Hematological factors predicting mortality in patients with traumatic epidural or subdural hematoma undergoing emergency surgical evacuation: A retrospective cohort study.

Hematological abnormalities at admission are common after traumatic brain injuries and are associated with poor outcomes. The objective of this study was to identify the predictive factors of mortality among patients who underwent emergency surgery for the evacuation of epidural hematoma (EDH) or subdural hematoma (SDH).This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of 200 patients who underwent emergency surgical evacuation of EDH or SDH between September 2010 and December 2018. Data on hematological parameters and clinical and intraoperative features were collected. The primary end-point was 1-year mortality after surgery. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were assessed.Of the 200 patients included in this study, 102 (51%) patients died within 1 year of emergency surgery. Lymphocyte count at admission, creatinine levels, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), age, intraoperative epinephrine use, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score were significantly associated with mortality in the multivariate analysis. The areas under the ROC curve for the GCS score, aPTT, and lymphocyte counts were 0.677 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.602-0.753), 0.644 (95% CI 0.567-0.721), and 0.576 (95% CI 0.496-0.656), respectively.Patients with elevated lymphocyte counts on admission showed a higher rate of 1-year mortality following emergency craniectomy for EDH or SDH. In addition, prolonged aPTT and a lower GCS score were also related to poor survival.

Prognostic significance of hematoma thickness to midline shift ratio in patients with acute intracranial subdural hematoma: a retrospective study.

Acute intracranial subdural hematoma (ASDH) is commonly associated with a grave prognosis citing a high incidence of morbidity and mortality. The parameters to decide on surgical evacuation of the hematoma are sometimes controversial. In this study, we theorized that the ratio between maximal hematoma thickness and midline shift would be varied by associated intrinsic brain pathology emanating from the trauma and would thus objectively evaluates the prognosis in ASDH. The records of patients diagnosed with ASDH who were submitted to surgical evacuation through a craniotomy were revised. Data collected included basic demographic data, preoperative general and neurological examinations, and radiological findings. The maximal thickness of the hematoma (H) on the preoperative CT brain was divided by the midline shift at the same level (MS) formulating the H/MS ratio. Postoperative data obtained included Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), and follow-up period. Sixty-seven eligible patients were included in the study, of which 53 (79.1%) patients were males. Mean age was 34 years. The H/MS ratio ranged from 0.69 to 1.8 with a mean of 0.93. Age above 50 years (P = 0.0218), admission GCS of less than 6 (0.0482), and H/MS ratio of 0.79 or less (P = 0.00435) were negative prognostic factors and correlated with a low postoperative GCS and GOS. H/MS ratio is a useful prognostic tool in patients diagnosed with ASDH and can be added to the armamentarium of data to improve the management decision in this cohort of patients.

Island Sign: An Imaging Predictor for Early Hematoma Expansion and Poor Outcome in Patients With Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate the usefulness of the computed tomography (CT) island sign for predicting early hematoma growth and poor functional outcome. METHODS: We included patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) who had undergone baseline CT within 6 hours after ICH symptom onset in our hospital between July 2011 and September 2016. Two readers independently assessed the presence of the island sign on the admission noncontrast CT scan. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between the presence of the island sign on noncontrast admission CT and early hematoma growth and functional outcome. RESULTS: A total of 252 patients who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. Among them, 41 (16.3%) patients had the island sign on baseline noncontrast CT scans. In addition, the island sign was observed in 38 of 85 patients (44.7%) with hematoma growth. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the time to baseline CT scan, initial hematoma volume, and the presence of the island sign on baseline CT scan independently predicted early hematoma growth. The sensitivity of the island sign for predicting hematoma expansion was 44.7%, specificity 98.2%, positive predictive value 92.7%, and negative predictive value 77.7%. After adjusting for the patients' age, baseline Glasgow Coma Scale score, presence of intraventricular hemorrhage, presence of subarachnoid hemorrhage, admission systolic blood pressure, baseline ICH volume, and infratentorial location, the presence of the island sign (odds ratio, 3.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-9.81; P=0.017) remained an independent predictor of poor outcome in patients with ICH. CONCLUSIONS: The island sign is a reliable CT imaging marker that independently predicts hematoma expansion and poor outcome in patients with ICH. The noncontrast CT island sign may serve as a potential marker for therapeutic intervention.

Role of surgery in the management of patients with supratentorial spontaneous intracerebral hematoma: Critical appraisal of evidence.

