Neurocritical Care in Turkey

Since the last 20 years, entry of neurointensive care units (NICU) has provided a significant increase of survival rate and quality of post-ICU life of the patients with life-threatening neurological and neurosurgical catastrophies. Therefore, NICU has become a fundamental part of contemporary third-level hospitals or reference centers. Because extensiveness of specific examination, monitoring and treatment techniques and methods unique to neurology makes impossible to manage critical neurological patients in “General” ICUs instead of NICUs, the number of proponent stating that national health authorities “should” not only establish more and improve NICUs in all reference hospitals, but also (re)organize a transport and referral system to get the patients in need of NICU care to these hospitals is progressively increasing. As mandated by modern critical care paradigm, the proposed plan and strategy can be suggested as a “sine aqua non” for avoiding ethicolegal problems

İNME HEMŞİRELİĞİ: STANDARTLAR VE PRATİK UYGULAMALAR KILAVUZU TÜRK BEYİN DAMAR HASTALIKLARI DERNEĞİ VE NÖROLOJİ HEMŞİRELİĞİ DERNEĞİ ORTAK STRATEJİ PROJESİ

Akut inme klinik pratiğinde intravenöz tromboliz ya da trombektomi / aspirasyon gibi nörogirişimsel tedavilerin başarıyı yakalayabilmesi için iki uygulama ile desteklenmesi gerekir. Bunların ilki akut hastaların merkezlere zamanında ve güvenli triyajını sağlayacak olan “akut inme sevk ve idare sistemi”, diğeri ise bu hastaların akut dönem hastane kalışındaki uygulamalarıdır. Hastane uygulamaları nöroloji yoğun bakım veya inme ünitelerinde başlayan bir süreç olup sonuçları hemşirelik uygulamalarının kalitesinden doğrudan etkilenir. Akut inme hemşireliği inme spesifik tedavilerin etkin ve güvenli uygulaması, kan basıncı, kan şekeri, yutma, nütrisyon ve hidrasyonun yönetimi; hastanın postür, mobilizasyon, erken dönem fizik tedavi ve rehabilitasyon planı; bilinç ve nörolojik muayenenin takibi; ayrıca venöz tromboembolizm, gastrik ve enfeksiyon proflaksisi; KIBAS, enfeksiyon, solunumsal yetmezlik ve kanama gibi komplikasyonların önlenmesi ile yoğun bakımda hasta takibi ve çok etkili hasta, hasta yakını ve takım etkileşimi ve iletişimini içerir. Bu derleme akut inme hemşireliğinin birçok güncel rehberinin ülkemiz için adapte edilmiş temel uygulama ve metriklerini sunar. Anahtar Sözcükler: İnme hemşireliği, tromboliz, trombektomi, inme ünitesi, komplikasyon, kalite, metrik

Predictive value of supraventricular short runs for new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with ischemic stroke

Background: The clinical importance of supraventricular run (SVR) is uncertain in the management of patients with previous cerebrovascular events. We aim to evaluate the role of SVRs in the development of future atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent 24-h Holter monitoring for the evaluation of possible AF after ischemic cerebrovascular events. The presence and duration of SVR were noted. Subsequent diagnosis of AF was searched in patients with sinus rhythm. Results: A total of 694 patients were included in the analysis. SVR was detected in 104 (14.9%) patients in the study group. Seventy-one (10.2%) patients were diagnosed with AF in the follow-up. SVRs were more prevalent among patients with AF (P < 0.001). The median atrial run duration was 5.96 (2.02–17.84) s in the AF absent group vs. 8.76 (3.78–17.62) s in the AF present group (P < 0.001). The best predictive cut-off duration of an atrial run was 8 s (sensitivity = 61.5% and specificity = 74.4%, Area Under Curve (AUC) = 0.708). Cox regression analysis showed that age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.060, P = 0.020), presence of short supraventricular run (OR: 2.53, 95% CI 1.40–4.57, P = 0.002), and left atrial diameter (OR: 1.13 95% CI: 1.07–1.19, P < 0.001) were the independent predictors of AF development in the follow-up. Conclusion: Age, left atrial diameter, and the presence of SVRs are associated with an increased risk of future AF after ischemic stroke. SVR duration may be an important parameter in risk stratification

Epileptic seizures in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: Subgroup analysis of VENOST study

