Short-term Neurological Outcome Research Articles

High-quality targeted temperature management combined with decompressive craniectomy in patients with poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective study.

The effect of targeted temperature management (TTM) combined with decompressive craniectomy (DC) on poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) has not been previously addressed in the literature. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic outcomes of the combination of TTM and DC in patients with poor-grade aSAH. This study represents a secondary analysis of the Multicenter Clinical Research on Targeted Temperature Management of Poor-grade Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (High-Quality TTM for PaSAH), a multicenter prospective study conducted in China. The High-Quality TTM for PaSAH study enrolled patients aged 18 years and older who were transported to the intensive care units (ICU) of three tertiary care hospitals in China between April 2022 and April 2024. Among these patients, those who underwent DC were included in the present analysis. Patients were divided into two groups: the DC-alone group and the TTM combined with the DC (TTM-DC) group. The DC-alone group maintained normothermia. The TTM-DC group used automated devices with a temperature feedback system (TFS). TTM was initiated with core temperatures between 36°C-37°C immediately after diagnosing poor-grade aSAH, and concurrent emergency aneurysm repair. This was followed by a rapid induction to 34°C-35°C, maintained for a minimum of 72 h. Subsequently, a slow rewarming process reached 36°C-37°C, which was maintained for at least 48 h. Primary outcomes were evaluated using the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 months. Secondary outcomes included the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at discharge, ICU stay duration, length of hospitalization, proportion of external ventricular drainage (EVD), mechanical ventilation time, tracheostomy, midline shift, hydrocephalus, and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) on the 7th day. Safety outcomes comprised the incidence of pneumonia, myocardial infarction, stress hyperglycemia, thrombocytopenia, acute liver injury, hypokalemia, hypoproteinemia, and death at 90 days. Of the 141 patients enrolled in the High-Quality TTM for PaSAH study, 43 (25 in the TTM-DC group and 18 in the DC-alone group) were eligible for this secondary analysis. The TTM-DC group had a higher proportion of favorable outcomes (mRS 0-3: 56% vs. 22%, aOR 5.97, 95%CI 0.96-52.2, p = 0.071). After propensity score matching, the TTM combined with DC improved favorable outcome at 3 months (mRS 0-3: 61% vs. 22%, OR 5.50, 95%CI 1.36-26.3, p = 0.022). In addition, the TTM-DC group increased GCS score at discharge compared with the DC-alone group (9 vs. 3, β 2.58, 95%CI 0.32-4.84, p = 0.032). The incidence of safety outcomes was not increased in the TTM-DC group. TTM combined with DC can improve clinical conditions at discharge and ameliorate short-term neurological outcomes in poor-grade aSAH patients. TTM should be considered one of the main treatments for poor-grade aSAH patients who underwent DC.

Short-term neurologic outcomes in pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation are proportional to bleeding severity graded by a novel bleeding scale.

This study aimed to characterize the severity of bleeding and its association with short-term neurologic outcomes in pediatric ECMO. Multicenter retrospective cohort study of pediatric ECMO patients at 10 centers utilizing the Pediatric ECMO Outcomes Registry (PEDECOR) database from December 2013-February 2019. Subjects excluded were post-cardiac surgery patients and those with neonatal pathologies. A novel ECMO bleeding scale was utilized to categorize daily bleeding events. Poor short-term neurologic outcome was defined as an unfavorable Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) or Pediatric Overall Performance Category (POPC) (score of >3) at hospital discharge. This study included 283 pediatric ECMO patients with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 1.3years [0.1, 9.0], ECMO duration of 5days [3.0, 9.5], and 44.1% mortality. Unfavorable PCPC and POPC were observed in 48.4% and 51.3% of patients at discharge, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis included patient's age, cannulation type, duration of ECMO, need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, acute kidney injury, new infection, and vasoactive-inotropic score. As the severity of bleeding increased, there was a corresponding increase in the likelihood of poor neurologic recovery, shown by increasing odds of unfavorable neurologic outcome (PCPC), with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 0.77 (confidence interval [CI] 0.36-1.62), 1.87 (0.54-6.45), 2.97 (1.32-6.69), and 5.56 (0.59-52.25) for increasing bleeding severity (grade 1 to 4 events, respectively). Similarly, unfavorable POPC aOR (CI) was 1.02 (0.48-2.17), 2.05 (0.63-6.70), 5.29 (2.12-13.23), and 5.11 (0.66-39.64) for bleeding grade 1 to 4 events. Short-term neurologic outcomes in pediatric ECMO are proportional to the severity of bleeding events. Strategies to mitigate bleeding events could improve neurologic recovery in pediatric ECMO.

