Differentiation of psychogenic nonepileptic attacks from status epilepticus among patients intubated for convulsive activity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Patients with psychogenic nonepileptic attacks (PNEA) sometimes receive aggressive treatment leading to intubation. This study aimed to identify patient characteristics that can help differentiate PNEA from status epilepticus (SE). METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients with a final diagnosis of PNEA or SE, who were intubated for emergent convulsive symptoms and underwent continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) between 2012 and 2017. Patients who had acute brain injury or progressive brain disease as the cause of SE were excluded. We compared clinical features and laboratory values between the two groups, and identified risk factors for PNEA-related convulsive activity. RESULTS: Over a six-year period, 24 of 148 consecutive patients (16%) intubated for convulsive activity had a final diagnosis of PNEA rather than SE. Compared to patients intubated for SE, intubated PNEA patients more likely were <50 years of age, female, white, had a history of a psychiatric disorder, had no history of an intracranial abnormality, and had a maximum systolic blood pressure <140 mm Hg (all P < 0.001). Patients with 0-2 of these six risk factors had a 0% (0/88) likelihood of having PNEA, those with 3-4 had a 15% (6/39) chance of having PNEA, and those with 5-6 had an 86% (18/21) chance of having PNEA. Sensitivity for PNEA among those with 5-6 risk factors was 75% (95% CI: 53-89%) and specificity was 98% (95% CI: 93-99%). CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of a clear precipitating brain injury, approximately one in six patients intubated for emergent convulsive symptoms had PNEA rather than SE. Although PNEA cannot be diagnosed only by the presence of these risk factors, these simple characteristics could raise clinical suspicion for PNEA in the appropriate setting. Urgent neurological consultation may prevent unnecessary intubation of this at-risk patient population.

Prognostic Significance of Sentinel Headache Preceding Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel headache (SH) is often assumed to portend an increased risk of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) and aneurysm rebleeding. This study aimed to re-evaluate the associations between SH and aneurysm rebleeding, DCI, and outcome after SAH. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 1102 patients with spontaneous SAH and available data regarding history of SH who were enrolled in the Columbia University SAH Outcomes Project between 1996 and 2009. Patients were asked whether they had experienced any episodes of acute, sudden-onset severe headache in the 2 weeks preceding the most recent bleeding event. DCI was defined as neurologic deterioration, infarction, or both due to vasospasm. Rebleeding was defined as the appearance of new hemorrhage on computed tomography. Outcome was assessed at 3 months by telephone interview using the modified Rankin Scale. RESULTS: SH was reported in 152 (14%) of 1102 patients. There were no significant differences between patients with and without SH with regard to admission Hunt-Hess grade or modified Fisher Scale. There was also no difference with regard to the frequency of aneurysm rebleeding (10% vs. 8%, P = 0.42), DCI (18% vs, 20%, P = 0.64), moderate-or-severe angiographic vasospasm on follow-up angiography (51% vs. 56%, P = 0.43), highest recorded mean middle cerebral artery flow velocity on transcranial Doppler (134 versus 128 cm/s, P = 0.30), or the distribution of modified Rankin Scale scores at 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: A history of sentinel headache before the clinical diagnosis of SAH does not imply an increased risk of DCI or further rebleeding, and carries no prognostic significance.

Prediction of Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism in Critically Ill Patients: The ICU-Venous Thromboembolism Score.

OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors and develop a prediction score for in-hospital symptomatic venous thromboembolism in critically ill patients. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Henry Ford Health System, a five-hospital system including 18 ICUs. PATIENTS: We obtained data from the electronic medical record of all adult patients admitted to any ICU (total 264 beds) between January 2015 and March 2018. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Symptomatic venous thromboembolism was defined as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or both, diagnosed greater than 24 hours after ICU admission and confirmed by ultrasound, CT, or nuclear medicine imaging. A prediction score (the ICU-Venous Thromboembolism score) was derived from independent risk factors identified using multivariable logistic regression. Of 37,050 patients who met the eligibility criteria, 529 patients (1.4%) developed symptomatic venous thromboembolism. The ICU-Venous Thromboembolism score consists of six independent predictors: central venous catheterization (5 points), immobilization greater than or equal to 4 days (4 points), prior history of venous thromboembolism (4 points), mechanical ventilation (2 points), lowest hemoglobin during hospitalization greater than or equal to 9 g/dL (2 points), and platelet count at admission greater than 250,000/µL (1 point). Patients with a score of 0-8 (76% of the sample) had a low (0.3%) risk of venous thromboembolism; those with a score of 9-14 (22%) had an intermediate (3.6%) risk of venous thromboembolism (hazard ratio, 6.7; 95% CI, 5.3-8.4); and those with a score of 15-18 (2%) had a high (17.7%) risk of venous thromboembolism (hazard ratio, 28.1; 95% CI, 21.7-36.5). The overall C-statistic of the model was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.85-0.88). CONCLUSIONS: Clinically diagnosed symptomatic venous thromboembolism occurred in 1.4% of this large population of ICU patients with high adherence to chemoprophylaxis. Central venous catheterization and immobilization are potentially modifiable risk factors for venous thromboembolism. The ICU-Venous Thromboembolism score can identify patients at increased risk for venous thromboembolism.

