THERAPEUTIC HYPOTHERMIA IN PATIENTS WITH ANEURYSMAL SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE, REFRACTORY INTRACRANIAL HYPERTENSION, OR CEREBRAL VASOSPASM

Neurosurgery ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin A. Seule ◽  
Carl Muroi ◽  
Susanne Mink ◽  
Yasuhiro Yonekawa ◽  
Emanuela Keller

Abstract OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility and safety of mild hypothermia treatment in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) who are experiencing intracranial hypertension and/or cerebral vasospasm (CVS). METHODS Of 441 consecutive patients with SAH, 100 developed elevated intracranial pressure and/or symptomatic CVS refractory to conventional treatment. Hypothermia (33–34°C) was induced and maintained until intracranial pressure normalized, CVS resolved, or severe side effects occurred. RESULTS Thirteen patients were treated with hypothermia alone, and 87 were treated with hypothermia in combination with barbiturate coma. Sixty-six patients experienced poor-grade SAH (Hunt and Hess Grades IV and V) and 92 had Fisher Grade 3 and 4 bleedings. The mean duration of hypothermia was 169 ± 104 hours, with a maximum of 16.4 days. The outcome after 1 year was evaluated in 90 of 100 patients. Thirty-two patients (35.6%) survived with good functional outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale [GOS] score, 4 and 5), 14 (15.5%) were severely disabled (GOS score, 3), 1 (1.1%) was in a vegetative state (GOS score, 2), and 43 (47.8%) died (GOS score, 1). The most frequent side effects were electrolyte disorders (77%), pneumonia (52%), thrombocytopenia (47%), and septic shock syndrome (40%). Of 93 patients with severe side effects, 6 (6.5%) died as a result of respiratory or multi-organ failure. CONCLUSION Prolonged systemic hypothermia may be considered as a last-resort option for a carefully selected group of SAH patients with intracranial hypertension or CVS resistant to conventional treatment. However, complications associated with hypothermia require elaborate protocols in general intensive care unit management.

Stroke ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Ibrahim ◽  
Mohammad Moussavi ◽  
Elzbieta Wirkowski ◽  
Adel Hanna ◽  
Cecilia Carlowicz ◽  
...  

Introduction Hypothermia has been increasingly used for cerebral resuscitation in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest. A large number of studies have been undertaken in patients with traumatic brain injury to asses the efficacy of hypothermia for reduction of intracranial hypertension. Hypothermia has also been shown to reduce mortality and increase functional outcome if used for longer duration in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Due to the risk of rebound cerebral edema during re-warming, medical complications and other factors, hypothermia has not been widely utilized for other neurologic catastrophes. To determine the safety and feasibility of hypothermia to treat intracranial hypertension in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), we performed this study. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed on 11 consecutive patients with poor grade (Hunt and Hess IV and V) SAH who had high intracranial pressure that was either non responsive or poorly responsive to conventional methods (head of bed at 30 degrees, sedation, CSF drainage and osmotherapy). All patients had intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring via an external ventriculostomy drain (EVD) catheter. Hypothermia was induced non-invasively via surface cooling pads (Artic Sun Temperature Management System). Intravenous sedation and paralysis was used via intravenous infusion to control shivering. Hypothermia (target temperature of 32 to 34 degree C) was maintained until ICP normalized. Results Duration of hypothermia ranged from 79 hours to 190 hours. One patient required re-induction due to rebound increase in ICP during re-warming. Modified rankin scale was recorded at 3 month after the ictus. Eight patients (72%) survived with good recovery, one patient (9%) survived with severe disability and two patients (18%) died. The most common side effect was electrolyte imbalance seen in seven patients (63%), thrombocytopenia in three patients (27%), and pneumonia in four patients(36%). All complications were successfully treated and major consequences of complications (bleeding diathesis, septic shock syndrome and death) were not observed in any of these patients. Two patients had decompressive hemicraniectomy prior to hypothermia induction. Out of nine patients who did not undergo hemi-craniectomy, two died and seven did not require surgical intervention after induction of hypothermia. Conclusions Mild hypothermia induction for 72 hours or more for the treatment of intracranial hypertension refractory to other conventional methods in patients with SAH appears safe and feasible. Hypothermia may potentially be an earlier treatment option than currently recommended. This study serves as a template for future efficacy trials.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shrey Jain ◽  
Ajit Kumar Sinha ◽  
Sumit Goyal

