Incidence Of Neurological Complications Research Articles

Influence of access site choice on incidence of neurologic complications after percutaneous coronary intervention

Neurologic complications (NCs) are a rare but potentially devastating complication that may follow percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In recent years, there has been an increase in use of transradial access, driven by a developing body of evidence that favors its use over femoral access. Concerns have been raised, however, that transradial access may increase the risk of NC compared with transfemoral access. We aimed to investigate the influence of access site selection on the occurrence of NCs through a period of transition during which transradial access became the dominant route for PCI procedures performed in the United Kingdom. We performed a retrospective analysis of the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society database between January 2006 and December 2010. The data were split into 2 cohorts based on access site. An NC was defined as a periprocedural ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, or transient ischemic attack occurring before hospital discharge. Binary logistic multivariate analysis was used to investigate the influence of access site utilization on NCs and adjust for measured confounding factors. Between 2006 and 2010, the use of radial access increased from 17.2% to 50.8% of all PCI procedures. A total of 124,616 radial procedures and 223,476 femoral procedures were studied with a NC rate of 0.11% in each cohort. In univariate (odds ratio 1.01, 95% CI 0.82-1.24, P = .93) and multivariate analysis (odds ratio 0.99, 95% CI 0.79-1.23, P = .91), there was no significant association between the use of radial access and the occurrence of NCs. These results suggest that radial access is not associated with an increased risk of clinically detected NCs, even during a period when there was a rapid evolution in the preferred access site for PCI in the United Kingdom. These are reassuring results, particularly for operators embarking on a change to radial access for PCI.

Dry Beriberi and Wernicke’s encephalopathy following gastric lap band surgery

The incidence of neurologic complications from bariatric surgery is rising with the prevalence of obesity and the increasing number of bariatric surgeries. We report a 25-year-old woman who developed subacute progressive weakness and areflexia followed by confusion, ophthalmoplegia, and nystagmus following bariatric surgery. While the differential of generalized weakness with altered mental status is broad, vitamin deficiency should be routinely suspected after bariatric surgery to prevent permanent neurological injury. Multifocal neurological dysfunction in our patient represented beriberi and Wernicke’s encephalopathy related to vitamin B1 deficiency.

Elbow Arthroscopy: Review of the Literature and Case Reports

Elbow arthroscopy, though described first in 1930s, gained popularity only in the last 3 decades. There has been a steady expansion in the clinical applications of elbow arthroscopy owing to the significant improvements in instrumentation and arthroscopic skills. The procedure which was mainly used for diagnostic purpose, loose body removals, and synovial biopsy has now become an important tool for managing elbow arthritis, stiff elbow, and trauma. However, this procedure has a higher incidence of neurological complications and hence case selection and surgeon's expertise are of utmost importance.

Patent foramen ovale does not have a negative impact on early outcomes in patients undergoing liver transplantation

To identify the impact of the presence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients undergoing liver transplantation. Twenty-seven pre-liver transplant patients who had a PFO (PFO group) were identified and compared with 61 patients without PFO (NoPFO group). Patients were matched according to age, gender and cause of liver disease. The diagnosis of PFO was made by transthoracic echocardiography prior to liver transplantation. Patient baseline characteristics and complications during the early post-transplant period were analyzed. The mean age in the PFO group was 47 ± 14 (range 18-68) yr and 50 ± 11 (range 12-65) yr in the NoPFO group. The PFO group had a mean model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score of 15 ± 10 whereas in the NoPFO group the MELD score was 19 ± 10 (p = 0.08). There were non-significant differences in echocardiographic parameters between groups. Duration of mechanical ventilation and the incidence of neurological complications were similar. Thirty-day mortality rate was similar in both groups; only one patient in the NoPFO group died within the first 30 days post-transplantation. The presence of PFO in patients with end-stage liver disease undergoing liver transplantation does not appear to affect patient outcomes during the peri-operative period.

"Difficult back", turns into "less difficult back" by ultrasonography.

"Difficult back", turns into "less difficult back" by ultrasonography.

Continuous spinal anesthesia with epidural catheters: An experience in the periphery.

