Neurocritical care
-
The application of third-generation hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions in critically ill patients suffering from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) was often part of the treatment of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). However, there is increasing evidence showing a correlation between the application of HES and the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI). ⋯ The application of 6 % HES 130/0.4 did not lead to an elevated incidence of AKI in patients without an elevated baseline serum creatinine. However, there is still a lack of high-level evidence as prospective randomized trials are missing yet.
-
After traumatic brain injury (TBI), hemorrhagic progression of contusions (HPCs) occurs frequently. However, there is no established predictive score to identify high-risk patients for HPC. ⋯ A simple HPC Score was developed for early risk stratification of HPC in patients with moderate or severe TBI.
-
Millions of patients receive vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy worldwide. Annually 0.2-1 % of all VKA users develops an intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) is administered to restore the INR ≤ 1.5 in an attempt to limit hematoma growth. In order to facilitate PCC dosing, our hospital recently changed from a variable dose based on bodyweight, baseline- and target-INR, to a fixed 1000 IU fIX PCC dosing protocol for ICH. ⋯ The fixed dose protocol necessitates additional PCC infusions more frequently to achieve a target INR ≤ 1.5. Door-to-order and door-to-needle time were shorter but, in this small cohort, not significantly so. The effect on clinical outcome remains unknown.
-
Intracranial subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and spinal subdural hematoma (SDH) are rare complications of spine surgery, thought to be precipitated by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hypotension in the setting of an intraoperative durotomy or postoperative CSF leak. Considerable clinical variability has been reported, requiring a high level of clinical suspicion in patients with a new, unexplained neurologic deficit after spine surgery. ⋯ We report the first case of simultaneous intracranial SAH and spinal SDH attributable to postoperative CSF hypotension in the setting of a known intraoperative durotomy. Although rare, each of these entities has the potential to precipitate a poor neurologic outcome, which may be mitigated by early recognition and treatment.