BACKGROUND: Whether surgery improves the outcome more than medical management alone continues to be a subject of intense debate and controversy. However, there is optimism that the management of spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage will change in future based new insight and better understanding of the acute pathophysiology of hematomas and its dynamics. Craniotomy as a surgical approach has been the most studied intervention for spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage but with no significant benefit when compared to best medical management. METHOD: A literature search was conducted using electronic data bases including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) on the Cochrane library, MEDLINE and EMBASE. In addition, critical appraisal of most current evidences was carried out. RESULT: About 1387 articles identified through database search over 10-year period of which one systematic review and two randomised controlled trials most relevant to this review were critically appraised. CONCLUSION: The role of surgery in the management of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage still remains a matter of debate. There is insufficient evidence to justify a general policy of early surgery for patients with spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage compared to initial medical management but STICH did demonstrate that patients with superficial hematoma might benefit from craniotomy.

Craniotomy Versus Craniectomy for Acute Traumatic Subdural Hematoma in the United States: A National Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The optimal surgical management of acute traumatic subdural hematoma (ASDH) is controversial; both craniectomy and craniotomy are performed. The purpose of this study was to determine the current management of ASDH in the United States. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from the years 2006-2011 to examine patients with a primary diagnosis of ASDH. All patients ≥18 years old with a primary diagnosis of ASDH were included in the analysis. Patients with procedure codes for craniectomy and craniotomy were isolated from the database. Propensity score matching based on logistic regression was used to match craniotomy to craniectomy in a 1:1 fashion. RESULTS: There were 47,911,414 hospitalizations analyzed. Of 60,435 patients with ASDH identified, 1763 underwent craniotomy and 177 underwent craniectomy. The average age of patients who underwent craniectomy was 49.5 years (SD 20.8) compared with an average age of 68.9 years (SD 17.1) of patients who underwent craniotomy (P < 0.0001). Hospital mortality was significantly higher in patients who underwent craniectomy (35.0% vs. 10.9%, P < 0.0001). Patients who underwent craniectomy had longer hospital stays compared with patients who underwent craniotomy (median duration 14.3 days [interquartile range 25] for craniectomy vs. 10.9 days [interquartile range 9] for craniotomy, P < 0.0001). Patients who underwent craniectomy were also more likely to be discharged to a skilled nursing or rehabilitation facility (79.1% vs. 63.9%, P = 0.0011). CONCLUSIONS: Craniotomy is the preferred surgical technique for management of ASDH in the United States, being performed 10 times more frequently than craniectomy. Craniectomy was associated with significantly higher in-hospital mortality after propensity score matched analysis.

Prognostic significance of perihematomal edema in acute intracerebral hemorrhage: pooled analysis from the intensive blood pressure reduction in acute cerebral hemorrhage trial studies.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Controversy exists over the prognostic significance of perihematomal edema (PHE) in intracerebral hemorrhage. We aimed to determine the association of early PHE and clinical outcome among participants of the Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage Trial (INTERACT) studies. METHODS: Pooled analyses of computed tomographic substudies in the pilot phase (INTERACT1) and main phase (INTERACT2), both international, prospective, open, blinded end point, randomized controlled trials, of patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (<6 hours) and elevated systolic blood pressure, randomly assigned to intensive (target systolic blood pressure, <140 mm Hg) or guideline-based (systolic blood pressure, <180 mm Hg) blood-pressure management. Substudy participants (n=1310; 346 INTERACT1, 964 INTERACT2) had blinded central analyses of digital images from standardized baseline and 24-hour computed tomography. Predictors of death or dependency (modified Rankin scale scores, ≥3) at 90 days were assessed in logistic regression models and reported with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. INTERACT studies are registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00226096 and NCT00716079). RESULTS: Of 1138 (87%) patients with 2 CTs available for edema analysis and outcome information, time from intracerebral hemorrhage onset to baseline computed tomography, baseline hematoma volume, 24-hour hematoma growth, and intraventricular extension were independent predictors of 24-hour PHE growth. Absolute growth in PHE volume was significantly associated with death or dependency (adjusted odds ratio, 1.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.33 per 5 mL increase from baseline; P=0.025) at 90 days after adjustment for demographic, clinical, and hematoma parameter prognostic factors. Associations were consistent across various sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION: PHE growth is an independent prognostic factor in intracerebral hemorrhage. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00226096 and NCT00716079.

Traumatic peritentorial subdural hematomas: a study of 32 cases.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the clinicoradiological features in patients with traumatic peritentorial subdural hematomas (SDHs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological findings, management criteria, and outcomes in 32 patients with peritentorial SDHs. The outcomes were classified as favorable (good recovery or moderate disability) or poor (severe disability, vegetative state, or death). RESULTS: Of the 32 patients, 19 were male and 13 were female. The patients' ages ranged from 10-92 years (mean age, 60.9 years). Coagulopathies were observed in 23 patients. Twenty-four patients presented with associated intracranial lesions. Eighteen patients had favorable outcomes and 14 had poor outcomes. All patients were treated conservatively. The presence of coagulopathy (p = 0.024) and presence of convexity SDH (p = 0.008) correlated with the outcome. CONCLUSION: The patients with traumatic peritentorial SDHs were predominantly male and relatively elderly, and had a high incidence of coagulopathy, associated intracranial lesions (especially falx SDHs), a high rate of impact in the occipital or frontal regions, and a low incidence of skull fractures. The factors that were correlated with outcome in patients receiving conservative therapy were the presence of coagulopathy and the presence of convexity SDH.

