Dilated optic nerve sheath by ultrasound predicts mortality among patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a deadly disease and increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is associated with worse outcomes in this context. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated whether dilated optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) depicted by optic nerve ultrasound (ONUS) at hospital admission has prognostic value as a predictor of mortality at 90 days. METHODS: Prospective multicenter study of acute supratentorial primary ICH patients consecutively recruited from two tertiary stroke centers. Optic nerve ultrasound and cranial computed tomography (CT) scans were performed at hospital admission and blindly reviewed. The primary outcome was mortality at 90-days. Multivariate logistic regression, ROC curve, and C-statistics were used to identify independent predictors of mortality. RESULTS: Between July 2014 and July 2016, 57 patients were evaluated. Among those, 13 were excluded and 44 were recruited into the trial. Their mean age was 62.3 ± 13.1 years and 12 (27.3%) were female. On univariate analysis, ICH volume on cranial CT scan, ICH ipsilateral ONSD, Glasgow coma scale, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and glucose on admission, and also diabetes mellitus and current nonsmoking were predictors of mortality. After multivariate analysis, ipsilateral ONSD (odds ratio [OR]: 6.24; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-33.01; p = 0.03) was an independent predictor of mortality, even after adjustment for other relevant prognostic factors. The best ipsilateral ONSD cutoff was 5.6mm (sensitivity 72% and specificity 83%) with an AUC of 0.71 (p = 0.02) for predicting mortality at 90 days. CONCLUSION: Optic nerve ultrasound is a noninvasive, bedside, low-cost technique that can be used to identify increased ICP in acute supratentorial primary ICH patients. Among these patients, dilated ONSD is an independent predictor of mortality at 90 days.

ANTECEDENTES: A hemorragia intraparenquimatosa (HIP) aguda apresenta elevada morbimortalidade e a presença de hipertensão intracraniana (HIC) confere um pior prognóstico. OBJETIVO: Avaliamos se a dilatação do diâmetro da bainha do nervo óptico (DBNO) através do ultrassom do nervo óptico (USNO) na admissão hospitalar seria preditora de mortalidade. MéTODOS: Estudo multicêntrico e prospectivo de pacientes consecutivos com HIP supratentorial primária aguda admitidos em dois centros terciários. Ultrassom do nervo óptico e tomografia computadorizada (TC) de crânio foram realizados na admissão e revisados de forma cega. O desfecho primário do estudo foi a mortalidade em 3 meses. Análises de regressão logística, curva de característica de operação do receptor (ROC, na sigla em inglês) e estatística-C foram utilizadas para identificação dos preditores independentes de mortalidade. RESULTADOS: Entre julho de 2014 e julho de 2016, 44 pacientes foram incluídos. A idade média foi 62,3 (±13,1) anos e 12 (27,3%) eram mulheres. Na análise univariada, o volume da HIP na TC de crânio, DBNO ipsilateral à HIP, glicemia, escala de coma de Glasgow (ECG) e NIHSS na admissão hospitalar, e também diabetes mellitus e não-tabagista foram preditores de mortalidade. Após análise multivariada, o DBNO ipsilateral à HIP permaneceu como preditor independente de mortalidade (odds ratio [OR]: 6,24; intervalo de confiança [IC] de 95%: 1,18­33,01; p = 0,03). O melhor ponto de corte do DBNO ipsilateral como preditor de mortalidade em 3 meses foi 5,6mm (sensibilidade 72% e especificidade 83%) e área sob a curva (AUC, na sigla em inglês) 0,71 (p = 0,02). CONCLUSãO: O USNO é um método não-invasivo, beira-leito, de baixo custo, que pode ser empregado para estimar a presença de HIC em pacientes com HIP supratentorial primária aguda. A presença de DBNO dilatada é um preditor independente de mortalidade em 3 meses nesses pacientes.

INR and vitamin K-dependent factor levels after vitamin K antagonist reversal with 4F-PCC or plasma.