Outcomes after intranasal human milk therapy in preterm infants with intraventricular hemorrhage.

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a common cause of brain injury in preterm infants. Fresh human milk (HM) contains stem cells (SCs) that could potentially be delivered via intranasal HM (IHM). In this IHM pilot study, we describe outcomes. Infants <33 weeks gestation with IVH were given IHM until maximum 28 days of age. Short-term neurologic outcomes and follow-up testing were compared to historic HM-fed infants. Longitudinal outcomes were plotted using linear mixed models. Weighted G-computation quantified treatment effects. Propensity score models calculated inverse probability weights for IVH grade, gestational age, and sex. 37 infants (35.1% grade 3-4 IVH) were compared to 191 historic controls (17.8% grade 3-4 IVH). Post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation was common (25.7% IHM patients). Most weighted outcomes, although not significant, favored IHM at 4-12 and 18 months corrected age. This phase 1 study suggests powered trials of IHM for brain injury are needed. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NAME: clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT04225286.

A Study on 24-hour Monitoring of Blood Pressure in Acute Stroke and Its Correlation with Short Term Neurological Outcome.

The association between blood pressure (BP) at admission and clinical outcomes in patients with acute stroke has been investigated; however, results from these studies are contradictory. Hence, we designed this study to monitor circadian variation of BP in acute stroke and study its correlation with neurological outcome. A total of 108 cases of acute stroke (both ischemic and hemorrhagic) admitted within 24 hours were included in the study. On admission, three casual supine BP measurements were taken at 5-minute intervals, and the mean value was recorded. Ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) was done on day 1, and all the BP variables were recorded. On the day of admission, the functional status of all the cases was assessed using the Modified Rankin Scale (MRS 0-6). On day 6, again, three casual BP measurements were taken, and MRS was done. The 24-hour BP profile and neurological outcome were correlated on day 1 and day 6. On follow-up at 1 month, all the patients were thoroughly examined, and MRS was done to reassess the functional status post stroke. Circadian variation of BP shows that the majority of our cases were nondippers, followed by reverse dippers and dippers. It was seen that a higher mean 24-hour systolic BP (SBP), daytime SBP, as well as nighttime SBP, were all significantly associated with a poorer MRS score (4-6) both at day 6 and 1 month. Similarly, a higher mean value of the casual SBP, as well as diastolic BP (DBP) readings obtained on day 1 of stroke, adversely affected the outcome in terms of MRS scores both at day 6 and 1 month. It was also seen that the higher mean values of both the casual SBP and DBP readings obtained on day 6 of stroke adversely affected the outcome in terms of MRS scores at 1 month. A higher mean 24-hour SBP, mean daytime SBP, and mean nighttime SBP were associated with poor neurological outcomes at day 6 and 1 month.

Therapeutic effect of a single lumbar puncture in idiopathic intracranial hypertension

BackgroundIdiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a neurological disorder characterized by increased intracranial pressure. Whilst lumbar puncture (LP) is necessary for the diagnosis of IIH, its therapeutic effect remains unclear. Our aim was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of a single LP in people with IIH (pwIIH).MethodsIn this prospective observational study, we analysed short-term neurological and ophthalmological outcomes in pwIIH before, one (D1) and seven days (D7) after the LP. The primary outcome was the change in papilledema degree from baseline. Secondary outcomes included visual outcomes, morphological changes in optical coherence tomography (peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer [pRNFL] thickness and ganglion cell layer [GCL] volume) and transbulbar sonography (arachnoid optic nerve sheath diameter [AONSD]), and headache outcomes (peak and median headache severity and burden related to headache).ResultsWe included 30 pwIIH (mean age 32.8 years [SD 8.4], 93.3% female, median cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] opening pressure 33.0 cmCSF [IQR 26.9–35.3], median body mass index (BMI) 34.8 kg/m2 [IQR 30.9–40.9]). The median papilledema grading at baseline was 2 (Friedman DI (1999) Pseudotumor cerebri. Neurosurg Clin N Am 10(4):609–621 viii); (Mollan SP, Aguiar M, Evison F, Frew E, Sinclair AJ (2019) The expanding burden of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Eye Lond Engl 33(3):478–485); (Ab D, Gt L, Nj V, Sl G, Ml M, Nj N et al. (2007) Profiles of obesity, weight gain, and quality of life in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri). Am J Ophthalmol [Internet]. Apr [cited 2024 Jun 2];143(4). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17386271/) and was significantly reduced at D7 (2 [1–2], p = 0.011). Median pRNFL thickness had decreased significantly at D7 (-9 μm [-62.5, -1.3], p = 0.035), with pRNFL thickness at baseline being associated with the pRNFL change (F(1,11) = 18.79, p = 0.001). Mean AONSD had decreased significantly at both D1 (-0.74 mm [0.14], p < 0.001) and D7 (-0.65 mm [0.17], p = 0.01), with AONSD at baseline being associated with the change in AONSD at both time points (D1: β= -0.89, 95% CI -1.37, -0.42, p = 0.002; D7: β= -0.85, 95% CI -1.42, -0.28, p = 0.007). Peak headache severity was slightly lower at D7 (-1/10 [-3, 0], p = 0.026), whereas median headache severity and headache burden remained unchanged.ConclusionsThis short-term follow-up study in pwIIH undergoing a single LP suggests a moderate effect on ophthalmological but not headache outcomes. The usefulness of LP as a therapeutic measure in IIH remains controversial and should likely be reserved for patients with limited treatment options, e.g., in pregnancy or intolerability to medication.

Persistent pulmonary hypertension and short-term neurological outcomes in infants with moderate to severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

Our aim was to investigate the relationship between persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), short-term brain injury or death, and clinical parameters in infants with moderate to severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Retrospective single-center cohort study of 274 HIE infants, 230 underwent Therapeutic Hypothermia (TH). Primary outcome was severe HIE brain injury on MRI and/or death within the first month of life in relation to presence and severity of PPHN (clinical or echocardiographic). Secondary outcomes were HIE brain injury pattern, abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG), seizures, clinical, and laboratory differences. A logistic regression model was performed to evaluate PPHN presence and severity as risk factor for brain injury or death. The combined outcome of severe brain injury or death was higher in the clinical PPHN group vs non-PPHN (32.6 vs 22.8%, p = 0.014). There was no difference in brain injury, seizure burden or EEG abnormalities associated with PPHN, despite those with PPHN being sicker with higher ventilation needs and worse laboratory values than those without. Mortality had a strong correlation with echocardiographic PPHN with the highest incidence in severe (36%) vs moderate (7.7%) vs mild PPHN (10%, p = 0.002). Highest mortality had those with 'early exit' who did not complete 72 hours of TH (71.4%). In infants with HIE, PPHN was not associated with increased risk of brain injury as evident on MRI, nor seizure burden, despite being sicker with worse laboratory values. However, mortality rates were higher the worse the PPHN, especially with early exit from TH.

Tomographic index (ONSD/ETD) as a predictor of short-term neurological outcome in children with severe traumatic brain injury: A single-center retrospective observational study from Mexico