Venous Thromboembolism in Neurocritical Care Patients.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a potentially life-threatening complication among critically ill patients. Neurocritical care patients are presumed to be at high risk for VTE; however, data regarding risk factors in this population are limited. We designed this study to evaluate the frequency, risk factors, and clinical impact of VTE in neurocritical care patients. METHODS: We obtained data from the electronic medical record of all adult patients admitted to neurological intensive care unit (NICU) at Henry Ford Hospital between January 2015 and March 2018. Venous thromboembolism was defined as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or both diagnosed by Doppler, chest computed tomography (CT) angiography or ventilation-perfusion scan >24 hours after admission. Patients with ICU length of stay <24 hours or who received therapeutic anticoagulants or were diagnosed with VTE within 24 hours of admission were excluded. RESULTS: Among 2188 consecutive NICU patients, 63 (2.9%) developed VTE. Prophylactic anticoagulant use was similar in patients with and without VTE (95% vs 92%; P = .482). Venous thromboembolism was associated with higher mortality (24% vs 13%, P = .019), and longer ICU (12 [interquartile range, IQR 5-23] vs 3 [IQR 2-8] days, P < .001) and hospital (22 [IQR 15-36] vs 8 [IQR 5-15] days, P < .001) length of stay. In a multivariable analysis, potentially modifiable predictors of VTE included central venous catheterization (odds ratio [OR] 3.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.69-5.38; P < .001) and longer duration of immobilization (Braden activity score <3, OR 1.07 per day; 95% CI, 1.05-1.09; P < .001). Nonmodifiable predictors included higher International Medical Prevention Registry on Venous Thromboembolism (IMPROVE) scores (which accounts for age >60, prior VTE, cancer and thrombophilia; OR 1.66; 95% CI, 1.40-1.97; P < .001) and body mass index (OR 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08; P = .007). CONCLUSIONS: Despite chemoprophylaxis, VTE still occurred in 2.9% of neurocritical care patients. Longer duration of immobilization and central venous catheterization are potentially modifiable risk factors for VTE in critically ill neurological patients.

CTA-for-All: Impact of Emergency Computed Tomographic Angiography for All Patients With Stroke Presenting Within 24 Hours of Onset.

Background and Purpose- We sought to evaluate the impact of a Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA) for All emergency stroke imaging protocol on outcome after large vessel occlusion (LVO). Methods- On July 1, 2017, the Henry Ford Health System implemented the policy of performing CTA and noncontrast computed tomography together as an initial imaging study for all patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) presenting within 24 hours of last known well, regardless of baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score. Previously, CTA was reserved for patients presenting within 6 hours with a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≥6. We compared treatment processes and outcomes between patients with AIS admitted 1 year before (n=388) and after (n=515) protocol implementation. Results- After protocol implementation, more AIS patients underwent CTA (91% versus 61%; P<0.001) and had CTA performed at the same time as the initial noncontrast computed tomography scan (78% versus 35%; P<0.001). Median time from emergency department arrival to CTA was also shorter (29 [interquartile range, 16-53] versus 43 [interquartile range, 29-112] minutes; P<0.001), more cases of LVO were detected (166 versus 96; 32% versus 25% of all AIS; P=0.014), and more mechanical thrombectomy procedures were performed (108 versus 68; 21% versus 18% of all AIS; P=0.196). Among LVO patients who presented within 6 hours of last known well, median time from last known well to mechanical thrombectomy was shorter (3.5 [interquartile range, 2.8-4.8] versus 4.1 [interquartile range, 3.3-5.6] hours; P=0.038), and more patients were discharged with a favorable outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale 4-5, 53% versus 37%; P=0.029). The odds of having a favorable outcome after protocol implementation was not significant (odds ratio, 1.84 [95% CI, 0.98-3.45]; P=0.059) after controlling for age and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score. Conclusions- Performing CTA and noncontrast computed tomography together as an initial assessment for all AIS patients presenting within 24 hours of last known well improved LVO detection, increased the mechanical thrombectomy treatment population, hastened intervention, and was associated with a trend toward improved outcome among LVO patients presenting within 6 hours of symptom onset.

