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The latest medical research on Neuro Intensive Care

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Natural Evolution of Incomplete Reperfusion in Patients following Endovascular Therapy after Ischemic Stroke.

Stroke

A third of endovascularly treated stroke patients experience incomplete reperfusion (expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction, eTICI<3) and the natural evolution of this incomplete reperfusion remains unknown. We systematically reviewed literature and performed a meta-analysis on the natural evolution of incomplete reperfusion after endovascular therapy.

A systematic review of MEDLINE, Embase and PubMed up until March 1, 2024 using a predefined strategy. Only full-text English written articles reporting rates of either favorable (i.e., delayed reperfusion or no new infarct) or unfavorable progression (i.e., persistent perfusion deficit or new infarct) of incompletely reperfused tissue were included. Primary outcome was the rate of delayed reperfusion and its association with functional independence (modified Rankin Scale, mRS 0-2) at 90 days post-intervention. Pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model.

Six studies involving 950 patients (50.7% female; median age 71, IQR 60-79) were included. Four studies assessed the evolution of incomplete reperfusion on MRI perfusion imaging, while two studies used DWI and NCCT imaging, where new infarct was used to denote unfavorable progression. Five studies defined incomplete reperfusion as eTICI2b50 or 2c. Delayed reperfusion occurred in 41% (IQR 33%-51%) of cases 24h post-intervention. Achieving delayed reperfusion was associated with higher likelihood of functional independence at 90 days (OR 2.5, 95%CI 1.9-3.4).

Nearly half of eTICI<3 patients achieve delayed reperfusion, leading to favorable clinical outcome. This subgroup may derive limited or potentially harmful effects from pursuing additional reperfusion strategies (e.g., intra-arterial lytics or secondary thrombectomy). Accurately predicting the evolution of incomplete reperfusion could optimize patient selection for adjunctive reperfusion strategies at the end of an intervention.

Prediction of Survival After Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Using Quantitative EEG and Machine Learning Techniques.

Neurology

Early neuroprognostication in children with reduced consciousness after cardiac arrest (CA) is a major clinical challenge. EEG is frequently used for neuroprognostication in adults, but has not been sufficiently validated for this indication in children. Using machine learning techniques, we studied the predictive value of quantitative EEG (qEEG) features for survival 12 months after CA, based on EEG recordings obtained 24 hours after CA in children. The results were confirmed through visual analysis of EEG background patterns.

This is a retrospective single-center study including children (0-17 years) with CA, who were subsequently admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary care hospital between 2012 and 2021 after return of circulation (ROC) and were monitored using EEG at 24 hours after ROC. Signal features were extracted from a 30-minute EEG segment 24 hours after CA and used to train a random forest model. The background pattern from the same EEG fragment was visually classified. The primary outcome was survival or death 12 months after CA. Analysis of the prognostic accuracy of the model included calculation of receiver-operating characteristic and predictive values. Feature contribution to the model was analyzed using Shapley values.

Eighty-six children were included (in-hospital CA 27%, out-of-hospital CA 73%). The median age at CA was 2.6 years; 53 (62%) were male. Mortality at 12 months was 56%; main causes of death on the PICU were withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies because of poor neurologic prognosis (52%) and brain death (31%). The random forest model was able to predict death at 12 months with an accuracy of 0.77 and positive predictive value of 1.0. Continuity and amplitude of the EEG signal were the signal parameters most contributing to the model classification. Visual analysis showed that no patients with a background pattern other than continuous with amplitudes exceeding 20 μV were alive after 12 months.

Both qEEG and visual EEG background classification for registrations obtained 24 hours after ROC form a strong predictor of nonsurvival 12 months after CA in children.

Long-Term Cognitive, Functional, and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis.

Neurology

Anti-NMDA receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis generally manifests in young adults. Although 80%-90% returns to independence, the majority experience persistent cognitive and psychosocial difficulties. Studies have demonstrated that cognitive recovery may continue for years; the temporal trajectory is largely unknown, as are factors influencing cognitive/psychosocial recovery. Objectives were to (1) describe the cognitive recovery trajectory, (2) assess self-reported outcomes, (3) identify factors relating to outcome, and (4) explore the relation between cognitive and self-reported outcomes, and participation.