Abstract Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a prevalent condition in the pediatric population. An index between the diameter of the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and the transverse eyeball transverse diameter (ETD) measured in the tomographic scan has been described in adults, with a cutoff value of ≥0.25 for predicting poor neurologic prognoses. This study was conducted to analyze the relationship between the index ONSD/ETD with the neurological outcome in children with severe TBI. Subjects and Methods: This was single-center, retrospective study, conducted from March 2021 to November 2022. Patients older than 30 days and up to 16 years of age admitted with severe TBI were included in the study. Measurements of the ONSD/ETD index by cranial tomography were calculated. The population was divided into two groups, one with index ≥0.25 and other with index &lt;0.25. Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE) and outcome were compared between groups. Results: Thirty patients were recruited. Patients with inde × 0.25 or higher had a lower GOSE (60% (1–2 points) vs. 60% (7–8 points)), more days of mechanical ventilation (MV) (8 days, interquartile range IQR 5–17 days vs. 3 days, IQR 2–4 days P = 0.005), and more length of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stay (12 days, IQR 9–23 days vs. 5 days, IQR 4–8 days P = 0.007) than patients with index &lt;0.25. Conclusions: The ONSD/ETD index was a reliable indicator for predicting the neurological outcome of patients with severe TBI. An index ≥0.25 was associated with more days of PICU stay and MV with worse neurological outcomes.

The Impact of Time to Initiate Therapeutic Hypothermia on Short-Term Neurological Outcomes in Neonates with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy.

Therapeutic hypothermia is the standard treatment for neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Preclinical evidence indicates that the time to initiate therapeutic hypothermia correlates with its therapeutic success. This study aims to explore whether there is a correlation between the early initiation of therapeutic hypothermia and improved short-term neurological outcomes in cooled asphyxiated newborns. A retrospective analysis was conducted, involving 68 neonates from two different neonatal intensive care units. The impact of time to initiate treatment, time to reach the target temperature, and time between initiation and target temperature was correlated with short-term outcomes on MRI. We did not find a significant difference between outcomes regarding the time to start treatment and the time to achieve the target temperature. Interestingly, neonates with a poor outcome were treated on average earlier than neonates with a favorable outcome but required more time to reach the target temperature. Additionally, the study results did not support the hypothesis that a shorter time to initiate treatment would lead to shorter times to achieve the target temperature. Based on our findings, it is recommended to prioritize a thorough evaluation of neonatal encephalopathy before initiating therapeutic hypothermia. Early initiation of treatment should be balanced with the time required for precise assessment to ensure better outcomes.

SERUM TRANSACTIVE RESPONSE DNA BINDING PROTEIN 43 ASSOCIATES WITH POOR SHORT-TERM NEUROLOGIC OUTCOME AFTER RETURN OF SPONTANEOUS CIRCULATION FOLLOWING CARDIAC ARREST.

Objective : To explore the association of serum transactive response DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) with 28-day poor neurologic outcome in patients with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after cardiac arrest. Methods : We performed a study between January and December 2023. Eligible patients with ROSC following cardiac arrest were enrolled. Their baseline characteristics were collected, and serum levels of TDP-43, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and 10, C-reactive protein, and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) at 24 h after ROSC were measured. The neurologic function was assessed by the cerebral performance category scores on day 28 after ROSC. Results : A total of 92 patients were included, with 51 and 41 patients in the good and poor neurologic outcome groups, respectively. Serum TDP-43 was significantly higher in the poor than the good neurologic outcome group ( P < 0.05). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that TDP-43, Witnessed CA, IL-6, and NSE were associated with poor 28-day neurologic outcome (all P < 0.05). Restricted cubic spline analysis revealed that TDP-43 at the serum level of 11.64 pg/mL might be an ideal cutoff value for distinguishing between good and poor neurologic outcomes. Area under curve of serum TDP-43 (AUC = 0.78) was close to that of serum NSE (AUC = 0.82). A dynamic nomogram prediction model that combined TDP-43, Witnessed CA, IL-6, and NSE was constructed and validated. Conclusion : Elevated serum TDP-43 level was associated with and could be used together with Witnessed CA, IL-6, and NSE to predict poor 28-day neurologic outcome in patients after ROSC following cardiac arrest.

Safety of early antiplatelet therapy for non-cardioembolic mild stroke patients with thrombocytopenia.

