Neurohospitalist Practice, Perspectives, and Burnout.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neurohospitalist neurology is a fast-growing subspecialty with a variety of practice settings featuring neurohospitalist models of care. Since inception, the subspecialty has responded to new challenges in resident training, hospital reimbursement, practice, and burnout. METHODS: To characterize neurohospitalists' current practice and perspectives, we surveyed the neurohospitalists and trainees affiliated with the Neurohospitalist Society using an electronic survey distributed through the society listserv. RESULTS: Of 501 individuals surveyed by e-mail, 119 began the survey (23.8% response rate), with 88.2% self-identifying as neurohospitalists. Most neurohospitalists (63%) are 10 years or less out of training, devoting 70% of their professional time to inpatient clinical activities while also performing administrative or teaching activities. Only 38% are employed by an academic department. Call schedules are common, with 75% of neurohospitalists participating in a hospital or emergency call schedule, while 55% provide telemedicine services. The majority (97%) of neurohospitalists primarily care for adults, most commonly treating patients with cerebrovascular disease, seizures, and delirium/encephalopathy. The majority (87%) are overall pleased with their work, but 36% report having experienced burnout. CONCLUSIONS: Neurohospitalists are a diverse group of neurologists primarily practicing in the inpatient setting while performing a variety of additional activities. They provide a wide array of clinical expertise for acute neurological diseases and neurological emergencies that require hospitalization, including stroke, seizure, and encephalopathy. Neurohospitalists in general are very pleased with their work, while burnout, as in neurology and other areas of medicine, remains a concern.

The Epidemiology of Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome in Patients at a Colorado Comprehensive Stroke Center.

OBJECTIVE: Vasoactive substances, including marijuana, are known precipitating factors of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS). Our objective was to describe the demographics, suspected etiology, and outcomes of RCVS patients, with specific interest in examining the subset of patients who used marijuana prior to the onset of RCVS. METHODS: We identified and described consecutive RCVS cases treated at a regional, high-volume Comprehensive Stroke Center in Colorado (2012-2015). Univariate analyses were performed to examine the associations between the characteristics and outcomes (stroke and discharge disposition) of the RCVS patients by precipitating factors. We compared patients who used marijuana to those who did not and patients who used marijuana to patients who used vasoactive substances aside from marijuana. RESULTS: Forty patients had RCVS. Sixteen (40%) cases were deemed idiopathic and 24 (60%) were secondary to a suspected trigger. Vasoactive substances were the most common suspected trigger (n = 18/24, 75%), 6 (33%) of which were marijuana. Approximately 80% of patients experienced an intracranial hemorrhage, 20% had an ischemic stroke, and yet 78% were discharged home. Patients with RCVS secondary to marijuana were more often male (p = 0.05) and younger (p = 0.02) compared to those who did not use marijuana; no differences were observed in the outcomes. These findings were consistent when examining marijuana versus other vasoactive substances. CONCLUSION: This study suggests there are demographic differences between patients with RCVS triggered by marijuana compared to the typical RCVS patient. As more states legalize marijuana, medical conditions such as RCVS and their association with marijuana warrants further study and awareness.