Patterns of intracranial hemorrhage in petrous temporal bone fracture.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship pattern of intracranial hemorrhage in cases of traumatic petrous temporal bone fracture. METHODS: All head injury cases admitted to the Emergency Department, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Pahang, Malaysia in 2008 were assessed. Computerized tomography (CT) scan of the skull base was performed in indicated cases. Patients with a petrous temporal bone fracture were included in the study. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. Intracranial hemorrhages incidence, management and outcome were recorded. RESULTS: From 1421 cases of head injury, 49(3.4%) patients were diagnosed to have a petrous bone fracture from the CT scan. Only 46 cases underwent MRI scan and were included in this study. Of these, 36(78.3%) cases had associated intracranial hemorrhages (p<0.01). Intracranial hemorrhage was associated with the longitudinal types of petrous fracture (p<0.05). Subdural hematoma was the most prevalent type of bleed (55.6%). There was no association between the types of intracranial bleeding (extradural, subdural, subarachnoid or intracerebral hemorrhage) and the types of petrous bone fracture (longitudinal, oblique or transverse). The mortality rate was 17.4%. The mortality cases were associated with the presence of other skull bone fractures (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Petrous fracture is significantly associated with intracranial hemorrhage. There was no association between the types of petrous fracture and the types of intracranial hemorrhages in our material.

[Local fibrinolysis in treatment of non-traumatic intracerebral hematomas and ventricular hemorrhages].

Local fibrinolysis and aspiration in treatment of spontaneous intracerebral hematomas (SIH) and ventricular hemorrhages (VH) have become a wide spread technique in dedicated cerebrovascular centers. Forty four patients treated in Burdenko NSI in 2007-2011 were evaluated. Local fibrinolysis for SIH were perfomed in 30 pt., for isolated VH in 14. Puroplazan, a prourokinaze based derivative (mean dose - 50 000 ME) were used in 36 cases, Actilyse (tPA) (2.0 g mean) in 8 cases. Status at discharge was improved in 66.7% of patients with SIH and 57.1% of patients with isolated VH. Mortality comprised to 10 and 28.6% correspondingly. Local hematoma aspiration and fibrinolysis is an effective minimally-invasive method of primary and secondary non-traumatic SIH and VH evacuation. Dose of fibrinolytic agent should be selected individually and depends on hematoma volume. Applied dose clinically-wise should be decreased along with reducing of hematoma size and number of injections to minimize recurrent hemorrhage risk.

Serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level predicts hematoma growth and clinical outcome after acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Lower serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels have been associated with increased risk of death after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Nevertheless, their link with hematoma growth (HG) is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between LDL-C levels, HG, and clinical outcome in patients with acute ICH. METHODS: We prospectively studied 108 consecutive patients with primary supratentorial ICH presenting within 6 hours from symptoms onset. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and ICH volume on computed tomography scan were recorded at baseline and at 24 hours. Lipid profile was obtained during the first 24 hours. Significant HG was defined as hematoma enlargement >33% or >6 mL at 24 hours. Early neurological deterioration as well as mortality and poor long-term outcome (modified Rankin Scale score >2) at 3 months were recorded. RESULTS: Although LDL-C levels were not correlated with ICH volume (r=-0.18; P=0.078) or National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (r=-0.17; P=0.091) at baseline, lower LDL-C levels were associated with HG (98.1±33.7 mg/dL versus 117.3±25.8 mg/dL; P=0.003), early neurological deterioration (89.2±31.8 mg/dL versus 112.4±29.8 mg/dL; P=0.012), and 3-month mortality (94.9±37.4 mg/dL versus 112.5±28.5 mg/dL; P=0.029), but not with poor long-term outcome (109.5±31.3 mg/dL versus 108.3±30.5 mg/dL; P=0.875). Moreover, LDL-C levels were inversely related to the amount of hematoma enlargement at 24 hours (r=-0.31; P=0.004). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, LDL-C level <95 mg/dL emerged as an independent predictor of HG (OR, 4.24; 95% CI, 1.26-14.24; P=0.020), early neurological deterioration (OR, 8.27; 95% CI, 1.66-41.16; P=0.010), and 3-month mortality (OR, 6.34; 95% CI, 1.29-31.3; P=0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Lower serum LDL-C level independently predicts HG, early neurological deterioration, and 3-month mortality after acute ICH.

