Diagnosis Of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Research Articles

Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter is not Related to Intracranial Pressure in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients.

Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is essential after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) to prevent secondary brain insults and to tailor individualized treatments. Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD), measured using ultrasound (US), could serve as a noninvasive bedside tool to estimate ICP, avoiding the risks of hemorrhage or infection related to intracranial catheters. The aims of this study were twofold: first, to explore the reliability of US for measuring ONSD; second, to establish whether the US-ONSD can be considered a proxy for ICP in SAH patients early after bleeding. For the first aim, we compared the ONSD measurements given by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI-ONSD) with the US-ONSD findings. For the second aim, we analyzed the relationship between US-ONSD measurements and ICP values. Adult patients with diagnosis of aneurysmal SAH and external ventricular drainage system (EVD) were included. Ten patients were examined by MRI to assess ONSD, and the results were compared to the diameter given by US. In 20 patients, the US-ONSD values were related to ICP measured simultaneously through EVD. In ten of these patients, we explored the changes in the US-ONSD at the time of controlled and fairly rapid changes in ICP after cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage. US-ONSD measurements at the bedside were accurate, very similar to the diameters measured by MRI (the mean difference in the Bland-Altman plot was 0.08mm, 95% limits of agreement: - 1.13; + 1.23mm). No clear relationship was detectable between the ICP and US-ONSD, and a linear regression model showed an angular coefficient very close to 0 (p > 0.05). US-ONSD and ICP values were in agreement after CSF drainage and shifts in ICP in a limited number of patients. US-ONSD measurement does not accurately estimate ICP in SAH patients in the intensive care unit.

Utility of lumbar puncture after a normal brain computed tomography scan in patients presenting to the emergency department with suspected subarachnoid haemorrhage: A new more rational approach?

The diagnostic approach for patients presenting to EDs with headaches suspicious for subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) remains challenging. Modern third-generation computed tomography (CT) has been shown to be extremely sensitive in identifying SAH and may eliminate the need for lumbar puncture (LP) which is an invasive, time-consuming procedure with limited accuracy and complications. The aim of this study is to assess the utility of LP in patients being evaluated for possible SAH in the ED after a negative non-contrast CT scan of the brain, as well as addressing the knowledge gap in regard to rational diagnostics among clinicians. We conducted a retrospective data analysis of patients being evaluated for possible SAH between June 2013 and June 2018 across three EDs in Victoria, Australia. A diagnosis of SAH was defined by SAH on CT or an abnormal cerebrospinal fluid result in conjunction with positive results on cerebral angiography. A follow-up period of 6 months was chosen. A total of 4407 patients met inclusion criteria; 397 (9%) patients were diagnosed with SAH on CT. A total of 388 patients underwent LP and 778 were admitted to hospital for further investigations and management. A total of 2613 patients discharged from ED without LP remained well at 6 months from their initial presentation, but 230 cases were lost to follow up. One patient died from haemorrhagic stroke during his third hospitalisation. A single patient demonstrated a true positive LP after a normal CT brain. LP is not required in all patients with suspected SAH who have a negative CT scan. There are defining patient characteristics that can be used to risk stratify patients and may eliminate the need for LP.

Peripheral Monocytosis at Admission to Predict Cerebral Infarct and Poor Functional Outcomes in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients

Increasing evidence points monocytes' role to be larger than thought in developing cerebral infarction (CI) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, there is no clinical evidence of the relationship between peripheral monocytes and CI and clinical outcomes. Therefore we determine whether an increase in monocytes in the acute phase is useful to predict CI and functional outcomes in SAH patients. We included 204 patients with an SAH diagnosis. We collected patient-related factors, comorbidities, Hunt-Hess grade, modified Fisher grade, treatment, delayed cerebral ischemia, CI, aneurysm characteristics, and peripheral monocytes from vein blood at admission. Poor outcomes were defined as modified Rankin Scale score ≥3. Fifty (24.5%) patients had CI before discharge. In a multivariate model, increased monocytes at admission were significantly associated with CI after adjusting for IV-V Hunt-Hess grade and delayed cerebral ischemia (odds ratio: 3.193, 95% confidence interval: 1.069-9.532, P= 0.037). In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, a monocyte count of 0.60 was identified as the best cutoff value to discriminate the development of CI (area under the curve= 0.622, P= 0.010; CI for monocytes <0.60 17.4% vs. CI for monocytes ≥0.60 29.1% P= 0.046). Admission monocytes ≥0.60 predicted poor functional outcomes at discharge (monocytes <0.60 52% vs. monocytes ≥0.60 64.7%) and at 12 months (monocytes <0.60 29.4% vs. monocytes ≥0.60 70.6%). Increased peripheral monocytes at admission is a risk factor for developing CI after SAH. Moreover, short- and long-term poor clinical outcomes were associated with higher monocyte count. Therefore monocytes could be a convenient biomarker for prognosis unfavorable outcomes and a possible target for new therapeutic strategies.