To investigate the safety of early antiplatelet therapy for non-cardioembolic mild stroke patients with thrombocytopenia. Data of acute ischemic stroke patients with baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≤3 and a platelet count <100×109/L were obtained from a multicenter register. Those who required anticoagulation or had other contraindications to antiplatelet therapy were excluded. Short-term safety outcomes were in-hospital bleeding events, while the long-term safety outcome was a 1-year all-cause death. The short-term neurological outcomes were evaluated by modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at discharge. A total of 1868 non-cardioembolic mild stroke patients with thrombocytopenia were enrolled. Multivariate regression analyses showed that mono-antiplatelet therapy significantly increased the proportion of mRS score of 0-1 at discharge (OR=1.657, 95%CI: 1.253-2.192, P<0.01) and did not increase the risk of intracranial hemorrhage (OR=2.359, 95%CI: 0.301-18.503, P>0.05), compared with those without antiplatelet therapy. However, dual-antiplatelet therapy did not bring more neurological benefits (OR=0.923, 95%CI: 0.690-1.234, P>0.05), but increased the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (OR=2.837, 95%CI: 1.311-6.136, P<0.01) compared with those with mono-antiplatelet therapy. For patients with platelet counts ≤75×109/L and >90×109/L, antiplatelet therapy significantly improved neurological functional outcomes (both P<0.05). For those with platelet counts (>75-90)×109/L, antiplatelet therapy resulted in a significant improvement of 1-year survival (P<0.05). For patients even with concurrent coagulation abnormalities, mono-antiplatelet therapy did not increase the risk of various types of bleeding (all P>0.05) but improved neurological functional outcomes (all P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of bleeding events, 1-year all-cause mortality risk, and neurological functional outcomes between aspirin and clopidogrel (all P>0.05). For non-cardioembolic mild stroke patients with thrombocytopenia, antiplatelet therapy remains a reasonable choice. Mono-antiplatelet therapy has the same efficiency as dual-antiplatelet therapy in neurological outcome improvement with lower risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Assessment of Neurological Outcomes of Patients Following Emergency Neurosurgical Interventions for Intra-Cranial Hematomas in Traumatic Brain Injury at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College

Background: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is the primary cause of death and disability in individuals under 40 globally. Resource constraints exist across the care spectrum, and neurosurgical outcomes remain poorly understood. Objective: The study aims to evaluate the short-term neurological outcomes of patients who underwent surgery for traumatic intracranial hemorrhage at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College. Patients and Methods: A longitudinal study design was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 and binary logistic regression was used to see factors associated with outcomes. P value ≤0.05 was considered significant Result: Total of 34 patients were studied male outnumbered female and mean was age 34.5 ± 12.8. Road traffic accident was the common cause of traumatic brain injury. Acute epidural hematoma accounted the highest proportion (46%) traumatic brain injury. Postoperative mortality rate was 17.6 % and 83.3% was secondary to acute subdural hematoma. On post-operative follow up 64.7% patients have favorable 3 month Glasgow outcome score. The initial pupillary reaction (P: 0.02 COR 0.02(0.002-0.205), postoperative complications (P: &lt;0.01 COR 21(2.099-210.136) and length of hospital stay (P: 0.04 COR0.054(0.07-0.395) showed statically significant association with 03 month Glasgow outcome score. Conclusion: Young male populations are predominately affected from traumatic brain injury. Initial pupillary reactions and postoperative complications significantly affect the neurologic outcome.

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation versus conventional CPR in cardiac arrest: an updated meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis

BackgroundExtracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) may reduce mortality and improve neurological outcomes in patients with cardiac arrest. We updated our existing meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis to further evaluate ECPR compared to conventional CPR (CCPR).MethodsWe searched three international databases from 1 January 2000 through 1 November 2023, for randomised controlled trials or propensity score matched studies (PSMs) comparing ECPR to CCPR in both out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA). We conducted an updated random-effects meta-analysis, with the primary outcome being in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included short- and long-term favourable neurological outcome and survival (30 days–1 year). We also conducted a trial sequential analysis to evaluate the required information size in the meta-analysis to detect a clinically relevant reduction in mortality.ResultsWe included 13 studies with 14 pairwise comparisons (6336 ECPR and 7712 CCPR) in our updated meta-analysis. ECPR was associated with greater precision in reducing overall in-hospital mortality (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.50–0.79, high certainty), to which the trial sequential analysis was concordant. The addition of recent studies revealed a newly significant decrease in mortality in OHCA (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.45–0.84). Re-analysis of relevant secondary outcomes reaffirmed our initial findings of favourable short-term neurological outcomes and survival up to 30 days. Estimates for long-term neurological outcome and 90-day–1-year survival remained unchanged.ConclusionsWe found that ECPR reduces in-hospital mortality, improves neurological outcome, and 30-day survival. We additionally found a newly significant benefit in OHCA, suggesting that ECPR may be considered in both IHCA and OHCA.