We performed a large-scale cross-sectional and prospective cohort study. We addressed our nationwide cohort, provided they were (1) older than 16 years, (2) independent preillness, and (3) able to perform cognitive tests and/or self-report. Patients completed Patient-Reported Outcome Measures and neuropsychological assessments (memory, language, perception and construction, and attention and executive functions), and functional outcomes were established (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score and return-to-work/-education). Outcomes were compared with references and between groups based on clinical characteristics and functional outcomes (T-tests for normalized data and nonparametric tests for patient-reported data). Recovery was visualized by plotting outcomes against time-of-assessment.

We included 92 patients (age 29 ± 2 years; 77% female). Cognitive scores improved with time-of-assessment, up to 36 months after diagnosis (R = 0.35, p = 0.022), with the most enhanced improvement in the first 6 months. This result could be reproduced in prospective patients (n = 12). Beyond 36 months (n = 44), 34% of patients had a persistent impairment (z-score <-1.5 SD) and 65% scored below-average (<-1 SD) in 1 or more cognitive domains, despite a "favorable" outcome measured by mRS (≤2) in the majority (91%). Most affected were memory (mean -0.67 ± 0.89 SD, p = 0.25) and language (-0.75 ± 1.06 SD, p = 0.23). Self-reported complaints remained in emotional well-being (mean 72 ± 25 SD vs norm 82 ± 33 SD, p < 0.001), social functioning (73 ± 26 SD vs 84 ± 22 SD, p < 0.001), energy levels (57 ± 19 SD vs 69 ± 19 SD, p < 0.001), and quality of life (0.85 ± 0.14 SD vs 0.93 ± 0.11 SD, p < 0.001). Many patients did not resume school/work (30%) or needed adjustments (18%). Resuming school/work related to processing speed (-0.14 ± 0.78 SD vs -0.84 ± 1.05 SD, p = 0.039) and well-being (EuroQol 5 Dimensions 5 Levels median 0.90 vs 0.81, p = 0.016).

Recovery from anti-NMDAR encephalitis may continue for 3 years, with risk of persisting cognitive deficits, notably in memory and language, and sequelae in social functioning, energy levels, and well-being. The frequently applied outcome measure mRS does not fully capture outcomes. Almost half of patients struggled resuming school/work, associated with cognitive deficits and well-being.

Intraoperative Burst Suppression by Analysis of Raw Electroencephalogram Postoperative Delirium in Older Adults Undergoing Spine Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Journal of Neurosurgical Anesthesiology

Postoperative delirium is a common complication in older adults, associated with poor outcomes, morbidity, mortality, and higher health care costs. Older age is a strong predictor of delirium. Intraoperative burst suppression on the electroencephalogram (EEG) has also been linked to postoperative delirium and poor neurocognitive outcomes.

In this a secondary analysis of data from the Perioperative Anesthesia Neurocognitive Disorder Assessment-Geriatric (PANDA-G) observational study, the raw EEGs of 239 spine surgery patients were evaluated. Associations between delirium and age, device-generated burst suppression ratio, and visual detection of the raw EEG were compared.

Demographics and anesthesia durations were similar in patients with and without delirium. There was a higher incidence of burst suppression identified by analysis of the raw EEG in the delirium group than in the no delirium group (73.45% vs. 50.9%; P=0.001) which appeared to be driven largely by a higher incidence of burst suppression during maintenance of anesthesia (67.2% vs. 46.3%; P=0.004). Burst suppression was more strongly associated with delirium than with age; estimated linear regression coefficient for burst suppression 0.182 (SE: 0.057; P=0.002) and for age 0.009 (SE: 0.005; P=0.082). There was no significant interaction between burst suppression and age (-0.512; SE: 0.390; P=0.190). Compared with visual detection of burst suppression, the burst suppression ratio overestimated burst suppression at low values, and underestimated burst suppression at high values.