ACEP Guidelines on Acute Nontraumatic Headache Diagnosis and Management in the Emergency Department, Commentary on Behalf of the Refractory, Inpatient, Emergency Care Section of the American Headache Society.

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) published guidelines in July 2019 on the diagnosis and management of acute nontraumatic headaches in the emergency department, focusing predominantly on the diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage and the role of imaging and lumbar puncture in diagnosis. The ACEP Clinical Policies document is intended to aide Emergency Physicians in their approach to patients presenting with acute headache and to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, while promoting safe patient care practices. The Clinical Policies document also highlights the need for future research into best practices to distinguish primary from secondary headaches and the efficacy and safety of current treatment options for acute headaches. The following commentary on these guidelines is intended to support and expand on these guidelines from the Headache specialists' perspective, written on behalf of the Refractory, Inpatient, Emergency Care section of the American Headache Society (AHS). The commentary have been reviewed and approved by Board of Directors of the AHS.

Evaluating the application of the stress index used in the diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage

Evaluating the application of the stress index used in the diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage

Incidence of Terson Syndrome in Treated Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in South Korea: a National Health Insurance Database Study

The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence and mortality of Terson syndrome in patients with treated subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in South Korea. In this nationwide, population-based study, we used the National Health Insurance(NHI) database (2011–2015) to identify patients aged ≥18 years. Newly diagnosed non-traumatic SAH, treated using clipping or coil embolization, were identified, and Terson syndrome was defined as newly diagnosed retinal or vitreous hemorrhage within 3 months of SAH diagnosis. We identified 22,864 patients with treated SAH (tSAH), 196 of whom had Terson syndrome, with the cumulative incidence during 5 years of 0.86% (95% CI: 0.74–0.98): 1.10% (95% CI: 0.88–1.33) in men and 0.71% (95% CI, 0.58–0.85) in women. The cumulative incidence of Terson syndrome in patients aged under 40 was higher than in those aged 40 or over (1.41% vs. 0.81%; p = 0.007). The mortality rate of Terson syndrome in patients with tSAH was not different from that in those without Terson syndrome (4.08% vs. 7.30%; p = 0.089). This was the first nationwide epidemiological study of Terson syndrome using a population-based database. The incidence of Terson syndrome in patients with tSAH was higher in those age under 40 than in those aged 40 or over.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage diagnosis and management

Subarachnoid hemorrhage diagnosis and management

Metal artifact reduction for intracranial projectiles on post mortem computed tomography

PurposeTo compare the image quality of cranial post-mortem computed tomography (CT) obtained with and without projection-based single-energy metal artifact reduction (SEMAR) in cadavers with intracranial metallic ballistic projectiles. Materials and methodsFrom January 2017 to January 2018, cadavers with ballistic projectile head wounds with metal fragments and without massive head destruction were investigated using post-mortem CT. All subjects underwent CT using a conventional iterative reconstruction (IR) and SEMAR. To evaluate the impact of metallic artifacts, the total intracranial area (TA), non-interpretable zone (NIZ), disturbed interpretation zone (DZ), and artifact total surface (ATS) were delineated. Two independent readers identified extra-axial hemorrhage (EAH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Autopsy reports were used as the standard of reference. ResultsEleven corpses (10 males, 1 female; mean age, 62.8±17.9 [SD] years) were evaluated. SEMAR showed a significant decrease in the ATS ratio with respect to conventional IR (72.1±26.1 [SD] % [range: 26.8-99.1] vs. 86.4±17.8 [SD] % [range: 37.2-100]; P<0.001) and NIZ/TA ratios (11.6±8.26% [range: 0.95–33.4] versus 42.5±30.5% [range: 3.86–100]; P<0.001). The interobserver reproducibility in diagnosing EAH and SAH was excellent with conventional IR (0.82) and good with SEMAR (0.75). SEMAR reduced uncertain diagnoses of EAH in 7 subjects for Reader 1 and in 6 for Reader 2, but did not influence the diagnosis of SAH for either reader. ConclusionSEMAR reduces the influence of metallic artifacts and increases the confidence with which the diagnosis of EAH can be made on post-mortem CT.