Abstract Background: Cerebral vasospasm is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Vasospasm is managed with triple H and vasodilators but sometimes, patients do not respond. Intra-arterial vasodilator infusion has been shown to improve outcome in such patients. In this study, we try to evaluate the efficacy of intra-arterial nimodipine therapy in 43 patients of post-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage refractory cerebral vasospasm. Methods: It is a prospective observational study of a group of 43 patients presenting with refractory cerebral vasospasm as per the inclusion criteria. Pre-procedure neurological assessment and Transcranial Doppler (TCD) monitoring were done. Endovascular spasmolysis was conducted and post-operative morbidity and outcomes were noted. Follow up of the patients was done at the time of discharge and at 6 months according to the Modified Rankin Scale and NCCT head. Results: Most of the patients developing refractory cerebral vasospasm belonged to Hunt and Hess Grade 2 and 3 and Fisher grade 3 and 4. 87.5% of the patients showed clinical recovery following endovascular spasmolysis and 58% of the patients showed complete angiographic recovery. Outcome after 6 months was good in 76%, moderate in 12% and poor in 12% patients. NCCT head showed no infarct in 58%, minor infarct in 28% and major vascular territorial infarct in 14% patients. Conclusions: Intra-arterial nimodipine infusion is a safe and effective therapy with minimum risk of complications if adhered to standard endovascular practice. By timely intervention, major ischemic insult to the brain can be averted, thereby significantly improving the prognosis.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan Purohit ◽  
Naresh Mullaguri ◽  
Christine Ahrens ◽  
Christopher Newey ◽  
Dani Dhimant ◽  
...  

Introduction: Cerebral vasospasm (CVS) is a complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Intraventricular milrinone (IVtM) and intravenous milrinone (IVM) have been studied for treatment of CVS. We aimed to determine the effect of milrinone therapy on clinical and transcranial Doppler (TCD) measures of CVS. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with aSAH treated with IVtM at a single tertiary center between 2016 and 2018. Patients were treated with IVtM if they had symptomatic CVS or TCD suggestive of critical CVS that persisted despite blood pressure augmentation or endovascular therapies. Nimodipine was given as standard of care. A subset of patients were also treated with IVM, which was dosed in a standard fashion based on Montreal Neurological Institute protocol. We collected demographic data, TCD mean flow velocity and pulsatility index, angiographic data, as well as utilization and frequency of IVtM and IVM. Results: Twenty-eight patients in our cohort had modified Fisher grade 4 (57%) or grade 3 (25%) and median Hunt-Hess score of 3 (IQR 2, 4). Twenty-one of 28 patients were treated with IVtM+IVM. Seven (25%) who received IVtM alone had no significant improvement in TCD velocities or reduction in symptomatic CVS (p=0.611). Patients received between 1 and 30 doses of IVtM. There was no significant improvement with time or with number of IVtM doses IVtM. There was also no significant improvement in TCD velocities of CVS patients nor reduction in symptomatic CVS with IVtM+IVM (p=0.69). The number of IVtM doses correlated with an increased discharge mRS (p=0.05). There were no direct complications due to IVtM or IVM. Conclusion: Neither IVtM+IVM nor IVtM alone appear to be effective treatment of CVS in aSAH. Our data represent one of the first case series reporting IVtM and IVtM+IVM utilization for the treatment of CVS.


