Surgery After Primary Dexamethasone Treatment for Patients with Chronic Subdural Hematoma-A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to quantify the need for additional surgery in patients with chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) primarily treated with dexamethasone and to identify patient characteristics associated with additional surgery. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected from 283 patients with CSDH, primarily treated with dexamethasone, in 3 hospitals from 2008 to 2018. Primary outcome was the need for additional surgery. The association between baseline characteristics and additional surgery was analyzed with univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis and presented as adjusted odds ratios (aOR). RESULTS: In total, 283 patients with CSDH were included: 146 patients (51.6%) received 1 dexamethasone course (DXM group), 30 patients (10.6%) received 2 dexamethasone courses (DXM-DXM group), and 107 patients (37.8%) received additional surgery (DXM-SURG group). Patients who underwent surgery more often had a Markwalder Grading Scale of 2 (as compared with 1, aOR 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.90-4.65), used statins (aOR 2.09; 95% CI 1.01-4.33), had a larger midline shift (aOR 1.10 per mm; 95% CI 1.01-1.21) and had larger hematoma thickness (aOR 1.16 per mm; 95% CI 1.09-1.23), had a bilateral hematoma (aOR 1.85; 95% CI 0.90-3.79), and had a separated hematoma (as compared with homogeneous, aOR 1.77; 95% CI 0.72-4.38). Antithrombotics (aOR 0.45; 95% CI 0.21-0.95) and trabecular hematoma (as compared with homogeneous, aOR 0.31; 95% CI 0.12-0.77) were associated with a lower likelihood of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: More than one-third of patients with CSDH primarily treated with dexamethasone received additional surgery. These patients were more severely affected amongst others with larger hematomas.

The additional value of an algorithm for atrial fibrillation at the stroke unit.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The rate of newly detected (paroxysmal) atrial fibrillation (AF) during inpatient cardiac telemetry is low. The objective of this study was to evaluate the additional diagnostic yield of an automated detection algorithm for AF on telemetric monitoring compared with routine detection by a stroke unit team in patients with recent ischemic stroke or TIA. METHODS: Patients admitted to the stroke unit of Medisch Spectrum Twente with acute ischemic stroke or TIA and no history of AF were prospectively included. All patients had telemetry monitoring, routinely assessed by the stroke unit team. The ST segment and arrhythmia monitoring (ST/AR) algorithm was active, with deactivated AF alarms. After 24 h the detections were analyzed and compared with routine evaluation. RESULTS: Five hundred and seven patients were included (52.5% male, mean age 70.2 ± 12.9 years). Median monitor duration was 24 (interquartile range 22-27) h. In 6 patients (1.2%) routine analysis by the stroke unit team concluded AF. In 24 patients (4.7%), the ST/AR Algorithm suggested AF. Interrater reliability was low (κ, 0.388, p < 0.001). Suggested AF by the algorithm turned out to be false positive in 11 patients. In 13 patients (2.6%) AF was correctly diagnosed by the algorithm. None of the cases detected by routine analysis were missed by the algorithm. CONCLUSIONS: Automated AF detection during 24-h telemetry in ischemic stroke patients is of additional value to detect paroxysmal AF compared with routine analysis by the stroke unit team alone. Automated detections need to be carefully evaluated.

Nonfocal Symptoms in Patients with Transient Ischemic Attack or Ischemic Stroke: Occurrence, Clinical Determinants, and Association with Cardiac History.

BACKGROUND: Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) accompanied by nonfocal symptoms are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events, in particular cardiac events. Reported frequencies of TIAs accompanied by nonfocal symptoms range from 18 to 53%. We assessed the occurrence of nonfocal symptoms in patients with TIA or minor ischemic stroke in a neurological outpatient clinic in terms of clinical determinants, cardiac history, and atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: We included 1,265 consecutive patients with TIA or minor stroke who visited the outpatient clinic. During these visits, we systematically asked for nonfocal symptoms. Nonfocal symptoms included decreased consciousness, amnesia, positive visual phenomena, non-rotatory dizziness, and paresthesias. Relative risks for the presence of nonfocal symptoms in relation to clinical determinants, AF, and cardiac history were calculated. RESULTS: In 243 (19%) of 1,265 patients, TIA or minor ischemic stroke was accompanied by one or more nonfocal symptoms. Non-rotatory dizziness, paresthesia, and amnesia were the most common nonfocal symptoms. In patients with an event of the posterior circulation or obesity, the qualifying TIA or minor stroke was more frequently accompanied by nonfocal symptoms, and in patients with significant carotid stenosis, nonfocal symptoms occurred less frequently. AF was related only with amnesia. CONCLUSION: Nonfocal symptoms are present in one out of 5 patients with TIA or ischemic stroke, in particular when located in the posterior circulation. A cardiac history or AF was not directly related to nonfocal symptoms. A heterogeneous etiology is suggested.