Hydrogen gas can ameliorate seizure burden during therapeutic hypothermia in asphyxiated newborn piglets.

We previously reported that hydrogen (H2) gas combined with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) improved short-term neurological outcomes in asphyxiated piglets. However, the effect on seizure burden was unclear. Using amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG), we compared TH + H2 with TH alone in piglets 24 h after hypoxic-ischemic (HI) insult. After a 40-min insult and resuscitation, 36 piglets ≤24 h old were divided into three groups: normothermia (NT, n = 14), TH alone (33.5 ± 0.5 °C, 24 h, n = 13), and TH + H2 (2.1-2.7% H2 gas, 24 h, n = 9). aEEG was recorded for 24 h post-insult and its background pattern, status epilepticus (SE; recurrent seizures lasting >5 min), and seizure occurrence (Sz; occurring at least once but not fitting the definition of SE) were evaluated. Background findings with a continuous low voltage and burst suppression were considered abnormal. The percentage of piglets with an abnormal aEEG background (aEEG-BG), abnormal aEEG-BG+Sz and SE was lower with TH + H2 than with TH at 24 h after HI insult. The duration of SE was shorter with TH + H2 and significantly shorter than with NT. H2 gas combined with TH ameliorated seizure burden 24 h after HI insult. In this asphyxiated piglet model, there was a high percentage of animals with an abnormal amplitude-integrated electroencephalography background (aEEG-BG) after hypoxic-ischemic (HI) insult, which may correspond to moderateand severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) was associated with a low percentage of piglets with EEG abnormalities up to 6 h after HI insult but this percentage increased greatly after 12 h, and TH was not effective in attenuating seizure development. H2 gas combined with TH was associated with a low percentage of piglets with an abnormal aEEG-BG and with a shorter duration of status epilepticus at 24 h after HI insult.

PCO2 values in asphyxiated infants under therapeutic hypothermia after tailored respiratory management: a retrospective cohort study.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) represents one of the major causes of neonatal death and long-term neurological disability. Both hypoxic-ischemic insults and therapeutic hypothermia (TH) can affect respiratory function. Currently, there is no evidence regarding optimal respiratory management in these infants. This is a retrospective cohort study examining newborns with HIE treated with TH between January 2015 and September 2020. The study population was divided into two groups based on different respiratory assistance during TH: spontaneous breathing (Group A) or mechanical ventilation (Group B). The primary outcome of the study was the mean pCO2 ± SD evaluation during TH in ventilated and non-ventilated asphyxiated infants. The secondary outcome was the correlation between ventilation strategy and short-term neurologic outcome according to Rutherford et al.'s MRI scoring system. A total of 126 newborns were enrolled, 75 in Group A and 51 in Group B. Respiratory management was individualized, and volume guarantee (VG) ventilation was the first choice for ventilated infants. Group B infants showed more severe conditions at birth. During TH, ventilated infants showed optimal mean pCO2 comparable with those breathing spontaneously (40.6 mmHg vs. 42.3 mmHg, respectively, p 0.091), with no significant difference in pCO2 standard deviation between (7.7 mmHg vs. 8.1 mmHg, respectively, p 0.522). Mean pH, pH standard deviation, mean pO2, pO2 standard deviation, and mean respiratory rate also did not differ between groups. MRI patterns of brain injury predictive of abnormal neurodevelopmental outcomes were similar in both groups. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that only umbilical cord arterial blood pH-affected MRI lesions were associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes (OR 1.505; CI 95% 1.069-2.117). Infants cooled after HIE should receive individualized respiratory management, not necessarily involving intubation. In those infants requiring mechanical ventilation, a volume-targeted strategy appeared to be effective in maintaining stable blood gas levels. Short-term neurological outcomes appeared comparable in ventilated and non-ventilated infants.