Restoration of the international normalized ratio (INR) to values <1.5 is commonly targeted to achieve hemostasis in patients with major bleeding or undergoing urgent surgery who are treated using vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). However, the relationship between corrected INR and vitamin K-dependent factor (VKDF) levels for hemostasis is uncertain. We aim to examine the impact of 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) or plasma on INR correction and VKDF restoration and evaluate the relationship between INR values and VKDF levels in patients with acute major bleeding or patients requiring an urgent surgical procedure. Adult patients treated with VKA with an elevated INR (≥2.0 within 3 hours before study treatment) who received 4F-PCC or plasma after major bleeding or before an urgent surgery or invasive procedure were included in this retrospective analysis of data from 2 prospective phase 3b randomized controlled trials. Of the 370 patients included in this analysis, 185 received 4F-PCC, and 185 received plasma. In the 4F-PCC group, 159 of 185 (85.9%) had an INR ≤1.5 at 30 minutes after the end of infusion compared with only 72 of 184 (39.1%) in the plasma group. After 4F-PCC treatment, all VKDF levels exceeded 50% activity regardless of the postinfusion INR value. However, after plasma administration, mean activity levels for factors II and X were <50% at all time points assessed within 3 hours after starting the infusion, regardless of the postinfusion INR value. This retrospective analysis demonstrated that treatment with 4F-PCC among patients treated with VKA rapidly restores VKDFs to hemostatic levels irrespective of the postinfusion INR value, whereas treatment with plasma does not.

Dilated optic nerve sheath by ultrasound predicts mortality among patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage / A bainha do nervo óptico dilatada na ultrassonografia prediz mortalidade na hemorragia intraparenquimatosa aguda

Abstract Background Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a deadly disease and increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is associated with worse outcomes in this context. Objective We evaluated whether dilated optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) depicted by optic nerve ultrasound (ONUS) at hospital admission has prognostic value as a predictor of mortality at 90 days. Methods Prospective multicenter study of acute supratentorial primary ICH patients consecutively recruited from two tertiary stroke centers. Optic nerve ultrasound and cranial computed tomography (CT) scans were performed at hospital admission and blindly reviewed. The primary outcome was mortality at 90-days. Multivariate logistic regression, ROC curve, and C-statistics were used to identify independent predictors of mortality. Results Between July 2014 and July 2016, 57 patients were evaluated. Among those, 13 were excluded and 44 were recruited into the trial. Their mean age was 62.3 ± 13.1 years and 12 (27.3%) were female. On univariate analysis, ICH volume on cranial CT scan, ICH ipsilateral ONSD, Glasgow coma scale, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and glucose on admission, and also diabetes mellitus and current nonsmoking were predictors of mortality. After multivariate analysis, ipsilateral ONSD (odds ratio [OR]: 6.24; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-33.01; p = 0.03) was an independent predictor of mortality, even after adjustment for other relevant prognostic factors. The best ipsilateral ONSD cutoff was 5.6mm (sensitivity 72% and specificity 83%) with an AUC of 0.71 (p = 0.02) for predicting mortality at 90 days. Conclusion Optic nerve ultrasound is a noninvasive, bedside, low-cost technique that can be used to identify increased ICP in acute supratentorial primary ICH patients. Among these patients, dilated ONSD is an independent predictor of mortality at 90 days.

Resumo Antecedentes A hemorragia intraparenquimatosa (HIP) aguda apresenta elevada morbimortalidade e a presença de hipertensão intracraniana (HIC) confere um pior prognóstico. Objetivo Avaliamos se a dilatação do diâmetro da bainha do nervo óptico (DBNO) através do ultrassom do nervo óptico (USNO) na admissão hospitalar seria preditora de mortalidade. Métodos Estudo multicêntrico e prospectivo de pacientes consecutivos com HIP supratentorial primária aguda admitidos em dois centros terciários. Ultrassom do nervo óptico e tomografia computadorizada (TC) de crânio foram realizados na admissão e revisados de forma cega. O desfecho primário do estudo foi a mortalidade em 3 meses. Análises de regressão logística, curva de característica de operação do receptor (ROC, na sigla em inglês) e estatística-C foram utilizadas para identificação dos preditores independentes de mortalidade. Resultados Entre julho de 2014 e julho de 2016, 44 pacientes foram incluídos. A idade média foi 62,3 (±13,1) anos e 12 (27,3%) eram mulheres. Na análise univariada, o volume da HIP na TC de crânio, DBNO ipsilateral à HIP, glicemia, escala de coma de Glasgow (ECG) e NIHSS na admissão hospitalar, e também diabetes mellitus e não-tabagista foram preditores de mortalidade. Após análise multivariada, o DBNO ipsilateral à HIP permaneceu como preditor independente de mortalidade (odds ratio [OR]: 6,24; intervalo de confiança [IC] de 95%: 1,18-33,01; p = 0,03). O melhor ponto de corte do DBNO ipsilateral como preditor de mortalidade em 3 meses foi 5,6mm (sensibilidade 72% e especificidade 83%) e área sob a curva (AUC, na sigla em inglês) 0,71 (p = 0,02). Conclusão O USNO é um método não-invasivo, beira-leito, de baixo custo, que pode ser empregado para estimar a presença de HIC em pacientes com HIP supratentorial primária aguda. A presença de DBNO dilatada é um preditor independente de mortalidade em 3 meses nesses pacientes.