2004 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 408-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory G. Heuer ◽  
Michelle J. Smith ◽  
J. Paul Elliott ◽  
H. Richard Winn ◽  
Peter D. Leroux

Object. Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is well known to affect adversely patients with head injury. In contrast, the variables associated with ICP following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and their impact on outcome have been less intensely studied. Methods. In this retrospective study the authors reviewed a prospective observational database cataloging the treatment details in 433 patients with SAH who had undergone surgical occlusion of an aneurysm as well as ICP monitoring. All 433 patients underwent postoperative ICP monitoring, whereas only 146 (33.7%) underwent both pre- and postoperative ICP monitoring. The mean maximal ICP was 24.9 ± 17.3 mm Hg (mean ± standard deviation). During their hospital stay, 234 patients (54%) had elevated ICP (> 20 mm Hg), including 136 of those (48.7%) with a good clinical grade (Hunt and Hess Grades I–III) and 98 (63.6%) of the 154 patients with a poor grade (Hunt and Hess Grades IV and V) on admission. An increased mean maximal ICP was associated with several admission variables: worse Hunt and Hess clinical grade (p < 0.0001), a lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GSC) motor score (p < 0.0001); worse SAH grade based on results of computerized tomography studies (p < 0.0001); intracerebral hemorrhage (p = 0.024); severity of intraventricular hemorrhage (p < 0.0001); and rebleeding (p = 0.0048). Both intraoperative cerebral swelling (p = 0.0017) and postoperative GCS score (p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with a raised ICP. Variables such as patient age, aneurysm size, symptomatic vasospasm, intraoperative aneurysm rupture, and secondary cerebral insults such as hypoxia were not associated with raised ICP. Increased ICP adversely affected outcome: 71.9% of patients with normal ICP demonstrated favorable 6-month outcomes postoperatively, whereas 63.5% of patients with ICP between 20 and 50 mm Hg and 33.3% with ICP greater than 50 mm Hg demonstrated favorable outcomes. Among 21 patients whose raised ICP did not respond to mannitol therapy, all experienced a poor outcome and 95.2% died. Among 145 patients whose elevated ICP responded to mannitol, 66.9% had a favorable outcome and only 20.7% were dead 6 months after surgery (p < 0.0001). According to results of multivariate analysis, however, ICP was not an independent outcome predictor (odds ratio 1.26, 95% confidence interval 0.28–5.68). Conclusions. Increased ICP is common after SAH, even in patients with a good clinical grade. Elevated ICP post-SAH is associated with a worse patient outcome, particularly if ICP does not respond to treatment. This association, however, may depend more on the overall severity of the SAH than on ICP alone.


2014 ◽  
Vol 05 (S 01) ◽  
pp. S022-S027 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shruthi Shimoga Ramesh ◽  
Aripirala Prasanthi ◽  
Dhananjaya Ishwar Bhat ◽  
Bhagavatula Indira Devi ◽  
Rita Cristopher ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Context: Cerebral vasospasm remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Reduced bioavailability of nitric oxide has been associated with the development of cerebral vasospasm after aSAH. Such data is not available in Indian population. Aims: The objective of the study was to measure the plasma total nitric oxide (nitrite and nitrate-NO x ) level in aSAH patients and healthy controls treated at a tertiary hospital in India and to investigate a possible association between plasma total nitric oxide level and cerebral vasospasm and clinical outcome following treatment in patients with aSAH. Settings and Design: A case-control study of aSAH patients was conducted. Plasma total NO x levels were estimated in aSAH patients with and without vasospasm and compared the results with NO x levels in healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: aSAH in patients was diagnosed on the basis of clinical and neuro-imaging findings. Plasma total NO x levels in different subject groups were determined by Griess assay. Results: Plasma total NO x level was found to be significantly decreased in patients with aSAH when compared to controls. Plasma total NO x level in the poor-grade SAH group was lower than that in the good-grade SAH group. Plasma total NO x level further reduced in patients with angiographic (P < 0.05) and clinical vasospasm. Conclusions: Reduced plasma NO x level is seen in aSAH patients as compared to normal individuals. In aSAH patients reduced levels are associated with increased incidence of cerebral vasospasm and poor outcome. Plasma total NO x level could be used as a candidate biomarker for predicting vasospasm and outcome for this pathology.


2003 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 1222-1226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. McGirt ◽  
John C. Mavropoulos ◽  
Laura Y. McGirt ◽  
Michael J. Alexander ◽  
Allan H. Friedman ◽  
...  