Background and Aim:Continuous spinal anesthesia (CSA) offers considerable advantages over “singleshot” spinal or epidural anesthesia since it allows administration of well-controlled anesthesia using small doses of local anesthetics and a definite end point with less failure rate. There are described technical difficulties with introduction of spinal micro catheters and hence this study was undertaken by using epidural catheters.Materials and Methods:Sixty patients of ASA grade II to III were selected and they were administered continuous spinal anesthesia with Portex 18-G epidural catheters.Results:The introduction was done in first attempt and was easy in all cases. The intraoperative period was uneventful in all cases. Early postoperative analgesia was achieved in all cases. Only two patients (3%) had postdural puncture headache controlled with simple analgesics. In a 3 month postoperative followup, the incidence of neurological complication is nil.Conclusion:We conclude CSA with epidural catheters is a simple and safe alternative for prolonged procedures with negligible failure rate especially in high-risk patients and in patients with possible difficulties in administration of general anesthesia.

Trans-foraminal versus posterior lumbar interbody fusion: comparison of surgical morbidity

<title/>Background: Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and trans-foraminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) are both accepted surgical approaches for spinal fusion in spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease. The unilateral approach of TLIF may minimize the risk of iatrogenic durotomy and nerve root injury; however, there is no definitive evidence to support either approach. We review our experience with TLIF versus PLIF to compare operative complications.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 119 consecutive cases of PLIF or TLIF performed for degenerative disc disease or spondylolithesis at a single institution over 5 years and examined the incidences of operative complications and outcomes.Results: PLIF was performed in 76 (63%) patients and TLIF in 43 (37%). Patients were 48±13 years old and presented with mechanical back pain [109 (92%)], radicular pain [95 (80%)], and radicular motor weakness [10 (8%)]. Patients undergoing PLIF and TLIF had similar baseline demographic, clinical, and radiographic characteristics. PLIF was associated with a higher incidence of post-operative iatrogenic nerve root dysfunction [6 (7·8%) versus 1 (2%)] and durotomy [13 (17%) versus 4 (9%)]; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance. All cases of nerve root injury were transient and resolved by the third month post-operatively. Estimated operative blood loss, length of hospitalization, and other peri-operative indices were similar between cohorts. By 12 months, evidence of pseudoarthrosis was present in 2 (2·6%) and 2 (4·6%) patients with PLIF or TLIF, respectively. There was a similar incidence of improvement in radicular pain (88% versus 79%) and low back pain (74% versus 80%) between TLIF and PLIF.Conclusion: In our experience with surgical management of degenerative disc disease and spondylolesthesis, PLIF versus TLIF was associated with a trend toward a higher incidence of nerve root injury and durotomy. However, iatrogenic nerve root dysfunction was transient in all cases and 12-month pseudoarthrosis rates were similar between cohorts. Similar to previous clinical studies, the incidence of neurological complications and durotomy increases when an interbody fusion is performed through a posterior approach compared to non-interbody fusion techniques. However, the fusion rates with the interbody technique are also enhanced. TLIF and PLIF should only be considered when the goals of surgery cannot be addressed with decompression and traditional posterolateral fusion.

Low Incidence of Neurologic Complications during Thoracic Epidurals: Anatomic Explanation

Low Incidence of Neurologic Complications during Thoracic Epidurals: Anatomic Explanation

Neurologische Komplikationen in der Anästhesiologie – Teil I – Schlaganfall, Visusverlust, zentral anticholinerges Syndrom

Neurological complications following anesthesia deteriorate patients' outcome, and increase hospital costs because of prolonged hospitalization and supplemental medical care. Moreover, patients' satisfaction is negatively influenced by neurological sequelae after anesthesia. Improving anesthesiologic management based on consequent prevention measures can help to reduce the incidence of neurological complications after anesthesia. In case of neurological complications in the perioperative phase an interdisciplinary approach in immediate diagnosis and treatment may prevent patients from permanent damage. The present review article gives an overview over incidences, diagnostic and therapeutic issues of neurologic complications in operative patients, such as perioperative stroke, postoperative visual loss and the anticholinergic syndrome.

Central nervous system complications during treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a single pediatric institution

Central nervous system (CNS) complications during treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remain a challenging clinical problem. Outcome improvement with more intensive chemotherapy has significantly increased the incidence and severity of adverse events. This study analyzed the incidence of neurological complications during ALL treatment in a single pediatric institution, focusing on clinical, radiological, and electrophysiological findings. Exclusion criteria included CNS leukemic infiltration at diagnosis, therapy-related peripheral neuropathy, late-onset encephalopathy, or long-term neurocognitive defects. During a 9-year period, we retrospectively collected 27 neurological events (11%) in as many patients, from 253 children enrolled in the ALL front-line protocol. CNS complications included posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome (n = 10), stroke (n = 5), temporal lobe epilepsy (n = 2), high-dose methotrexate toxicity (n = 2), syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (n = 1), and other unclassified events (n = 7). In conclusion, CNS complications are frequent events during ALL therapy, and require rapid detection and prompt treatment to limit permanent damage.