INCIDENCE OF ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY IN NEUROSURGICAL PATIENTS TREATED WITH HYPERTONIC SALINE: RETROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

SESSION TITLE: Tuesday Abstract Posters SESSION TYPE: Original Investigation Posters PRESENTED ON: 10/22/2019 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM PURPOSE: Cerebral edema in the neurosurgical population can cause intracranial hypertension leading to neurological deterioration. Hypertonic saline (HTS) has become a mainstay for the treatment of cerebral edema given its ability to reduce the rate of neuronal injury by increasing intravascular tonicity. The resulting hyperosmolar state shifts water from the intracellular compartment to the intravascular space. However, treatment with HTS has been shown to be associated with a higher incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI), contributing to higher mortality and morbidity. Despite being widely used, studies investigating the incidence and predictors of nephrotoxicity are lacking and there is no recent data regarding the risk of AKI. The aim of this study is to determine if hypernatremia is associated with an increased incidence of AKI in the general neurosurgical population treated with hypertonic saline. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients admitted to the neuro-intensive care unit at a tertiary medical center between January 1, 2015 and September 31, 2017 who had a primary diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage, intraparenchymal hemorrhage, or stroke and also received HTS (3% or 2%). AKI was defined according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria with hypernatremia defined as a sodium level > 149 mmol/L during the hypertonic saline infusion. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the impact of hypernatremia on the development of AKI and in-hospital mortality, with the Wilcoxon Rank-Sum test used to evaluate the impact of hypernatremia on length of stay. RESULTS: A total of sixty-six patients were included in the analysis of which thirty-six had hypernatremia. In-hospital mortality was higher in patients who developed hypernatremia [38.9% vs. 10%, OR 5.7 (95% CI 1.6, 27.2), p=0.012] as well as AKI [77.8% vs. 36.7%, OR 6.0 (95% CI 2.1, 18.7), p=0.001]. There was no difference in length of stay [15.6 vs. 17.7 days respectively, p=0.74]. CONCLUSIONS: In our retrospective study, the development of hypernatremia during hypertonic saline infusion was associated with greater rates of in-hospital mortality and acute kidney injury. Whether hypertonic saline directly or indirectly leads to acute kidney injury is unclear. Despite this, physicians should be aware of the potential risks associated with hypertonic saline therapy and closely monitor sodium levels. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Prospective studies should be conducted to evaluate the causality of hypertonic saline and acute kidney injury. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Kristin Fless, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Patrick Hilden, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by John Hoffman, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Sasa Ivanovic, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Aimen Liaqat, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Nirav Mistry, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Vagram Ovnanian, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Fariborz Rezai, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Paul Yodice, source=Web Response

Rupture immediately after growth of unruptured intracranial aneurysms during follow-up

Background:The annual rupture rate of small unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) <5 mm is generally low; further, small UIAs are often treated conservatively. While the growth of aneurysms during follow-up is associated with a high risk of rupture, the urgency for surgical treatment of asymptomatic enlarged UIAs remains controversial. We experienced two patients in whom UIAs ruptured shortly after asymptomatic growth during follow-up.Case Description:A 1-mm right middle cerebral artery aneurysm was incidentally found in a 63-year-old woman. Preventive surgery was planned because the aneurysm grew rapidly; however, the aneurysm ruptured preoperatively. A 68-year-old woman had a small (4 mm) aneurysm at the left internal carotid-posterior communicating artery. The aneurysm grew rapidly after many years. Several hours after magnetic resonance imaging was performed, she presented to the hospital with loss of consciousness, and a diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage due to the ruptured aneurysm was made.Conclusion:UIAs that rapidly increase during follow-up may be regarded as impending ruptured aneurysms.