Intraoperative burst suppression identified by visual analysis of the EEG was more strongly associated with delirium than age in older adults undergoing spine surgery. Further research is needed to determine the clinical importance of these findings.

Clinical Reasoning: A 65-Year-Old Woman With Isolated Macroglossia as the Initial Presentation of a Rare Disease.

Neurology

Macroglossia can be seen in multiple conditions, but its evaluation becomes more challenging when approached as an isolated presenting symptom. Thi...

Prevalence of Progression Independent of Relapse Activity and Relapse-Associated Worsening in Patients With AQP4-IgG-Positive NMOSD.

Neurology

In aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4-IgG NMOSD), disability accrual is mostly attributed to relapses. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) and relapse-associated worsening (RAW) in AQP4-IgG NMOSD.

This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with AQP4-IgG NMOSD enrolled in the MSBase international data registry. Patients required a minimum of 3 recorded Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores: baseline, event, and a 6-month confirmation score. Presence and absence of relapses between the baseline and event EDSS scores determined RAW and PIRA, respectively. Descriptive statistics were used to present the results.

A total of 181 patients followed for a median of 4.5 years (Q1 1.7, Q3 7.8) were included. Most patients were female (88.4%), and the median age at disease onset was 38.1 years. Overall, 4 patients (2.2%) developed 5 incidences of PIRA and 13 patients developed RAW (7.2%).

This multicenter study highlights that PIRA is very rare in AQP4-IgG NMOSD. Limitations of this study include the sole focus of overall EDSS to measure disability, lack of requirement for a second EDSS score to confirm baseline EDSS, and the absence of magnetic resonance imaging information for all patients.

WONOEP appraisal: Targeted therapy development for early onset epilepsies.

Epilepsia

The early onset epilepsies encompass a heterogeneous group of disorders, some of which result in drug-resistant seizures, developmental delay, psyc...

NSAID Allergy Labels Associated With Mortality and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Stroke.

Stroke

Mislabeled drug allergy can restrict future prescriptions and medication use, but its prevalence and impact among patients with stroke remain unknown. This study investigated the prevalence of the most commonly labeled drug allergies, their accuracy, and their impact among patients with stroke.

In this combined longitudinal and cross-sectional study, we compared the prevalence of allergy labels among the general population and patients with ischemic stroke between 2008 and 2014 from electronic health care records in Hong Kong. Outcomes between patients with stroke with or without the most prevalent labels (ie, NSAID) were compared. Rate of mislabeled NSAID allergy was confirmed by provocation testing.

Compared with the general population (n=702 966), patients with stroke had more labels (n=235) to cardiovascular and hematopoietic system (prevalence, 19.5% versus 9.2%; odds ratio [OR], 2.4 [95% CI, 1.74-3.32]; P<0.001) and radiographic and diagnostic agents (prevalence, 4.2% versus 0.9%; OR, 4.82 [95% CI, 2.56-9.08]; P<0.001). The most common labels were to NSAID (prevalence, 1.8%). Patients with NSAID allergy labels were significantly less likely to be prescribed aspirin after acute stroke (OR, 0.24 [95% CI, 0.09-0.60]; P=0.003) and on follow-up (OR, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.08-0.56]; P=0.002). The median duration of follow-up was 6.7 years (6499±2.49 patient-years). Patients with stroke with NSAID allergy labels also experienced significantly higher mortality (OR, 7.44 [95% CI, 2.44-23.18]; P<0.001), peripheral vascular disease (OR, 9.35 [95% CI, 1.95-44.86]; P=0.005), and major adverse cardiovascular events (OR, 6.09 [95% CI, 2.00-18.58]; P=0.001) in the poststroke period. Patients with NSAID allergy labels (who remained alive and could consent) were referred for allergist assessment and offered drug provocation testing. The majority (80%; 4/5) had negative provocation tests and were delabeled.

NSAID allergy labels were significantly more prevalent among patients with stroke, associated with excessive mortality, peripheral vascular disease, and major adverse cardiovascular events. Given the high rate of mislabeled allergies, multidisciplinary neuro-allergy interventions could have the potential to improve patient outcomes.