Neurological Damage Related to Cardiac Surgery

Even in milder cases, neurologic complications related to cardiac surgery increase mortality, hospitalization time, and rehabilitation costs, and so contribute to the decrease in quality of life. The incidence of neurologic complications has remained unchanged during the last years, despite age and comorbidity increasing. Improvement in technical approaches has probably contributed to maintain these percentages. Although most of the complications may be related to cardiopulmonary bypass, others factors are also involved. Identifying high risk patients could reduce incidence of complications within high risk groups, but this is probably an insufficient preventive strategy. In a population progressively older and presumably affected by an increasing number of diseases, preventive strategies should be focused on 3 aspects: first, technical improvements in cardiac surgery and cerebral protection; second, pharmacologic therapy; and, finally, identification of reliable techniques to evaluate neuropsychological dysfunction after cardiac surgery. Future efforts will be necessary to identify surrogate markers of neurologic damage and its functional outcome, perhaps related to genetic susceptibility.Only with all of these instruments, really effective preventive or palliative strategies could be planned and applied.

Use of carotid–subclavian arterial bypass and thoracic endovascular aortic repair to minimize cerebral ischemia in total aortic arch reconstruction

Total aortic arch replacement typically requires hypothermic circulatory arrest, carrying risks of cerebral ischemia. We recently introduced left carotid-subclavian bypass before total aortic arch replacement with thoracic stent grafting to achieve hybrid arch reconstruction with short periods of selective antegrade cerebral perfusion. From 2004 to 2009, 332 patients underwent ascending aorta or arch replacements. Of these, 37 underwent total aortic arch replacement. In 2008, we began performing left carotid-subclavian bypass before subtotal arch replacement, with side-graft anastomoses to innominate and left carotid arteries. Patients then underwent aortic graft stent deployment to complete arch reconstruction. Twenty-eight patients underwent conventional arch replacement (group I); 9 underwent hybrid arch replacement (group II). Selective antegrade cerebral perfusion time in group I was 33.3 +/- 13.7 minutes versus 18.9 +/- 9.2 minutes in group II (P = .007). Among group I patients, 82% required hypothermic circulatory arrest (vs 0% in group II, P < .001). Mean cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic crossclamp times were longer in group I than group II (P < .05). Incidence of neurologic complications was 14% in group I (4/28) versus 0% (0/9) in group II, although this finding did not reach statistical significance (P = .55). Left carotid-subclavian bypass before arch replacement with staged thoracic stent grafting to achieve hybrid arch reconstruction was associated with decreased selective antegrade cerebral perfusion, cardiopulmonary bypass, and aortic crossclamp times and eliminated hypothermic circulatory arrest. This technique may minimize neurologic complications associated with arch replacement and provide a viable hybrid approach to patients with arch aneurysms and dissections.

Effects of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning on Biochemical Markers and Neurologic Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Elective Cervical Decompression Surgery

Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) may protect the spinal cord from ischemic injury. This randomized clinical trial was designed to assess whether a large clinical trial testing the effect of RIPC on neurologic outcome in patients undergoing spine surgery is warranted. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00778323. Forty adult cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients undergoing elective decompression surgery were randomly assigned to either the RIPC group (n=20) or the control group (n=20). Limb RIPC consisted of three 5-minutes cycles of upper right limb ischemia with intervening 5-minute periods of reperfusion. Neuron-specific enolase and S-100B levels were measured in serum at set time points. Median nerve somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) were also recorded. Neurologic recovery rate was evaluated using a Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale. RIPC significantly reduced serum S-100B release at 6 hours and 1 day after surgery, and reduced neuron-specific enolase release at 6 hours, and then at 1, 3, and 5 days after surgery. No differences were observed in SEP measurements or the incidence of SEP changes during surgery between the control and RIPC groups. Recovery rate at 7 days, and at 1 and 3 months after surgery was higher in the RIPC group than in the control group (P<0.05). Our results for markers of neuronal ischemic injury and rate of recovery suggest that a clinical trial with sufficient statistical power to detect an effect of RIPC on the incidence of neurologic complications (paresis, palsy, etc) due to spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury after spine surgery is warranted [corrected].

Neurologic complications in adult living donor liver transplant patients: an underestimated factor?

