Mobile Stroke Unit Reduces Time to Image Acquisition and Reporting.

Timely administration of thrombolytic therapy is critical to maximizing the likelihood of favorable outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Although emergency medical service activation overall improves the timeliness of acute stroke treatment, the time from emergency medical service dispatch to hospital arrival unavoidably decreases the timeliness of thrombolytic administration. Our mobile stroke unit, a new-generation ambulance with on-board CT scanning capability, reduces key imaging time metrics and facilitates in-the-field delivery of IV thrombolytic therapy.

A review of nerve conduction studies in cases of suspected compression neuropathies of the upper limb.

INTRODUCTION: Entrapment neuropathies, particularly those affecting upper limbs, are common reasons for referral for nerve conduction studies (NCS). However, concordance between clinical findings and NCS findings, especially in patients being considered for intervention including decompressive surgery, has not been assessed. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study using records from a tertiary referral centre's neurophysiology database. We aimed to establish the proportions of agreement between the suspected clinical diagnosis as defined by the referring clinician and NCS findings in the setting of an upper limb entrapment neuropathy. RESULTS: Of the 571 referrals for NCS, suspected bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was the commonest reason for referral (30.5%). In total, there was 51.5% concordance between suspected clinical diagnosis and NCS findings. Patients with NCS evidence of an entrapment neuropathy (n = 437) were more likely to be older compared to those with normal studies (54.0 +/- 15.6 years vs. 45.9 +/- 13.4 years, p < 0.001). Those with normal NCS findings were more likely to be female (72%, p = 0.001). An alternative or additional diagnosis was found in 14%. CONCLUSION: This study raises concerns regarding the appropriateness of referral for decompressive surgery based on clinical diagnosis alone as many have an additional or alternative diagnosis as suggested by NCS findings.

Fever after subarachnoid hemorrhage: risk factors and impact on outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for refractory fever after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and to determine the impact of temperature elevation on outcome. METHODS: We studied a consecutive cohort of 353 patients with SAH with a maximum daily temperature (T(max)) recorded on at least 7 days between SAH days 0 and 10. Fever (>38.3 degrees C) was routinely treated with acetaminophen and conventional water-circulating cooling blankets. We calculated daily T(max) above 37.0 degrees C, and defined extreme T(max) as daily excess above 38.3 degrees C. Global outcome at 90 days was evaluated with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) with the Lawton scale, and cognitive functioning with the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status. Mixed-effects models were used to identify predictors of T(max), and logistic regression models to evaluate the impact of T(max) on outcome. RESULTS: Average daily T(max) was 1.15 degrees C (range 0.04 to 2.74 degrees C). The strongest predictors of fever were poor Hunt-Hess grade and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (both p < 0.001). After controlling for baseline outcome predictors, daily T(max) was associated with an increased risk of death or severe disability (mRS > or = 4, adjusted OR 3.0 per degrees C, 95% CI 1.6 to 5.8), loss of independence in IADLs (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2 to 5.6), and cognitive impairment (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2 to 5.1, all p < or = 0.02). These associations were even stronger when extreme T(max) was analyzed. CONCLUSION: Treatment-refractory fever during the first 10 days after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is predicted by poor clinical grade and intraventricular hemorrhage, and is associated with increased mortality and more functional disability and cognitive impairment among survivors. Clinical trials are needed to evaluate the impact of prophylactic fever control on outcome after SAH.

Detection of electrographic seizures with continuous EEG monitoring in critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVE: To identify patients most likely to have seizures documented on continuous EEG (cEEG) monitoring and patients who require more prolonged cEEG to record the first seizure. METHODS: Five hundred seventy consecutive patients who underwent cEEG monitoring over a 6.5-year period were reviewed for the detection of subclinical seizures or evaluation of unexplained decrease in level of consciousness. Baseline demographic, clinical, and EEG findings were recorded and a multivariate logistic regression analysis performed to identify factors associated with 1) any EEG seizure activity and 2) first seizure detected after >24 hours of monitoring. RESULTS: Seizures were detected in 19% (n = 110) of patients who underwent cEEG monitoring; the seizures were exclusively nonconvulsive in 92% (n = 101) of these patients. Among patients with seizures, 89% (n = 98) were in intensive care units at the time of monitoring. Electrographic seizures were associated with coma (odds ratio [OR] 7.7, 95% CI 4.2 to 14.2), age <18 years (OR 6.7, 95% CI 2.8 to 16.2), a history of epilepsy (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.3 to 5.5), and convulsive seizures during the current illness prior to monitoring (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4 to 4.3). Seizures were detected within the first 24 hours of cEEG monitoring in 88% of all patients who would eventually have seizures detected by cEEG. In another 5% (n = 6), the first seizure was recorded on monitoring day 2, and in 7% (n = 8), the first seizure was detected after 48 hours of monitoring. Comatose patients were more likely to have their first seizure recorded after >24 hours of monitoring (20% vs 5% of noncomatose patients; OR 4.5, p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: CEEG monitoring detected seizure activity in 19% of patients, and the seizures were almost always nonconvulsive. Coma, age <18 years, a history of epilepsy, and convulsive seizures prior to monitoring were risk factors for electrographic seizures. Comatose patients frequently required >24 hours of monitoring to detect the first electrographic seizure.