EXCELLENT Registry: A Prospective, Multicenter, Global Registry of Endovascular Stroke Treatment With the EMBOTRAP Device.

Stroke

The EXCELLENT registry aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the EMBOTRAP Revascularization Device in an all-comer population in a real-world setting, with a focus on the composition of retrieved clots.

EXCELLENT is a prospective, global registry of patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with EMBOTRAP as the first-line mechanical thrombectomy device conducted at 34 sites (25 sites contributing clot) from September 2018 to March 2021, utilizing core imaging and central histology laboratories blinded to clinical data, independent 90-day modified Rankin Scale assessment and Clinical Events Committee.

After screening 3799 patients, a total of 997 subjects (mean age, 70.0±14.2 years; 51.8% women; 19.7% non-White) were included. The first-pass modified Treatment in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) ≥2b rate was 64.5% (623/966), first-pass mTICI ≥2c was 39.1% (378/966), and final mTICI ≥2b was 94.5% (931/985). A total of 427/912 (46.8%) patients achieved a 90-day modified Rankin Scale of 0 to 2 or ≤baseline. Embolization to a new territory occurred in 0.2% (2/984), and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage at 24 hours in 1.6% (16/997). The 90-day mortality was 19.1% (175/918). Device- and/or procedure-related serious adverse events occurred in 5.9% (54/912) through 90 days. The mean RBC percentage of retrieved clots was 45.62±21.372. Among patients who achieved mTICI ≥2b with the first pass, 15.7% (52/331) and 9.7% (32/331), respectively, had RBC-poor (<25%) and RBC-rich (>75%) clots. Patients with no clot retrieved in any procedural pass had a lower percentage of hyperdense or susceptibility vessel sign on baseline imaging (58.9% versus 74.7%; P<0.001), pointing to a potential preprocedure indicator of challenging clot.

The EXCELLENT registry informs real-world practices in mechanical thrombectomy and sheds light on the range of clots effectively retrieved by current technology. This is the first report of detailed patient characteristics where mechanical thrombectomy maneuvers failed to remove any clot material. Although the composition of nonretrievable clots cannot be assessed histologically, the results support the notion that no retrieval may be correlated with imaging findings suggesting clots lower in RBC.

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03685578.

Automatic responsiveness testing in epilepsy with wearable technology: The ARTiE Watch.

Epilepsia

An accurate evaluation of behavioral responsiveness during and after seizures in people with epilepsy is critical for diagnosis and management. Current methods for assessing behavioral responsiveness are characterized by substantial variation, subjectivity, and limited reliability and reproducibility in ambulatory and epilepsy monitoring unit settings. In this study, we aimed to develop and implement a novel mobile platform for deployment of automated responsiveness testing in epilepsy-the ARTiE Watch-to facilitate standardized, objective assessments of behavioral responsiveness during and after seizures.

We prospectively recruited patients admitted to the epilepsy monitoring units for diagnostic evaluation and long-term video-electroencephalographic monitoring at Mayo Clinic and Yale New Haven Hospital. Participants wore the ARTiE Watch, a smartwatch paired with custom smartphone software integrated with cloud infrastructure allowing for remote activation of standardized assessment on the participants' smartwatches. The assessment consisted of 18 command prompts that test behavioral responsiveness across motor, language, and memory domains. Upon visually identifying an electrographic seizure during EMU monitoring, the BrainRISE platform was used to deploy the ARTiE Watch behavioral testing sequence. Responsiveness scoring was conducted on smartwatch files.

Eighteen of 56 participants had a total of 39 electrographic seizures assessed with the ARTiE Watch. The 18 subjects with ARTiE Watch-tested seizures had a total of 67 baseline (interictal) ARTiE Watch tests collected for analysis. The analysis showed distinct ARTiE Watch behavioral responsiveness phenotypes: (1) decreased responsiveness across all ARTiE Watch commands during seizure (ictal-postictal) periods compared (to baseline (p < .0001), (2) decreased responsiveness in bilateral tonic-clonic seizures compared to baseline (p < .0001) and compared to focal seizures (p < .0001), and (3) decreased responsiveness during focal impaired awareness seizures compared to baseline (p < .0001) and compared to focal aware seizures (p < .001).