Epidemiology, Endovascular Treatment, and Prognosis of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: US Center Study of 152 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral venous thrombosis is a rare cause of stroke that poses diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic challenges. Mainstay treatment is systemic anticoagulation, but endovascular treatment is increasingly advocated. Our objectives were to describe the epidemiology, treatment, and prognosis of 152 patients with cerebral venous thrombosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a retrospective study of consecutive cerebral venous thrombosis cases from 2006 to 2013 at a comprehensive stroke center through hospital discharge. Predictors of full recovery (modified Rankin Scale scores 0-1) were analyzed with multiple logistic regression and presented as adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The population was young (average age: 42 years), majority female (69%), and commonly presenting with cerebral edema (63%), and 72% were transferred in. All patients received systemic anticoagulation; 49% (n=73) required endovascular treatment. Reasons for requiring endovascular treatment included cerebral edema, herniation, or hemorrhagic infarct (n=38); neurologic decline (n=17); rethrombosis, persistent occlusion, or clot propagation (n=10); extensive clot burden (n=7); and persistent headache despite anticoagulation (n=1). There were 7 (10%) procedural complications. Recanalization was successful (61%), partial (30%), and unsuccessful (9%). Overall, 60% fully recovered. Positive predictors of full recovery included hormonal etiology, particularly for patients who were transferred in (AOR: 7.06 [95% CI, 2.27-21.96], interaction P=0.03) and who had migraine history (AOR: 4.87 [95% CI, 1.01-23.50], P=0.05), whereas negative predictors of full recovery were cerebral edema (AOR: 0.11 [95% CI, 0.04-0.34], P<0.001) and motor weakness (AOR: 0.28 [95% CI, 0.09-0.96], P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: As one of the largest cohort studies, our findings suggest that cerebral edema, history of migraine, and hormonal etiology were prognostic and that endovascular treatment might be a safe and effective treatment for cerebral venous thrombosis when conventional management is inadequate.

How a CT-Direct Protocol at an American Comprehensive Stroke Center Led to Door-to-Needle Times Less Than 30 Minutes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The safety and efficacy of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) following acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is dependent on its timely administration. In 2014, our Comprehensive Stroke Center designed and implemented a computed tomography-Direct protocol to streamline the evaluation process of suspected patients with AIS, with the aim of reducing door-to-needle (DTN) times. The objectives of our study were to describe the protocol development and implementation process, and to compare DTN times and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) rates before and after protocol implementation. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected for patients with AIS receiving IV tPA between January 1, 2010, and May 31, 2015. The DTN times, examined as median times and time treatment windows, and sICH rates were compared pre- and postimplementation. RESULTS: Two hundred ninety-five patients were included in the study. After protocol implementation, median DTN times were significantly reduced (38 vs 28 minutes; P < .001). The distribution of patients treated in the three time treatment windows described below changed significantly, with an increase in patients with DTN times of 30 minutes or less, and a decrease in patients with DTN times 31 to 60 minutes and over 60 minutes (P < .001). There were two cases of sICH prior to implementation and one sICH case postimplementation. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a protocol that streamlined the processing of suspected patients with AIS significantly reduced DTN time without negatively impacting patient safety.

Comprehensive analysis of intra-arterial treatment for acute ischemic stroke due to cervical artery dissection.

OBJECTIVE: The safety and efficacy of intra-arterial treatment (IAT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to cervical artery dissection (CeAD) has not been formally studied. The purpose of this study was twofold: first, describe a large series with CeAD treated with IAT; second, analyze outcomes with CeAD receiving IAT versus (a) CeAD not treated with IAT, (b) CeAD receiving intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) alone, and (c) non-CeAD mechanism of AIS receiving IAT. DESIGN: Demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes were summarized for all CeAD patients treated with IAT from January 2010 to May 2015. Outcomes included favorable 90 day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-2, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), recanalization (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2b-3), procedural complications, and mortality. Outcomes were analyzed with χ2 tests and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: There were 161 patients with CeAD: 24 were treated with IAT and comprised our target population. Dissections were more common in the internal carotid (n=18) than in the vertebral arteries (n=6). All but one patient had intracranial embolus. IAT techniques included thrombectomy (n=19), IA thrombolysis (n=17), stent (n=14), and angioplasty (n=7). Outcomes included favorable 90 day mRS score of 0-2 in 63%, 4 deaths, 1 sICH, and 3 procedural complications. After adjustment, favorable mRS in our target population was similar to comparison populations: (a) in CeAD, IAT versus no IAT (OR 0.62, p=0.56); (b) In CeAD, IAT versus IVT alone (OR 1.32, p=0.79); and (c) IAT in CeAD versus non-CeAD mechanism of AIS (OR 0.58, p=0.34). CONCLUSIONS: IAT is a valid alternative therapeutic option for AIS caused by CeAD due to the low complication rate and excellent outcomes observed in this study.