephalus is the alteration of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) homeostasis. New insights in the understanding of production, secretion, and absorption of CSF, along with the discovery of the glymphatic system (GS), can be useful for a better understanding and treatment of hydrocephalus in disorders with CSF overproduction. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 1-year-old patient was diagnosed with communicating hydrocephalus; ventricle peritoneal shunt (VPS) is installed and ascites developed. VPS is exposed, yielding volumes of 1000-1200ml/day CSF per day. MRI is performed showing generalized choroidal plexus hyperplasia. Bilateral endoscopic coagulation of thechoroid plexus was performed in 2 stages (CPC) however the high rate of CSF production persisted, needing a bilateral plexectomy through septostomy, which finally decreased the CSF outflow. DISCUSSION: New knowledge about the CSF physiology will help to propose better treatment depending on the cause of the hydrocephalus. The GS is becoming an additional reason to better study and develop new therapies focused of the modulation of alternative CSF reabsorption. CONCLUSION: Despite the current knowledge about hydrocephalus, we remain without a complete understanding of the pathophysiology of this condition. GS could be more important than conventional concept of reabsorption of CSF in the arachnoid villi, therefore GS could be a new key point, which will guide future investigations.

Primary intracranial smooth muscle tumor associated with Epstein-Barr virus in immunosuppressed children: two cases report and review of literature.

Primary intracranial smooth muscle tumors are rare. Most cases are related to Epstein-Barr virus proliferation in immunocompromised patients such as organ solid recipients. Only a few cases have been reported in pediatric patients. The clinical features are very variable depending mainly on the location and size of the smooth muscle tumor (SMT) and the pathogenesis is poorly understood. We describe two cases of intracranial SMT localized in the temporal lobe and associated with EBV in immunosuppressed children. A review of the literature associated with intracranial leiomyomas was also done.

Intracranial hypertension in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a devastating and life-threatening condition with high mortality and morbidity. Even though there is an association with intracranial pressure (ICP) raise and aSAH, there is a lack of recommendations regarding the indications for ICP monitoring in patients with aSAH. Defining what patients are at a higher risk to develop intracranial hypertension and its role in the functional outcome and mortality in patients with aSAH will be the purpose of the following systematic review and meta-analysis. The primary endpoint is to determine the prevalence and impact on mortality of ICP in patients with aSAH. Secondary endpoints aim to describe the variables related to the development of ICP and the relationship between traumatic and aneurysmal etiology of intracranial hypertension. PubMed, Embase, Central Cochrane Registry of Controlled Trials, and research meeting abstracts were searched up to August 2019 for studies that performed ICP monitoring, assessed the prevalence of intracranial hypertension and the mortality, in adults. Newcastle Ottawa scale (NOS) was used to assess study quality. The statistical analysis was performed using the Mantel-Haenszel methodology for the prevalence and mortality of intracranial hypertension for reasons with a randomized effect analysis model. Heterogeneity was assessed by I2. A total of 110 bibliographic citations were identified, 20 were considered potentially eligible, and after a review of the full text, 12 studies were considered eligible and 5 met the inclusion criteria for this review. One study obtained 7 points in the NOS, another obtained 6 points, and the rest obtained 5 points. Five studies were chosen for the final analysis, involving 793 patients. The rate of intracranial hypertension secondary to aSAH was 70.69% (95% CI 56.79-82.84%) showing high heterogeneity (I2 = 92.48%, p = < 0.0001). The results of the meta-analysis of mortality rate associated with intracranial hypertension after aSAH found a total of four studies, which involved 385 patients. The mortality rate was 30.3% (95% CI: 14.79-48.57%). Heterogeneity was statistically significant (I2 = 90.36%; p value for heterogeneity < 0.001). We found that in several studies, they reported that a high degree of clinical severity scale (Hunt and Hess or WNFS) and tomographic (Fisher) were significantly correlated with the increase in ICP above 20 mmHg (P < 0.05). The interpretation of the results could be underestimated for the design heterogeneity of the included studies. New protocols establishing the indications for ICP monitoring in aSAH are needed. Given the high heterogeneity of the studies included, we cannot provide clinical recommendations regarding this issue.