ARTiE Watch behavioral testing deployed utilizing a mobile cloud-based platform is feasible and can provide standardized, objective behavioral responsiveness assessments during seizures.

Association of Conscious Sedation With Dexmedetomidine and Outcome in Stroke Patients Undergoing Thrombectomy in the DEVT and RESCUE-BT Trials.

Neurology

Although dexmedetomidine (DEX) is widely administered during endovascular treatment (EVT) to enhance procedural adherence of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with large vessel occlusion, there is limited research on the association of DEX and outcomes among these patients. Hence, this study aimed to explore the safety and outcomes of DEX during conscious sedation (CS) in a real-world setting among patients undergoing EVT.

This study provides Class II evidence that the use of DEX during EVT of AIS is associated with a worse outcome compared with other agents.

A total of 728 patients were included in this study, of whom 308 (42.3%) were female. The median (interquartile range) age was 69 (59-76) years; the median baseline NIH Stroke Scale score was 16 (12-19). Compared with the non-DEX group, the DEX group had a significantly lower rate of functional independence (40.3% vs 51.3%; aOR 0.66; 95% CI 0.46-0.93; p = 0.019). There was a significantly higher rate of unstable procedural hemodynamics in the DEX group (9.7% vs 2.3%; aOR 4.60, 95% CI 2.12-9.99, p < 0.001). In subgroup analysis, similar results were found in intraprocedural DEX-treated patients when compared with local anesthesia or intraprocedural midazolam-treated patients, respectively.

There was a negative association between procedural DEX administration during CS and functional outcomes in patients with AIS receiving EVT in a real-world setting. A larger cohort is warranted to validate our findings.

Neuropsychological Outcomes After Stereo-EEG Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation.

Neurology

Stereo-EEG-guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFTHC) has been proposed as relatively safe from a cognitive perspective; however, there is a lack of evidence based on neuropsychological assessments supporting this. This study is the first prospective evaluation of neuropsychological outcomes associated with stereo-EEG-guided RFTHC in patients with focal drug-resistant epilepsy.

This cohort study involved prospective recruitment of consecutive patients undergoing stereo-EEG from 2 Australian centers. A comprehensive neuropsychological assessment was administered before implantation and 3 months after RFTHC (M = 104.51 days, SD = 29.25). Outcomes across cognitive domains were assessed at a group level with repeated measures t tests. Factorial repeated measures analyses of variance compared memory and language outcomes according to whether dominant mesial temporal lobe (mTL) structures were coagulated. Reliable change indices (RCIs) were computed to explore psychometrically reliable changes at an individual level.

The sample comprised 39 patients who underwent stereo-EEG (M = 37.08 ± 9.67 years, range = 17-56 years, 54% female). Nineteen (49%) had a language dominant epileptogenic zone (EZ), 16 (41%) a nondominant EZ, and 4 (10%) a bilateral EZ. All patients underwent RFTHC with a mean of 11.87 (SD = 6.82, range = 2-29) coagulation sites. Ten patients (26%) had RFTHC within the dominant mTL. At a group level, RFTHC was not associated with a significant decline on any neuropsychological measures (all comparisons p > 0.05). Subgroup analyses revealed a decline in delayed verbal recall after RFTHC of dominant mTL structures (F(1,37) = 4.46, p = 0.04, ηp2 = 0.11, 95% CI [0-0.30]; medium to large effect), although it did not remain statistically significant after correction for false discovery rate. No statistically significant group differences were observed on visual memory or language measures post-RFTHC (all comparisons p > 0.05). RCI revealed that after RFTHC within the dominant mTL, 20% of patients experienced a decline in verbal memory and 10% in visual memory. By contrast, 7% declined in verbal memory and 10% in visual memory post-RFTHC outside the dominant mTL.

While these findings support the current view that RFTHC is cognitively benign for most cases, the results raise the question of a verbal memory decline after coagulation of the dominant mTL. Individualized neuropsychological counseling before stereo-EEG is essential to avoid unanticipated deficits.