Object. The identification of patients at an increased risk for cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) may allow for more aggressive treatment and improved patient outcomes. Note, however, that blood clot size on admission remains the only factor consistently demonstrated to increase the risk of cerebral vasospasm after SAH. The goal of this study was to assess whether clinical, radiographic, or serological variables could be used to identify patients at an increased risk for cerebral vasospasm. Methods. A retrospective review was conducted in all patients with aneurysmal or spontaneous nonaneurysmal SAH who were admitted to the authors' institution between 1995 and 2001. Underlying vascular diseases (hypertension or chronic diabetes mellitus), Hunt and Hess and Fisher grades, patient age, aneurysm location, craniotomy compared with endovascular aneurysm stabilization, medications on admission, postoperative steroid agent use, and the occurrence of fever, hydrocephalus, or leukocytosis were assessed as predictors of vasospasm. Two hundred twenty-four patients were treated for SAH during the review period. One hundred one patients (45%) developed symptomatic vasospasm. Peak vasospasm occurred 5.8 ± 3 days after SAH. There were four independent predictors of vasospasm: Fisher Grade 3 SAH (odds ratio [OR] 7.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.5–15.8), peak serum leukocyte count (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02–1.16), rupture of a posterior cerebral artery (PCA) aneurysm (OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.01–0.41), and spontaneous nonaneurysmal SAH (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.04–0.45). A serum leukocyte count greater than 15 × 109/L was independently associated with a 3.3-fold increase in the likelihood of developing vasospasm (OR 3.33, 95% CI 1.74–6.38). Conclusions. During this 7-year period, spontaneous nonaneurysmal SAH and ruptured PCA aneurysms decreased the odds of developing vasospasm sevenfold and 20-fold, respectively. The presence of Fisher Grade 3 SAH on admission or a peak leukocyte count greater than 15 × 109/L increased the odds of vasospasm sevenfold and threefold, respectively. Monitoring of the serum leukocyte count may allow for early diagnosis and treatment of vasospasm.


2020 ◽  
Vol 81 (05) ◽  
pp. 412-417
Author(s):  
Daniel Dubinski ◽  
Sae-Yeon Won ◽  
Bedjan Behmanesh ◽  
Nina Brawanski ◽  
Volker Seifert ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The role of reactive thrombocytosis in non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (NA-SAH) is largely unexplored to date. Therefore, the impact of a quantitative thrombocyte dynamic in patients with NA-SAH and its clinical relevance were analyzed in the present study. Methods In this retrospective analysis, 113 patients with nontraumatic and NA-SAH treated between 2003 and 2015 at our institution were included. World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies admission status, cerebral vasospasm, delayed infarction, hydrocephalus, need for ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt, and Fisher grade were analyzed for their association with reactive thrombocytosis. Results Reactive thrombocytosis was not associated with hydrocephalus (p ≥ 0.05), need for VP shunt implantation (p ≥ 0.05), cerebral vasospasm (p ≥ 0.05), or delayed cerebral ischemia (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusion Our study is the first to investigate the role of thrombocyte dynamics, reactive thrombocytosis, and the clinical course of NA-SAH patients. Our analysis showed no significant impact of thrombocyte count on NA-SAH sequelae.