Association Between Serum Calcium Level and Extent of Bleeding in Patients With Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

IMPORTANCE: Calcium is a key cofactor of the coagulation cascade and may play a role in the pathophysiology of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a low serum calcium level is associated with an increase in the extent of bleeding in patients with ICH as measured by baseline hematoma volume and risk of hematoma expansion. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Prospective cohort study of 2103 consecutive patients with primary ICH ascertained during the period between 1994 and 2015 at an academic medical center. The statistical analysis was performed in January 2016. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Total calcium level was measured on admission, and hypocalcemia was defined as a serum calcium level of less than 8.4 mg/dL. Baseline and follow-up hematoma volumes, detected by noncontrast computed tomography, were measured using a computer-assisted semiautomatic analysis. Hematoma expansion was defined as an increase of more than 30% or 6 mL from baseline ICH volume. Associations between serum calcium level and baseline hematoma volume and between serum calcium level and ICH expansion were investigated in multivariable linear and logistic regression models, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 2123 patients with primary ICH were screened, and 2103 patients met the inclusion criteria (mean [SD] age, 72.7 [12.5] years; 54.3% male patients), of whom 229 (10.9%) had hypocalcemia on admission. Hypocalcemic patients had a higher median baseline hematoma volume than did normocalcemic patients (37 mL [IQR, 15-72 mL] vs 16 mL [IQR, 6-44 mL]; P < .001). Low calcium levels were independently associated with higher baseline ICH volume (ß = -0.13, SE = .03, P < .001). A total of 1393 patients underwent follow-up noncontrast computed tomography and were included in the ICH expansion analysis. In this subgroup, a higher serum calcium level was associated with reduced risk of ICH expansion (odds ratio, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.35-0.86]; P = .01), after adjusting for other confounders. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Hypocalcemia correlates with the extent of bleeding in patients with ICH. A low calcium level may be associated with a subtle coagulopathy predisposing to increased bleeding and might therefore be a promising therapeutic target for acute ICH treatment trials.

Electrographic seizures after convulsive status epilepticus in children and young adults: a retrospective multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence, characteristics, and predictors of electrographic seizures after convulsive status epilepticus (CSE). STUDY DESIGN: This was a multicenter retrospective study in which we describe clinical and electroencephalographic (EEG) features of children (1 month to 21 years) with CSE who underwent continuous EEG monitoring. RESULTS: Ninety-eight children (53 males) with CSE (median age of 5 years) underwent subsequent continuous EEG monitoring after CSE. Electrographic seizures (with or without clinical correlate) were identified in 32 subjects (33%). Eleven subjects (34.4%) had electrographic-only seizures, 17 subjects (53.1%) had electroclinical seizures, and 4 subjects (12.5%) had an unknown clinical correlate. Of the 32 subjects with electrographic seizures, 15 subjects (46.9%) had electrographic status epilepticus. Factors associated with the occurrence of electrographic seizures after CSE were a previous diagnosis of epilepsy (P = .029) and the presence of interictal epileptiform discharges (P < .0005). The median (p25-p75) duration of stay in the pediatric intensive care unit was longer for children with electrographic seizures than for children without electrographic seizures (9.5 [3-22.5] vs 2 [2-5] days, Wilcoxon test, Z = 3.916, P = .0001). Four children (4.1%) died before leaving the hospital, and we could not identify a relationship between death and the presence or absence of electrographic seizures. CONCLUSIONS: After CSE, one-third of children who underwent EEG monitoring experienced electrographic seizures, and among these, one-third experienced entirely electrographic-only seizures. A previous diagnosis of epilepsy and the presence of interictal epileptiform discharges were risk factors for electrographic seizures.