The impact of age and intensity of treatment on the outcome of traumatic brain injury.

Approximately one-third of trauma-related deaths are due to traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly among young adults and elderly patients. Management strategies may vary across different age groups, potentially influencing short-term neurological outcomes. This study aims to investigate age-related disparities in treatment approaches and 3-month neurological outcomes among TBI patients. We conducted a retrospective study on TBI patients requiring Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission from January 1, 2015, to January 1, 2024, in a tertiary University hospital. Patient demographics, major comorbidities, ICU admission parameters, interventions and ICU complications were collected. An unfavorable neurological outcome at 3 months (UO) was defined as a Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score of 1-3. A high therapy intensity level (TIL) was defined as a TIL basic of 3-4. A multivariable logistic regression model and a Cox proportional Hazard Regression model were used to assess the association of age and TIL with neurological outcome and mortality. A sensitivity analysis on low TIL (0-2) and high TIL subgroups was also conducted. We enrolled 604 TBI patients, of which 240 (40%) had UO. The highest prevalence of UO was found in patients aged ≥80 years (53/94, 56%), followed by patients aged 50-79 years (104/255, 41%). The age group 35-49 years had the lowest rate of UO (38/127, 30%). Older patients (age ≥ 80 years) received less frequently high TIL than others (p = 0.03). In the multivariable analysis, age ≥ 80 years [OR: 3.42 (95% CI 1.72-6.81)] was independently associated with UO, while age ≥ 80 years [HR 5.42 (95% CI 3.00-9.79)] and age 50-79 years [HR 2.03, (95% CI 1.19-3.48)] were independently associated with mortality. Although there was no interaction between age groups and TIL on outcome, an exploratory analysis showed that in the high TIL subgroup of patients, age had no independent impact on the outcome, whereas, in the low TIL group, age ≥ 80 years was independently associated with UO [OR: 3.65 (95% CI: 1.64-8.14)]. Older age, especially in the setting of low intensity treatment, may impact short-term neurological outcome of traumatic brain-injured patients.

Linear growth and neurobehavioural outcome in preterm neonates (

The present study explores the association between linear growth and neurobehavioral outcome in preterm (<34 weeks) when evaluated by NAPI score (Neurobehavioral Assessment of Preterm Infants) at term gestational age (GA). 80 preterm neonates were enrolled for this study and divided into two groups based on the increase in length/week at term corrected gestational age (CGA). Anthropometric parameters were calculated at various time points of study and Z scores were calculated. Neurobehavioral assessment of the enrolled infants was done by NAPI score at 37 and 40 weeks of CGA. After controlling for GA, weight Z scores, and head circumference Z scores, the median score of NAPI-motor development-vigor at 37 weeks and NAPI alertness orientation at 40 weeks were positively related to length Z scores at 37 weeks (p = 0.04) and 40 weeks (p = 0.035), respectively. Neonates with suppressed linear growth have poor short-term neurological outcomes. We recommend linear growth monitoring along with weight gain in the developed countries and diminished linear growth in the neonate as a marker to predict deviation in cognitive outcome in the future.

Redefining CT perfusion-based ischemic core estimates for the ghost core in early time window stroke.