2020 ◽  
Vol 132 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen-Yu Ding ◽  
Han-Pei Cai ◽  
Hong-Liang Ge ◽  
Liang-Hong Yu ◽  
Yuan-Xiang Lin ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEThe relationship between lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and various cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases is inconsistent. However, the connection between Lp-PLA2 level and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between the Lp-PLA2 levels in the early stages of aSAH and the occurrence of DCI.METHODSThe authors evaluated 114 patients with aSAH who were enrolled into a prospective observational cohort study. Serum Lp-PLA2 level at admission (D0), on the first morning (D1), and on the second morning of hospitalization (D2) were determined using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The relationship between Lp-PLA2 levels and DCI was analyzed.RESULTSForty-three patients with aSAH (37.72%) experienced DCI. Mean serum Lp-PLA2 level decreased from 183.06 ± 61.36 μg/L at D0 (D0 vs D1, p = 0.303), to 175.32 ± 51.49 μg/L at D1 and 167.24 ± 54.10 μg/L at D2 (D0 vs D2, p = 0.040). The Lp-PLA2 level changes (D0-D1 and D0-D2) were comparable between patients with and without DCI. Multivariate model analysis revealed Lp-PLA2 level (D0) > 200 μg/L was a more significant factor of DCI compared with Lp-PLA2 (D1) and Lp-PLA2 (D2), and was a strong predictor of DCI (odds ratio [OR] 6.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.05–18.94, p = 0.001) after controlling for World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade (OR 3.35, 95% CI 1.18–9.51, p = 0.023) and modified Fisher grade (OR 6.07, 95% CI 2.03–18.14, p = 0.001). WFNS grade (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.792), modified Fisher grade (AUC = 0.731), and Lp-PLA2 level (D0; AUC = 0.710) were all strong predictors of DCI. The predictive powers of WFNS grade, modified Fisher grade, and Lp-PLA2 (D0) were comparable (WFNS grade vs Lp-PLA2: p = 0.233; modified Fisher grade vs Lp-PLA2: p = 0.771). The poor-grade patients with Lp-PLA2 (D0) > 200 μg/L had significantly worse DCI survival rate than poor-grade patients with Lp-PLA2 (D0) ≤ 200 μg/L (p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSThe serum level of Lp-PLA2 was significantly elevated in patients with DCI, and decreased within the first 2 days after admission. Lp-PLA2 in the early stages of aSAH might be a novel predictive biomarker for the occurrence of DCI.


Author(s):  
GE Pickett ◽  
MH Schmidt ◽  
JS Shankar

Background: Cerebral vasospasm is a leading cause of neurological disability following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Clinical features associated with vasospasm development include blood burden on CT, neurological status, age and aneurysm location. Early cerebral CT perfusion (CTP) scanning in aSAH may be an independent predictor of vasospasm and/or delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). Methods: Forty-one patients with aSAH were prospectively enrolled. Baseline data collected included WFNS grade, loss of consciousness at ictus, and modified Fisher grade. CTP was obtained at baseline and on day 6 post SAH. Cerebral blood volume, cerebral blood flow and mean transit time were measured. DCI was confirmed by a combination of clinical assessments, non-contrast CT and CTP. Radiological vasospasm was assessed with CT angiography. Results: Despite 80% of patients having a modified Fisher grade 3 or 4 aSAH, one-third presenting with ictal LOC and half having anterior communicating artery aneurysms, only one patient developed clinical evidence of vasospasm/DCI. Two others had asymptomatic radiological vasospasm. CTP parameters did not differ between groups defined by clinical predictors. Conclusions: In an unexpected finding, clinical and radiological vasospasm were very uncommon in this cohort. Clinical predictive variables correlated poorly with development of vasospasm. CTP may help refine the model but further work is needed.


2006 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 264-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivien H. Lee ◽  
Heidi M. Connolly ◽  
Jimmy R. Fulgham ◽  
Edward M. Manno ◽  
Robert D. Brown ◽  
...  

Object Neurogenic stunned myocardium in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with a wide spectrum of reversible left ventricular wall motion abnormalities and includes a subset of patients with a pattern of apical akinesia and concomitant sparing of basal segments called “tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy.” Methods After obtaining institutional review board approval, the authors retrospectively identified among all patients admitted to the Mayo Clinic’s Neurological Intensive Care Unit between January 1990 and January 2005 those with aneurysmal SAH who had met the echocardiographic criteria for tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy. Among 24 patients with SAH-induced reversible cardiac dysfunction, the authors identified eight with SAH-induced tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy. All eight patients were women with a mean age of 55.5 years (range 38.6–71.1). Seven patients presented with a poor-grade SAH, reflected by a Hunt and Hess grade of III or IV. Four patients underwent aneurysm clip application, and four underwent endovascular coil occlusion. The initial mean ejection fraction (EF) was 38% (range 25–55%), and the mean EF at recovery was 55% (range 40–68%). Cerebral vasospasm developed in six patients, but cerebral infarction developed in only three patients. Conclusions The authors describe the largest cohort with aneurysmal SAH–induced tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy. In the SAH population, tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy predominates in postmenopausal women and is often associated with pulmonary edema, prolonged intubation, and cerebral vasospasm. Additional studies are warranted to understand the complex mechanism involved in tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy and its intriguing relationship to neurogenic stunned myocardium.


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