Intubation for Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Attacks: Frequency, Risk Factors, and Impact on Outcome.

PURPOSE: Patients with psychogenic non-epileptic attacks (PNEA) sometimes receive aggressive treatment leading to endotracheal intubation. We sought to identify the frequency, risk factors, and impact on outcome of intubation for PNEA. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all PNEA patients admitted via the emergency department (ED) who had an episode of PNEA documented by continuous video electroencephalography (vEEG) at Henry Ford Hospital between January 2012 and October 2017. Patients with comorbid epilepsy were excluded. Clinical features, treatments, and vEEG reports were compared between intubated and non-intubated patients. RESULTS: Of 80 patients who were admitted via the ED and had PNEA documented by vEEG, 12 (15%) were intubated. Compared with non-intubated PNEA patients, intubated patients had longer duration of convulsive symptoms (25 [IQR 7-53] vs 2 [IQR 1-9] minutes, P = 0.01), were less likely to have a normal Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15 (33% vs 94%, P < 0.001), received higher doses of benzodiazepines (30 [IQR 16-45] vs 10 [IQR 5-20] mg of diazepam equivalents, P = 0.004), and were treated with more antiepileptic drugs (AEDs, 2 [IQR 1-3] vs 1 [IQR 1-2], P = 0.01). Hospital length of stay was longer (3 [IQR 3-5] vs 2 [IQR 2-3], P = 0.001), and the rate of complications (25% vs 4%, P = 0.04) and re-hospitalization from a recurrent episode of PNEA within 30 days was higher among intubated PNEA patients (17% vs 0%, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Fifteen percent of patients hospitalized for vEEG-documented PNEA were intubated. Intubated patients had longer length of stay, more in-hospital complications, and a high rate of re-hospitalization from recurrent PNEA symptoms. Prolonged duration of convulsive symptoms, depressed level of consciousness, and aggressive treatment with benzodiazepines were associated with intubation for PNEA.

Electrographic Seizures in Patients with Acute Encephalitis.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical seizures and status epilepticus are frequent complications of encephalitis, can lead to depressed level of consciousness, and are associated with poor outcome. We sought to determine the frequency, risk factors, and clinical impact of electrographic seizures detected with continuing electroencephalography (cEEG) in patients with encephalitis and altered level of consciousness. METHODS: We retrospectively identified all patients with presumed or definite viral or autoimmune encephalitis who underwent cEEG monitoring at Henry Ford Hospital from January 2012 to October 2017. Clinical data and cEEG monitoring reports were abstracted and recorded. The primary outcome was electrographic seizures detected by cEEG. RESULTS: Of 1,735 patients who underwent a minimum of 12 h of cEEG monitoring, we identified 54 with a verified discharge diagnosis of encephalitis. Twenty-two of these patients (41%) had electrographic seizures on cEEG. Compared with encephalitis patients without seizures, electrographic seizures were associated with lower serum sodium levels (137 ± 5 vs 141 ± 7, P = 0.027) and more often were on antiepileptic therapy (100% vs 78%, P = 0.033) on the first day of monitoring. Seizures were also associated with a higher frequency of cortical imaging abnormalities (68% vs 28%, P = 0.005), lateralized periodic discharges (LPDs; 50% vs 16%, P = 0.014), delta background frequency (81% vs 45%, P = 0.010), low or suppressed voltage (96% vs 62%, P = 0.005), and focal slowing (86% vs 47%, P = 0.004). There was no association between electrographic seizures and clinical outcome at discharge. CONCLUSION: Electrographic seizures occur in approximately 40% of patients with acute encephalitis. Low serum sodium, cortical imaging abnormalities, and on cEEG LPDs and background abnormalities are associated factors. The lack of association with short-term outcome suggests that with aggressive treatment, the clinical impact of electrographic seizures in encephalitis can be minimized.