N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) Levels are Increased in Patients With Transient Ischemic Attack Accompanied by Nonfocal Symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Transient nonfocal neurological symptoms may serve as markers of cardiac dysfunction. We assessed whether serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, a biomarker of cardiac disease, are increased in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) accompanied by nonfocal symptoms and in patients with attacks of nonfocal symptoms (transient neurological attack [TNA]). METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 15 patients with TNA, 69 with TIA accompanied by nonfocal symptoms, 58 with large-vessel TIA, 32 with cardioembolic TIA, and 46 age- and sex-matched healthy control participants. Serum NT-proBNP levels were determined within 1 week after the attack. We compared log-transformed NT-proBNP levels of patients with cardioembolic TIAs and mixed or nonfocal TNAs, with those of patients with noncardioembolic TIAs as a reference group. Adjustments for age, sex, atrial fibrillation, and a history of nonischemic heart disease were made with a multiple linear regression model. Compared with large-vessel TIA (mean 14.2 pmol/L), mean NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in patients with TIA accompanied by nonfocal symptoms (40.5 pmol/L, P=0.049) and with cardioembolic TIA (123.5 pmol/L; P=0.004) after adjustments for age, sex, atrial fibrillation, and a history of nonischemic heart disease. Patients with TNA also had higher mean NT-proBNP levels (20.8 pmol/L, P=0.38) than those with large-vessel TIA, but this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: NT-proBNP levels are increased in patients with TIA accompanied by nonfocal symptoms.

Diagnostic yield of external loop recording in patients with acute ischemic stroke or TIA.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a strong risk factor for first-ever stroke and stroke recurrence. The detection rate is low and detection is often costly and time-consuming. We evaluated the diagnostic yield of an external loop recorder (ELR) in patients with acute ischemic stroke or TIA, and assessed factors that are associated with AF detection. We prospectively studied patients admitted to the stroke unit with ischemic stroke or TIA, without a history of AF, and no AF on routine-ECG and 24-h telemetry. Patients received an ELR for another 24-h registration. Rhythm registration with an ELR was performed in 94 patients. AF was identified in 5 patients (5 %). AF was associated with cryptogenic stroke and cortical or subcortical involvement. If ELR was limited to patients with cryptogenic stroke in combination with cortical or subcortical involvement, the detection rate increased to 17 %. Automated recording with ELR was easy to use in the acute setting of ischemic stroke or TIA and seems promising to detect AF or atrial flutter, in particular in patients with cryptogenic stroke in combination with cortical or subcortical symptoms.

Prevalence and calcification of intracranial arterial stenotic lesions as assessed with multidetector computed tomography angiography.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intracranial arterial stenosis (ICAS) in patients with recent ischemic stroke is associated with a high risk of recurrent stroke. More insight into the pathophysiology of ICAS could help identify patients at high risk requiring more aggressive secondary prevention. We evaluated the prevalence, distribution, calcification, and the risk factors predisposing ICAS in a European stroke population. METHODS: Consecutive patients with a transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke (n=786) were evaluated for the presence and distribution of ICAS (≥30% luminal narrowing) by CT angiography. ICAS were categorized as symptomatic or asymptomatic, and the presence of calcification was assessed. The association of traditional cerebrovascular risk factors and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate with ICAS was analyzed. RESULTS: In 178 of 786 patients (23%), 288 ICAS were observed. Most stenoses (n=194/288; 67%) were located in the posterior circulation arteries. In 59 of 786 patients (8%), ICAS were considered symptomatic. ICAS in the basilar artery and arteries beyond the circle of Willis were mainly noncalcified. In addition to age, gender, and several traditional cerebrovascular risk factors, erythrocyte sedimentation rate was independently associated with the presence of ICAS (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.06-1.36) and with the presence of noncalcified ICAS in particular (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.05-1.37). CONCLUSIONS: ICAS was observed in a noteworthy number of European stroke patients. Particularly, the majority of ICAS was observed in the posterior circulation, possibly conferring worse prognosis. ICAS in distal arteries were mainly noncalcified. Association of noncalcified ICAS and erythrocyte sedimentation rate may indicate a prominent role for inflammatory factors in intracranial atherosclerotic disease.