Hemoglobin levels as a transfusion criterion in moderate to severe traumatic brain injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Several factors can influence the outcome of severe head injuries including the patient's hemoglobin levels. There has often been a dilemma regarding levels of hemoglobin at which red cell blood transfusion (RCBT) should be performed. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the literature to determine the usefulness of management protocols that have hemoglobin levels <10 g/dL vs <7 g/dL as an RCBT criterion. METHODS: Following the PRISMA statement, the search was constructed using terms and descriptors of the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH), combined with Boolean operators. Full text of these articles was studied, and outcome measures at 3-6 months were considered for patients who were given a RCBT at <10 g/dL or at 7 g/dL hemoglobin levels. RESULTS: A total of 4 articles were found suitable for inclusion in the meta-analysis. RCBT below 7 g/dL was not associated with an increased risk of mortality as compared to RCBT using the value of less than 10 g/dL. RCBT at lower levels of hemoglobin was also not associated with a poor neurological outcome (GOS 4-5) but rather RCBT at lower levels lead to better outcomes (GOS 1-3) and the association was significant. CONCLUSION: Allogenic RCBT was associated with poorer neurological outcomes, within a wide range of reported differences in the hemoglobin threshold to decide for RCBT in TBI patients. Restrictive RCBT strategy may be useful in moderate to severe TBI cases although the risk of anemia-induced cerebral injury needs further investigation regarding the risks and complications inherent to RCBT.

Follow-up after carotid stenting with the CASPER stent system: A duplex ultrasound evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: To report results of duplex ultrasound evaluation of consecutive patients after carotid stenting with the double layer Carotid Artery Stent designed to Prevent Embolic Release (CASPER) stent system. METHODS: Between January 2014 and June 2017, a single-center, retrospective study of 101 consecutive patients (21.8% female; median age, 72.1 years) was performed. Patients with internal carotid artery stenosis treated with the CASPER stent were included. Eligibility criteria for stenting included stenosis of ≥70% of the vessel diameter (or ≥50% diameter with ulceration) in symptomatic carotid artery stenosis or ≥80% stenosis in asymptomatic patients at the carotid artery bifurcation or the proximal cervical internal carotid artery. Duplex ultrasound examination was performed before and within 24 hours of implantation as well as at 14 days, and 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: At the 12-month follow-up visit, moderate in-stent restenosis (ISR) (≥50% and <70%) was detected in three stents (2.8%) and severe (≥70%) ISR in two (1.9%; including one case of stent occlusion). All but the two latter patients remained asymptomatic during the follow-up period. One patient required retreatment for ISR after a minor stroke and another patient with stent occlusion also re-presented with a minor stroke. Multivariable logistic regression was unable to detect any significant factors associated with ISR. CONCLUSIONS: Duplex ultrasound examination after carotid stenting is a useful tool for patient follow-up and determination of ISR. We found a low incidence of ISR assessed by duplex ultrasound examination at 12 months after CASPER stenting, but further studies are warranted.

Severe Leukoaraiosis Is Associated with Poor Outcome after Successful Recanalization of M1 Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Strokes.