Fever Burden in Patients With Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and the Increased Use of Antibiotics

Background: Fever occurs in the majority of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients. Nearly 50% of SAH patients have noninfectious fevers. Data are lacking describing the effects of fever burden in the SAH patient population. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective observational cohort study in patients more or equal to 18 years of age with a diagnosis of nontraumatic SAH admitted to an ICU between January 1, 2010 and September 1, 2015. Exclusion criteria were SAH secondary to trauma or admission for more than 48 hours. Temperature measurements, demographic data, and other pertinent information were collected from Day 0 to Day 13. Daily fever burden was calculated for each patient by calculating an area under the curve. Results: A total of 194 subjects were included. The mean study period maximum temperature (Tmax) for all 194 patients was 40.8 ± 0.83°C. The mean overall fever burden for all 194 patients was 89.2 ± 99.59°C h more than 37°C. The overall fever burden peaked on day 5 and declined thereafter. Fever burden, Tmax, and length of stay in the hospital were all significantly associated with receipt of antibiotics. Only Tmax was associated with poor outcome. The 31 patients who had fever but no identified cause of infection received 1000 doses of antibiotics or 32.25 doses per patient. Conclusion: Fever is common in SAH patients and is associated with antibiotic use, infection, vasospasm, and poor outcome. Some SAH patients may receive antibiotics unnecessarily for noninfectious fever. Clinicians should consider using site-specific parameters related to infection rather than systemic symptoms such as fever to evaluate infection in SAH patients.

Dysphagia in non-traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage: a scoping review.

There is currently limited information regarding dysphagia following non-traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), which impacts upon speech-language pathologists' (SLP) decisions when providing clinical care for this patient cohort. This scoping review aims to summarise the available evidence on the topic and identify gaps in the literature. The scoping review framework as described by Arskey and O'Malley (Soc Res Methodol 8(1):19-32, 2005) was used. Searches were undertaken in six databases. Inclusion criteria included that participants were adults (18+ years), with a primary diagnosis of non-traumatic SAH, and dysphagia occurred as a result of non-traumatic SAH. Data was extracted by the primary author independently and cross-checked by the second author. Data extracted included year of publication, study location, population, aims of the study, study design, method used to identify dysphagia, who completed the assessment, dysphagia incidence, dysphagia type and severity, risk factors, characteristics, and intervention details. Ten studies were included. Dysphagia was diagnosed based on staff reports, screening, clinical swallowing examination, and/or instrumental swallowing assessment with considerable variability identified across studies with regard to incidence (range 0.9-100%). Studies were highly heterogeneous with regard to dysphagia assessment practice, risk factors, characteristics, provision of intervention, and outcomes. The current evidence regarding dysphagia following non-traumatic SAH is insufficient to provide best practice guidelines for assessment and management recommendations. Emerging evidence will inform healthcare professionals managing dysphagia in individuals following non-traumatic SAH. Future research with more rigorous study designs will promote evidence-based clinical care standards for this population.

Osteopontin in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Severe Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. In SAH patients, plasma osteopontin (OPN) has been shown to independently predict poor outcome. The aim of the study is to investigate, in a selected population with severe SAH, OPN time course in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma during the first week after aneurism rupture, and OPN prognostic value. We included 44 patients with the following criteria: (1) age 18 and 80 years, (2) diagnosis of SAH from cerebral aneurysm rupture, (3) insertion of external ventricular drain. Plasma and CSF were sampled at day 1, 4, and 8. OPN levels, in CSF and plasma, displayed a weak correlation on day 1 and were higher, in CSF, in all time points. Only in poor prognosis patients, OPN levels in CSF significantly increased at day 4 and day 8. Plasma OPN at day 1 and 4 was predictor of poor outcome. In conclusion, plasma and CSF OPN displays a weak correlation, on day 1. The higher levels of OPN found in the CSF compared to plasma, suggest OPN production within the CNS after SAH. Furthermore, plasma OPN, at day 1 and 4, seems to be an independent predictor of poor outcome.

Monitoring in the treatment of patients with aneurysmal and nonaneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage in terms of nursing care and therapy

Monitoring in the treatment of patients with aneurysmal and nonaneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage in terms of nursing care and therapy

Pupillary Light Reflex Variability as a Predictor of Clinical Outcomes in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

A change in the pupillary light reflex (PLR) is a sensitive indicator for detecting expanding intracranial lesions. Changes in PLR may be a prognostic marker for patients with intracranial lesions. The purpose of this analysis was to explore how PLR readings, size, constriction velocity (CV), dilation velocity (DV), Neurologic Pupil Index (NPi), and latency predict clinical outcome in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. This is a secondary analysis of prospectively collected multicenter registry data. The within-subject standard deviation (WSD) of PLR values, NPi, size, CV, DV, and latency were explored as predictors of discharge modified Rankin Scale (mRS) in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhagic. Among 4403 pupillary readings from 82 patients with a diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage, with a mean age of 57.7 years, the admission Glasgow Coma Scale median score was 14 (eye, 4; verbal, 4; motor, 6), and the mRS median was 0 on admission and 4 at discharge. Correlation between standard deviation of PLR values and discharge mRS was moderate and negative (r = -0.3 to -0.47, P < .01). The standard deviations for NPi, size, CV, and DV were significant for predicting discharge mRS (r = 0.23-0.28, P < .05) after controlling for admission Glasgow Coma Scale. Patients with higher WSD PLR values showed better outcomes (ie, lower mRS at discharge), suggesting that patients with narrower WSD PLR are at a higher risk for poor outcomes.