Impact of stereotactic hematoma evacuation on medical costs during the chronic period in patients with spontaneous putaminal hemorrhage: a randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: Stereotactic hematoma evacuation (SHE) has been reported to reduce mortality and to improve functional outcome in patients with spontaneous putaminal hemorrhage. Stereotactic hematoma evacuation has not been widely accepted, however, as a standard therapy because its effect on functional outcome has been regarded as marginal and insufficient to justify the costs of surgery. We reassessed the value of SHE by analyzing its impact on chronic-period medical costs based on an original randomized study carried out by us. METHODS: In total, 490 patients were entered into the study. The degree of neurologic severity was defined on admission according to the neurologic grades (NGs) ranging from NG1 to NG5, adopted by the Japanese Cooperative Study on Stroke Surgery. The NG2 and 3 patients were randomized into 2 groups with different treatment protocols (group I, SHE; group II, conservative treatment). On the other hand, the NG1, 4, and 5 patients were excluded from the randomization because a large-scale retrospective study in Japan had revealed that surgical treatment in patients assigned to these NG grades does not improve functional outcome. Among the 490 patients, 248 were excluded and 242 were randomized strictly. The latter patients comprised 148 men and 94 women. Their ages ranged from 38 to 80 years (mean, 60.5 years). The medical costs for patient care were analyzed at 1 year after onset. RESULTS: As compared with group II, group I demonstrated a lower mortality and better recovery to functional independence in NG3 patients. As compared with group II, group I revealed lower costs at 1 year after hemorrhage in NG2 patients, probably reflecting reduced neurologic deficits brought about by the SHE, and approximately the same costs in NG3 patients. CONCLUSION: Stereotactic hematoma evacuation is clearly of value from the medicoeconomical point of view in selected patients with spontaneous putuminal hemorrhage, whose eyes are closed but open to weak stimuli (NG2) or strong stimuli (NG3) on admission.

Decompressive craniectomy with clot evacuation in large hemispheric hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: Decompressive hemicraniectomy in large hemispheric infarctions has been reported to lower mortality and improve the unfavorable outcomes. Hematoma volume is a powerful predictor of 30-day mortality in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Hematoma volume adds to intracranial volume and may lead to life-threatening elevation of intracranial pressure. METHODS: Records of 12 consecutive patients with hypertensive ICH treated with decompressive hemicraniectomy were reviewed. The data collected included Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score at admission and before surgery, ICH volume, ICH score, and a clinical grading scale for ICH that accurately risk-stratifies patients regarding 30-day mortality. Outcome was assessed as immediate mortality and modified Rankin Score (mRS) at the last follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 12 patients with decompressive hemicraniectomy, 11 (92%) survived to discharge; of those 11, 6 (54.5%) had good functional outcome, defined as a mRS of 0 to 3 (mean follow-up: 17.13 months; range: 2-39 months). The mean age was 49.8 years (range: 19-76 years). Three of the 7 patients with pupillary abnormalities made a good recovery; of the 11 patients with intraventricular extensions (IVEs), 7 made a good recovery. The clinical finding (which was present in all 3 patients with mRS equal to 5 and which was not present in patients with mRS less than 5) was abnormal occulocephalic reflex. Of the 10 patients with an ICH score of 3, 9 (90%) survived to discharge, 4 (44%) had good functional outcome (mRS: 1-3). Hematoma volume was 60 cm3 or greater in eight patients, four (50%) of whom had good functional outcome (mRS: 0-3). CONCLUSION: Decompressive hemicraniectomy with hematoma evacuation is life-saving and improves unfavorable outcomes in a select group of young patients with large right hemispherical ICH.

Validez diagnóstica de la tomografía computarizada en hematomas intracraneanos / Diagnostic validity of computerized tomography in intracranial hematomas

Los hematomas intracraneales se han constituido en un común factor de morbilidad y mortalidad. Actualmente, con la tomografía computarizada, puede facilitarse su diagnóstico y hacer más eficiente y eficaz la evaluación terapéutica del paciente. Se usó diseño transversal y observacional para determinar la validez diagnóstica de la tomografía computarizada en hematomas intracraneanos. Se estudió una muestra de 48 pacientes operados de dicha patología y que contaran con estudio tomográfico previo. El diagnóstico tomográfico para hematoma intracraneal fue corroborado con el hallazgo quirúrgico en todos los casos, en cambio el diagnóstico clínico fue confirmado sólo en el 58,3 por ciento de ellos. Se encontró una sensibilidad y especificidad para la tomografía computarizada del 100 por ciento en los hematomas epidural y subdural, y del 91,7 por ciento y 97,2 por ciento respectivamente para los hematomas intracerebrales. La tomografía computarizada es un método de diagnóstico eficaz para hematomas intracraneales, incluyendo en el acortamiento del tiempo transcurrido desde el diagnóstico de la patología hasta su manejo quirúrgico y mejorando, de esta manera, la condición alta del paciente.