Liver transplantation is the only curative treatment in patients with end-stage liver disease. Neurological complications (NC) are increasingly reported to occur in patients after cadaveric liver transplantation. This retrospective cohort study aims to evaluate the incidence and causes of NC in living donor liver transplant (LDLT) patients in our transplant center. Between August 1998 and December 2005, 121 adult LDLT patients were recruited into our study. 17% of patients experienced NC, and it occurred significantly more frequently in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (42%) and autoimmune hepatitis (43%) as compared with patients with hepatitis B or C (9/10%, P = 0.013). The most common NC was encephalopathy (47.6%) followed by seizures (9.5%). The choice of immunosuppression by calcineurin inhibitor (Tacrolimus or Cyclosporin A) showed no significant difference in the incidence of NC (19 vs. 17%). The occurrence of NC did not influence the clinical outcome, since mortality rate, median ICU stay and length of hospital stay were similar between the two groups. Most patients who survived showed a nearly complete recovery of their NC. NCs occur in approximately 1 in 6 patients after LDLT and seem to be predominantly transient in nature, without major impact on clinical outcome.

The incidence of neurological complications in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery with and without aortic manipulation: a meta-analysis of 3477 cases

The incidence of neurological complications in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery with and without aortic manipulation: a meta-analysis of 3477 cases

Incidence of neurological complications in patients with native-valve infective endocarditis and cerebral microembolism: An open cohort study

The objective of this open cohort study was to assess the association between neurological complications in patients with definite native-valve infective endocarditis (IE) and cerebral microembolism (MES). MES detection was performed with 1-h, bilateral middle cerebral arteries (MCA) insonation using a transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) machine. Thirty patients with definite native-valve IE were stratified into 2 groups based upon the presence of MES. The most striking difference between the 2 groups of patients was the incidence of clinically evident neurological complications. Neurological complications of IE occurred in 10 (83.3%) patients with positive MES and in 6 (33.3%) MES-negative patients (p=0.021). Ischaemic stroke was the most common complication, occurring in 11 of 16 patients, followed by meningitis in 4 patients and cerebritis in 1 patient. There was a trend towards greater in-hospital mortality in patients with recorded MES than in the MES-negative, although this was not statistically significant (33.3% vs 16.6%; p=0.392). Our results reveal a significant association between MES and neurological complications in patients with native-valve IE. TCD is a promising tool in predicting individual patient risk for neurological complications of IE.

Effect of chronic renal insufficiency on outcomes of carotid endarterectomy

Conflicting data exist regarding the effect of chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) on carotid endarterectomy (CEA) outcomes. A large database was used to analyze the effect of CRI, defined by glomerular filtration rate (GFR), as an independent risk factor of CEA. Prospectively collected data regarding CEAs performed at 123 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers as part of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program were retrospectively analyzed. Renal function was used to divide patients into three CRI groups: normal or mild (control; GFR >/=60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), moderate (GFR 30 to 59), and severe (GFR <30). Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to characterize risk factors and their associations with 30-day morbidity and mortality. Between Jan 1, 1996, and Dec 31, 2003, 22,080 patients underwent CEA. Patients missing creatinine levels, already dialysis-dependent, or in acute renal failure just before surgery were excluded. This left 20,899 available for analysis, of which 13,965 had a GFR of >/=60, 6,423 had a GFR of 30 to 59, and 511 had a GFR of <30. The incidence of neurologic complications did not differ significantly (control, 1.7%; moderate CRI, 1.9%; severe CRI, 2.7%). The moderate CRI group experienced significantly more cardiac events (1.7% vs 0.9% for controls, P < .001). This remained predictive in the multivariate model even adjusting for all other risk factors (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.3; P = .009). The moderate CRI group also had higher rates of pulmonary complications (2.1% vs 1.3% control; P < .001; AOR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0-1.7; P = .031) but not 30-day mortality (P = .269). Those with severe CRI had a much higher mortality (3.1% vs 1.0% control, P < .001), which remained significant in the multivariate model (AOR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.6-4.8; P < .001). Although impaired renal function does not independently increase the risk of neurologic or infectious complications, CRI is a significant negative independent risk factor in predicting other outcomes after CEA. Patients with moderate CRI (GFR, 30-59 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) are at increased risk for cardiac and pulmonary morbidity, but not death, and those with severe CRI (GFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) have a much higher operative mortality. Patients with CRI should be carefully evaluated before CEA to optimize existing cardiac and pulmonary disease. Understanding this increased risk may assist the surgeon in preoperative counseling and perioperative management.