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Hospitalized Renal Transplant Recipients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Nationwide Analysis.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the hospitalization rates for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) among renal transplant patients with adult polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and its outcomes, when compared to non-ADPKD renal transplant patients. Methods: The 2005–2014 National Inpatient Sample databases were used to identify all hospitalized renal transplant patients. The inpatient prevalence of SAH as a discharge diagnosis between ADPKD and non-ADPKD renal transplant patients was compared. Among SAH patients, the in-hospital mortality, use of aneurysm clipping, hospital length of stay, total hospitalization cost and charges between ADPKD and non-ADPKD patients were compared, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: The inpatient prevalence of SAH in ADPKD was 3.8/1000 admissions, compared to 0.9/1000 admissions in non-ADPKD patients (p < 0.01). Of 833 renal transplant patients with a diagnosis of SAH, 30 had ADPKD. Five (17%) ADPKD renal patients with SAH died in hospitals compared to 188 (23.4%) non-ADPKD renal patients (p = 0.70). In adjusted analysis, there was no statistically significant difference in mortality, use of aneurysm clipping, hospital length of stay, or total hospitalization costs and charges between ADPKD and non-ADPKD patients with SAH. Conclusion: Renal transplant patients with ADPKD had a 4-fold higher inpatient prevalence of SAH than those without ADPKD. Further studies are needed to compare the incidence of overall admissions in ADPKD and non-ADPKD patients. When renal transplant patients developed SAH, inpatient mortality rates were high regardless of ADPKD status. The outcomes, as well as resource utilization, were comparable between the two groups.

Neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation in Lower Saxony and Bremen

We analyzed the delivery of healthcare services among patients in neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation programmes in the German states of Lower Saxony and Bremen. Patients´applications and admissions for neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation in Lower Saxony and Bremen were recorded during a period of two weeks both in November 2015 as well as 2016. The proportion of patients admitted to early rehabilitation within a six-week-period after disease onset was calculated. In addition, factors influencing the probability of admission were investigated. Only 45 % of all patients transferred from a primary neurological / neurosurgical unit to an early rehabilitation facility in Lower Saxony / Bremen were successfully admitted. The probability of admission fell when patients were colonized with multi-drug resistant bacteria (21 % in comparison), in particular Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with an admission rate of only 13 %. Deleterious effects were also observed in patients dependent on hemodialysis (20 %), or those with a primary diagnosis of polyneuropathy / Guillain-Barré-Syndrome (33 %) or hypoxic brain damage (37 %), as well as patients on mechanical ventilation (37 %). Patients had a higher probability of being admitted with the primary diagnoses of subarachnoid hemorrhage (52 %) or stroke (51 %). Age, Early Rehabilitation Index (ERI), monitoring, presence of tracheostomy, dysphagia, orientation or behavioral disturbances had no influence on the probability of admission, as well as other primary diagnoses or the number of admissions in one or more rehabilitation centers. Over one-half of the patients applying for admission to neurological / neurosurgical early rehabilitation facilities in Lower Saxony and Bremen were not admitted. Apparently, the capacity of early rehabilitation treatment in these two German states is not optimal.