In large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke patients, relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF)<30% volume thresholds are commonly used in treatment decisions. In the early time window, nearly infarcted but salvageable tissue volumes may lead to pretreatment overestimates of infarct volume, and thus potentially exclude patients who may otherwise benefit from intervention. Our multisite analysis aims to explore the strength of relationships between widely used pretreatment CT parameters and clinical outcomes for early window stroke patients. Patients from two sites in a prospective registry were analyzed. Patients with LVOs, presenting within 3 hours of last known well, and who were successfully reperfused were included. Primary short-term neurological outcome was percent National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) change from admission to discharge. Secondary long-term outcome was 90-day modified Rankin score. Spearman's correlations were performed. Significance was attributed to p-value ≤.05. Among 73 patients, median age was 66 (interquartile range 54-76) years. Among all pretreatment imaging parameters, rCBF<30%, rCBF<34%, and rCBF<38% volumes were significantly, inversely correlated with percentage NIHSS change (p<.048). No other parameters significantly correlated with outcomes. Our multisite analysis shows that favorable short-term neurological recovery was significantly correlated with rCBF volumes in the early time window. However, modest strength of correlations provides supportive evidence that the applicability of general ischemic core estimate thresholds in this subpopulation is limited. Our results support future larger-scale efforts to liberalize or reevaluate current rCBF parameter thresholds guiding treatment decisions for early time window stroke patients.

Comparison of Short Term Neurological Outcome in Patients of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Treated with Erythropoietin Versus Intravenous Magnesium Sulphate

Aim: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in neonates remains a significant challenge in medical practice, requiring effective and reliable treatment options. Erythropoietin (EPO) and Intravenous Magnesium Sulphate (MgSO4) have been explored as potential therapies, but a direct comparison of their effectiveness has been lacking. Method: This study compared the effects of EPO and Intravenous MgSO4 in a sample of 38 neonates, evenly distributed between the two treatment groups. Parameters including maternal age, gestational age, neonatal age, weight, and several biochemical variables were assessed. Statistical analyses were conducted to reveal any significant differences between the two groups. Results: The evaluation across various parameters revealed no significant differences between the two treatments. All the tested variables, including primary outcomes such as HB levels, showed a similarity in the overall impact of Erythropoietin and Intravenous MgSO4, with p-values consistently above 0.05. Conclusion: The findings suggest that both Erythropoietin and Intravenous MgSO4 exhibit comparable effects in the treatment of neonates with HIE. The lack of significant differences prompts a need for further research to understand the nuanced differences and potential applications of each treatment method. These insights will be instrumental in guiding future therapeutic strategies for HIE. Keywords: Neonates, Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy, Erythropoietin, Intravenous Magnesium Sulphate, Treatment Comparison, Biochemical Variables.

Short and Medium Term Neurological Outcomes of Children with Antenatal or Neonatal Exposure to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

Short and Medium Term Neurological Outcomes of Children with Antenatal or Neonatal Exposure to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

Propofol-Based Anesthesia Maintenance and/or Volatile Anesthetics during Intracranial Aneurysm Repair: A Comparative Analysis of Neurological Outcomes

Background: Volatile and intravenous anesthetics have substantial effects on physiological functions, notably influencing neurological function and susceptibility to injury. Despite the importance of the anesthetic approach, data on its relative risks or benefits during surgical clipping or endovascular treatments for unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) remains scant. We investigated whether using volatile anesthetics alone or in combination with propofol infusion yields superior neurological outcomes following UIA obliteration. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1001 patients who underwent open or endovascular treatment for UIA, of whom 596 had short- and long-term neurological outcome data (modified Rankin Scale) recorded. Multivariable ordinal regression analysis was performed to examine the association between the anesthetic approach and outcomes. Results: Of 1001 patients, 765 received volatile anesthetics alone, while 236 received propofol infusion and volatile anesthetics (combined anesthetic group). Short-term neurological outcome data were available for 619 patients and long-term data for 596. No significant correlation was found between the anesthetic approach and neurologic outcomes, irrespective of the type of procedure (open craniotomy or endovascular treatment). The combined anesthetic group had a higher rate of ICU admission (p &lt; 0.001) and longer ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS, p &lt; 0.001). Similarly, a subgroup analysis revealed longer ICU and hospital LOS (p &lt; 0.0001 and p &lt; 0.001, respectively) in patients who underwent endovascular UIA obliteration under a combined anesthetic approach (n = 678). Conclusions: The addition of propofol to volatile anesthetics during UIA obliteration does not provide short- or long-term benefits to neurologic outcomes. Compared to volatile anesthetics alone, the combination of propofol and volatile anesthetics may be associated with an increased rate of ICU admission, as well as longer ICU and hospital LOS.