Expression of VP1 protein in the milk of transgenic mice: A potential oral vaccine protects against enterovirus 71 infection

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the most common etiological agent detected in cases of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) resulting in incidences of neurological complications and fatality in recent years. The clinical data have already shown the significant increase in recent EV71 epidemic activity throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Due to the lack of an effective antiviral agent, primary prevention of the disease, including the development of an effective vaccine, has been the top priority in terms of control strategies. In this study, we first generated a transgenic animal system to produce the EV71 VP1 capsid protein under the control of α-lactalbumin promoter and α-casein leader sequences. A high level of recombinant VP1 protein (2.51 mg/ml) was expressed and secreted into the milk of transgenic mice. Mouse pups that received VP1-transgenic milk orally demonstrated relatively better health conditions after challenge with the respective virus as compared with the non-transgenic milk fed group; moreover, the mice fed with the VP1-milk had body weights similar to those of the PBS placebo control groups. According to the serum-neutralization assay and serum antibody detection, the littermates suckling VP1-milk generated antibodies specific to EV71. Our data suggest that EV71 VP1-containing milk is suitable for development as a potential oral vaccine.

A Randomized, Double-masked, Multicenter Comparison of the Safety of Continuous Intrathecal Labor Analgesia Using a 28-Gauge Catheter versus Continuous Epidural Labor Analgesia

Continuous intrathecal labor analgesia produces rapid analgesia or anesthesia and allows substantial flexibility in medication choice. The US Food and Drug Administration, in 1992, removed intrathecal microcatheters (27-32 gauge) from clinical use after reports of neurologic injury in nonobstetric patients. This study examined the safety and efficacy of a 28-gauge intrathecal catheter for labor analgesia in a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial. Laboring patients were randomly assigned to continuous intrathecal analgesia with a 28-gauge catheter (n = 329) or continuous epidural analgesia with a 20-gauge catheter (n = 100), using bupivacaine and sufentanil. The primary outcome was the incidence of neurologic complications, as determined by masked neurologic examinations at 24 and 48 h postpartum, plus telephone follow-up at 7-10 and 30 days after delivery. The secondary outcomes included adequacy of labor analgesia, maternal satisfaction, and neonatal status. No patient had a permanent neurologic change. The continuous intrathecal analgesia patients had better early analgesia, less motor blockade, more pruritus, and higher maternal satisfaction with pain relief at 24 h postpartum. The intrathecal catheter was significantly more difficult to remove. There were no significant differences between the two groups in neonatal status, post-dural puncture headache, hemodynamic stability, or obstetric outcomes. Providing intrathecal labor analgesia with sufentanil and bupivacaine via a 28-gauge catheter has an incidence of neurologic complication less than 1%, and produces better initial pain relief and higher maternal satisfaction, but is associated with more technical difficulties and catheter failures compared with epidural analgesia.

Towards safer reoperations: special aspects in aortic dissection☆

Surgical treatment of acute aortic dissection has been largely standardized, but some patients develop late complications that require repeat surgery. The 10-year freedom from proximal and distal reoperation is approximately 70-80%, and the risk of proximal reoperation is approximately 10%. Aggressive resection of the aortic root has not been proven to eliminate the need for proximal reoperation, but it appears reasonable for pre-existent root dilatation. The coronary button technique has resulted in greater freedom from death and reoperation and thus appears advisable. The risk of distal reoperations seems generally lower than that of proximal operations (0-4%). Routine extension of replacement into the total arch in the initial operation is associated with increased risk, and it appears not to decrease the probability of reoperation. Aggressive replacement of the total arch may be justified only for connective tissue disease. The choice of thoracic incision is important for aortic reoperations. A median sternotomy provides excellent exposure to the proximal aorta. A posterolateral thoracotomy allows good exposure for distal arch or descending aorta but may be associated with pain-related pulmonary impairment. A bilateral thoracotomy gives easy access for arch and descending aorta but is associated with the highest degree of respiratory impairment. We use a median sternotomy in most instances and choose a bilateral thoracotomy for complex aortic pathology. A posterolateral thoracotomy seems preferable for most distal arch and/or descending aortic replacements. Since femoral arterial cannulation can contribute to an increased incidence of neurological complication, cannulation of the axillary artery appears advisable. We prefer implantation of a Dacron graft and to cannulate the graft. If the aorta is adjacent to the sternum, the patient is placed on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) before repeat sternotomy. The patient is cooled to a nasopharyngeal temperature of 28-30 degrees C and at the time of sternotomy CPB is temporarily interrupted. We have not yet had to use transapical venting. Using these approaches we have been able to maintain a procedure-related mortality of 4%, which is not different from primary operations on an aneurysmatic aorta.