BACKGROUND: Severe leukoaraiosis (LA) is an established risk factor for poor outcome after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for large vessel occlusion stroke. There is uncertainty whether this association also applies to successfully recanalized patients with M1 segment middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusions. METHODS: A retrospective single-centre study of patients with successful reperfusion (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction, TICI 2b or 3) after MT for an M1 MCA occlusion was performed over a 7-year period. LA score (LAS) was assessed using the age-related white matter change scale on pre-interventional brain imaging. RESULTS: A total of 209 patients (median age 75.0 years) were included. LAS was assessed on pre-interventional imaging by computed tomography in 177 (84.7%) patients and magnetic resonance imaging in 32 (15.3%) patients. The median LAS was 1 (IQR 0-8), and severe LA consisted of the top 25 percentile, ranging from 9 to 24. Multivariable analysis demonstrated an association of severe LA (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.12-0.88, p = 0.023), higher NIHSS on admission (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.84-0.94, p < 0.001), advanced age (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-1.00, p = 0.039), good leptomeningeal collaterals (OR 3.65, 95% CI 1.46-8.15, p = 0.001), and TICI 3 score (OR 3.26, 95% CI 10.52-7.01) with good clinical outcome after 3 months as measured with the modified Rankin scale. CONCLUSION: Severe LA is associated with poor clinical outcome at 3 months in acute stroke patients undergoing MT due to emergent M1 MCA occlusion.

Carotid Calcium Volume and Stenosis after Stent Implantation.

INTRODUCTION: Internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis could be treated with stent placement. It was hypothesized that calcium amount could be predictive of vessel stenosis after stent placement. We utilised computed tomography (CT) angiography to quantify volume of calcium material in bulbar ICA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 28 patients with 31 treated ICA stenosis were collected and analysed using CT angiography-based calcium volume measurement. The Casper stent system (CSS) was used exclusively. Prospective data on emergent carotid stenosis were collected using serial ultrasound controls over a 12-month period. RESULTS: Median age was 76 years (interquartile range (IQR) 67.5-77.8) and the majority were men (71.4%). Plaque median calcium volume was 0.142 cm3 (IQR 0.030 - 0.227) and median average Hounsfield Units (HU) were 561.0 (414.5-675.0). We detected positive linear relationship between average HU and ICA calcium volume. Furthermore, weak positive correlation was observed between calcium volume and residual stenosis as seen on post-interventional angiography, (correlation coefficient R = 0.38, p=0.035). Stronger positive correlation emerged between plaques' average HU and residual stenosis (R = 0.42, p=0.018). Angiographic stenosis showed univariate association with late stenosis as detected 12 months after CAS. CONCLUSION: Calcium burden could be associated with residual stenosis after CSS placement. Larger studies are needed to confirm our preliminary data.

Acute Cerebellar Strokes with Anoxic Brain Injury After a Cardiopulmonary Arrest in SARS-CoV-2 Patient.

Neurological complications from novel coronavirus is becoming more common. These patients usually have primary pulmonary problem of acute lung injury. Presentation in the form of encephalitis, meningitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome and seizures are noted. It is also noted that SARS-CoV-2 has predilection for brain stem leading to patient not feeling extensive pulmonary injury. Here we share another neurological presentation.

Pattern of reporting and practices for the management of traumatic brain injury: An overview of published literature from India.

BACKGROUND: Published literature regarding the demographics and mechanism of injury for traumatic brain injury (TBI) in India has not been analyzed in an organized sample. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this systematic review was to organize the published literature from India related to TBI and analyze it in a very specific sample to identify the specific patterns of injury and associated mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search strategy with specific inclusion criteria was performed in PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Health Library. The process included an additional search within the indexed literature and the website-based population survey reports. RESULTS: Our review identified 72 studies from 300 potentially relevant articles based on the broad criteria that defined the demographics of the patients suffering from TBI and the details of trauma sustained, including the mechanism of injury as well as its diagnosis, management, and outcome. Changes in demographic patterns, the patterns of the body regions involved, the associated injuries, the clinical presentation, the follow-up status of patients suffering from TBI, who may or may not have shown clinical improvement, the overall outcome, as well as the mortality and disability status reported in the literature were analyzed. A high incidence of TBI in the productive population is of serious concern. Extremes of ages are more vulnerable to severe injury and a poor outcome. CONCLUSION: Quantitative analysis of injuries and outcomes of TBI victims shows a bigger health impact in the economically active population and in patients in the extremes of age groups.