Misdiagnosis of acute subarachnoid hemorrhage in the era of multimodal diagnostic options

ObjectivePatients suffering from aneurysmatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH) may present with a variety of symptoms. The aim of this study is to evaluate the spectrum of misdiagnoses and to analyze the significance of delay of correct diagnosis on the clinical outcome. MethodsThe data was collected prospectively from 2003 to 2013. Patients diagnosed with disease different from aneurysmal SAH by the initially treating physician, and admitted to our department with a delay of at least 24 h after the beginning of the symptoms, were included in this study. We analyzed the various diagnoses that were ascertained instead of SAH and which medical specialty had provided them. ResultsOverall 704 patients were treated with acute SAH. The inclusion criteria were matched in 76 patients (13.7%). Eleven specialties were involved in the initial patients' treatment. The time interval between initial symptoms and neurosurgical admission varied enormously. Statistically, higher Hunt & Hess score did not lead to an earlier diagnosis (p = 0.56) nor did localisation of the aneurysm (p = 0.75). Lower Fisher score was led to delayed diagnosis (p = 0.02). Delay of diagnosis was not significantly associated with the outcome (p = 0.08) whereas Hunt & Hess grade on admission was a strong predictor for bad outcome (p = 0.00001) as was cerebral vasospasm on the first angiogram (p < 0.05). ConclusionA straightforward diagnosis of SAH despite diffuse and unspecific symptoms is crucial for the successful treatment of these patients, especially with high grade SAH.

Preoperative Predictors and Prognosticators After Microsurgical Clipping of Poor-Grade Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Study

Contrary to expectations, some patients with poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) show favorable outcomes. However, the factors predictive of good prognosis are unclear. The purposes of this study were to identify factors related to poor-grade SAH and to analyze preoperative prognostic factors. We included 186 patients with SAH who underwent surgical clipping or conservative treatment immediately after SAH diagnosis. Physiologic, radiographic, and blood examination data were collected retrospectively. Factors related to poor World Federation of Neurological Societies (WFNS) grade (WFNS IV and V) and poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale scores 3-6) were analyzed. The patients (mean age, 61.6 years) included 134 women (72%). Seventy patients (38.2%) had poor WFNS scores. On multivariate analysis, age ≥70 years (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.73), midline shift (OR, 4.89), and the absence of cerebrospinal fluid in the high-convexity cortical sulci (OR, 5.47) and ambient cistern (OR, 4.83) were predictive of poor WFNS scores. Age ≥70 years (OR, 8.36), WFNS grade 5 (OR, 15.35), intracerebral hematoma (OR, 3.32), and Evans index (EI) ≥0.3 (OR, 4.40) were predictive of poor outcome. Body mass index (OR, 0.87), intraventricular hemorrhage (OR, 3.86), glycated hemoglobin level (OR, 2.78), and age ≥70 years (OR, 4.12) were predictive of EI ≥0.3. Poor outcomes correlated with older age, brain-destructive hemorrhage, and EI ≥0.3. The EI reflects both hydrocephalus and the patient's frailty. Radiographic signs of poor-grade SAH were not correlated with poor outcome, suggesting that early decompressive surgery may improve outcome.

Abstract WP209: Trends in Mortality, Length of Stay and Effect of Teaching Hospital Status in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients in the United States From 2000-2014

Background and Purpose: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Mortality and length of stay (LOS) are significant in cases of SAH. The primary objective of our study was to analyze the mortality rate, LOS associated with SAH hospital admissions from 2000 to 2014. We also analyzed if teaching status of the hospital has any effect on LOS and mortality. Methods: Nationwide inpatient sample (NIS) database was used to identify SAH admissions in all patients from 2000 to 2014 using ICD-9-CM code 430 as the principal discharge diagnosis. NIS is the largest all-payer inpatient care database in the United States, containing data on more than 7 million hospital stays. It has a large sample size which is ideal for developing national and regional estimates. Results: A total of 376,263 discharges with a diagnosis of SAH were analyzed from 2000 to 2014 from the NIS database. The number of hospitalizations increased from 24,993 in 2000 to 25,775 in 2014. In-hospital mortality decreased from 25.85% in 2000 to 18.86% in 2014 a decrease of 27.04% (P &lt; 0.0001). Mean LOS has remained the same from 11.8 days to 12 days during the same period. Mortality rates and LOS in non-teaching hospitals was 30.26% and 9.2 days in 2000 and 28.71% and 6.9 days in 2014(P &lt; 0.0001). Mortality rates and LOS in teaching hospitals was 23.3% and 13.2 days in 2000 and 18.28% and 12.5 days in 2014(P &lt; 0.0001). Conclusion: Overall in-hospital mortality associated with SAH has decreased over the years. The decrease in mortality can be attributed to early diagnosis and early institution of aggressive treatments. LOS in teaching hospitals is considerably higher which can be attributed to the complex co-morbid cases admitted and transferred to teaching hospitals. Mortality from SAH in non-teaching hospitals is significantly higher. Further research needs to be done to find the disparities in mortality rates based on teaching status of the hospital.