Middle meningeal artery embolization for symptomatic chronic subdural hematoma in the setting of severe transfusion-refractory thrombocytopenia: A case study and review of literature.

Background: Surgical decompression for the treatment of chronic subdural hematomas (cSDHs) is irrefutably effective; however, its utility in managing cSDH in patients with comorbid coagulopathy remains controversial. The optimal threshold for platelet transfusion in cSDH management is <100,000/mm3, according to guidelines from the American Association of Blood Banks GRADE framework. This threshold may be unachievable in refractory thrombocytopenia, though surgical intervention may still be warranted. We present a patient with symptomatic cSDH and transfusion-refractory thrombocytopenia successfully treated with middle meningeal artery embolization (eMMA). We also review the literature to identify management approaches for cSDH with severe thrombocytopenia. Case Description: A 74-year-old male with acute myeloid leukemia presented to the emergency department with persistent headache and emesis following fall without head trauma. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a 12 mm right-sided, mixed density SDH. Platelets were <2000/mm3 initially, which stabilized to 20,000 following platelet transfusions. He then underwent right eMMA without surgical evacuation. He received intermittent platelet transfusions with platelet goal >20,000 and was discharged on hospital day 24 with resolving SDH on CT. Conclusion: High-risk surgical patients with refractory thrombocytopenia and symptomatic cSDH may be successfully treated with eMMA without surgical evacuation. A platelet goal of 20,000/mm3 before and following surgical intervention proved beneficial for our patient. Similarly, a literature review of seven cases of cSDH with comorbid thrombocytopenia revealed five patients undergoing surgical evacuation following initial medical management. Three cases reported a platelet goal of 20,000. All seven cases resulted in stable or resolving SDH with platelets >20,000 at discharge.

Utilization and gender disparities of Deep Brain Stimulation surgery amongst Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Other Pacific Islanders with Parkinson's disease in Hawai`i.

INTRODUCTION: Despite its efficacy in Parkinson's disease (PD) management, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is underutilized in sociodemographic minorities. Previous investigations of racial disparities in PD aggregated Asian American (AA) and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (NHPI) populations into a single category; however, these groups have significant health differences. We sought to characterize the PD population in Hawai`i and the use of DBS among AA subgroups and NHPI patients to elucidate potential sociodemographic and clinical disparities. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of PD patients who received DBS from 2002 to 2021 was conducted at The Queen's Medical Center on Oahu, Hawai`i. Hawai`i PD admissions from 2016 to 2020 were collected from Laulima Data Alliance database. We compared the characteristics of DBS patients, total PD admissions, and Hawai`i census data. Alpha level of < 0.05 determined statistical significance. We did a subgroup analysis of white, AA and NHPI subgroups within the patients who underwent DBS. RESULTS: Analysis included 4215 PD admissions and 74 DBS surgeries. Compared to census data, Whites (OR: 1.67; p < 0.0001) and AA (OR: 1.18; p < 0.0001) were overrepresented in total PD admissions; whereas NHPI (OR: 0.64; p < 0.0001) and Blacks (OR: 0.17; p < 0.0001) were underrepresented. Overall, males received DBS more than females. All NHPI patients who received DBS were male, despite 37.65 % of total NHPI PD admissions being female (p = 0.0049). Most DBS patients were AA (45.95 %), followed by Whites (43.24 %), and NHPI (10.81 %). CONCLUSIONS: NHPI and Black PD patients were disproportionately underrepresented in the Hawai`i PD population. All NHPI receiving DBS were male. These racial and gender disparities must be explored in future studies to achieve health equity and improved quality of care in a culturally sensitive manner.

Variables Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Hesitancy Amongst Patients with Neurological Disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Given that the success of vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) relies on herd immunity, identifying patients at risk for vaccine hesitancy is imperative-particularly for those at high risk for severe COVID-19 (i.e., minorities and patients with neurological disorders). METHODS: Among patients from a large neuroscience institute in Hawaii, vaccine hesitancy was investigated in relation to over 30 sociodemographic variables and medical comorbidities, via a telephone quality improvement survey conducted between 23 January 2021 and 13 February 2021. RESULTS: Vaccine willingness (n = 363) was 81.3%. Univariate analysis identified that the odds of vaccine acceptance reduced for patients who do not regard COVID-19 as a severe illness, are of younger age, have a lower Charlson Comorbidity Index, use illicit drugs, or carry Medicaid insurance. Multivariable logistic regression identified the best predictors of vaccine hesitancy to be: social media use to obtain COVID-19 information, concerns regarding vaccine safety, self-perception of a preexisting medical condition contraindicated with vaccination, not having received the annual influenza vaccine, having some high school education only, being a current smoker, and not having a prior cerebrovascular accident. Unique amongst males, a conservative political view strongly predicted vaccine hesitancy. Specifically for Asians, a higher body mass index, while for Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (NHPI), a positive depression screen, both reduced the odds of vaccine acceptance. CONCLUSION: Upon identifying the variables associated with vaccine hesitancy amongst patients with neurological disorders, our clinic is now able to efficiently provide ancillary COVID-19 education to sub-populations at risk for vaccine hesitancy. While our results may be limited to the sub-population of patients with neurological disorders, the findings nonetheless provide valuable insight to understanding vaccine hesitancy.

Characterizing idiopathic intracranial hypertension socioeconomic disparities and clinical risk factors: A retrospective case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: Against the backdrop of the diverse minority-majority state of Hawaii, this study seeks to better characterize associations between idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) with sociodemographic variables and medical comorbidities. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted by utilizing 54 IIH patients and 216 age-, sex-, and race-matched controls, 216 unmatched controls, and 63 age-, sex-, and race-matched migraine patients. RESULTS: Relative to controls, IIH were 25 years younger (p < 0.0001) and 10.18 kg/m2 heavier (p < 0.0001), as well as exhibited greater odds of the following variables (p < 0.05): female (odds ratio [OR]: 8.87), the lowest income quartile (OR: 2.33), Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (NHPI; OR: 2.23), Native American or Alaskan Native (OR: 16.50), obesity class 2 (35.0-39.9 kg/m2; OR: 4.10), obesity class 3 (>40 kg/m2; OR: 6.10), recent weight gain (OR: 11.66), current smoker (OR: 2.48), hypertensive (OR: 3.08), and peripheral vascular disease (OR: 16.42). Odds of IIH were reduced (p < 0.05) for patients who were Asian (OR: 0.27) or students (OR: 0.30;). Unique from Whites, NHPI IIH patients exhibited greater odds (p < 0.05) for being from lower socioeconomic status and currently smoking, as well as potential association with seizures (p = 0.08). Compared to migraines, IIH headaches were at increased odds of occurring (p < 0.05) occipitally, for greater than 15 days per month, aggravated by postural changes, and comorbid with dizziness and tinnitus. CONCLUSIONS: These results not only better characterize IIH, but also highlight socioeconomic and racial disparities in diagnosis.