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence and prognostic impact of early seizures in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis patients (CVST).Method: VENOST is a retrospective and prospective national multicenter observational study. CVST patients with or without epileptic seizures (ES) were analyzed and compared in terms of demographic and imaging data, causative factors, clinical variables, and prognosis in a total of 1126 patients.Results: The mean age of the patients in the ES group was 39.73 +/- 12.64 and 40.17 +/- 14.02 years in the non-ES group (p > 0.05). Epileptic seizures were more common (76.6 %) in females (p < 0.001). Early ES occurred in 269 of 1126 patients (23.9 %). Epileptic seizures mainly presented in the acute phase (71.4 %) of the disease (p < 0.001). Majority of these (60.5 %) were in the first 24 h of the CVST. The most common neurological signs were focal neurologic deficits (29.9 %) and altered consciousness (31.4 %) in the ES group. Superior sagittal sinus (SSS) and cortical veins (CV) involvement were the most common sites of thrombosis and the mostly related etiology were found puerperium in seizure group (30.3 % vs 13.9 %). Patients with seizures had worse outcome in the first month of the disease (p < 0.001) but these did not have any influence thereafter.Conclusions: In this largest CVST cohort (VENOST) reported female sex, presence of focal neurological deficits and altered consciousness, thrombosis of the SSS and CVs, hemorrhagic infarction were risk factors for ES occurrence in patients with CVST

Epileptic seizures in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: Subgroup analysis of VENOST study

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence and prognostic impact of early seizures in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis patients (CVST). Method: VENOST is a retrospective and prospective national multicenter observational study. CVST patients with or without epileptic seizures (ES) were analyzed and compared in terms of demographic and imaging data, causative factors, clinical variables, and prognosis in a total of 1126 patients. Results: The mean age of the patients in the ES group was 39.73 +/- 12.64 and 40.17 +/- 14.02 years in the non-ES group (p > 0.05). Epileptic seizures were more common (76.6 %) in females (p < 0.001). Early ES occurred in 269 of 1126 patients (23.9 %). Epileptic seizures mainly presented in the acute phase (71.4 %) of the disease (p < 0.001). Majority of these (60.5 %) were in the first 24 h of the CVST. The most common neurological signs were focal neurologic deficits (29.9 %) and altered consciousness (31.4 %) in the ES group. Superior sagittal sinus (SSS) and cortical veins (CV) involvement were the most common sites of thrombosis and the mostly related etiology were found puerperium in seizure group (30.3 % vs 13.9 %). Patients with seizures had worse outcome in the first month of the disease (p < 0.001) but these did not have any influence thereafter. Conclusions: In this largest CVST cohort (VENOST) reported female sex, presence of focal neurological deficits and altered consciousness, thrombosis of the SSS and CVs, hemorrhagic infarction were risk factors for ES occurrence in patients with CVST.WOS:0005375741000192-s2.0-85083703251PubMed: 3235381

Headache as the sole presenting symptom of cerebral venous sinuses thrombosis: Subgroup analysis of data from the VENOST study

Objectives: Headache is the most common complaint in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and it may sometimes be the only symptom in these patients. This retrospective and prospective study was an investigation of any differences in terms of clinical risk factors, radiological findings, or prognosis in patients with CVST who presented with isolated headache (IH) and cases with other concomitant findings (non-isolated headache [NIH]). Methods: A total of 1144 patients from a multicenter study of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis ( VENOST study) were enrolled in this research. The demographic, biochemical, clinical, and radiological aspects of 287 IH cases and 857 NIH cases were compared. Results: There were twice as many women as men in the study group. In the IH group, when gender distribution was evaluated by age group, no statistically significant difference was found. The onset of headache was frequently subacute and chronic in the IH group, but an acute onset was more common in the NIH group. Other neurological findings were observed in 29% of the IH group during follow-up. A previous history of deep, cerebral, or other venous thromboembolism was less common in the IH group than in the NIH group. Transverse sinus involvement was greater in the IH group, whereas sagittal sinus involvement was greater in the NIH group. The presence of a plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) mutation was significantly greater in the IH group. Conclusion: IH and CVST should be kept in mind if a patient has subacute or chronic headache. PAI, which has an important role in thrombolytic events, may be a risk factor in CVST. Detailed hematological investigations should be considered. Additional studies are needed

Acute Stroke Management in Türkiye: Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator and Thrombectomy NöroTek: Türkiye Neurology Single Day Study

Objective: To reveal the profile and practice in patients with acute stroke who received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) and/or neuro-interventional therapy in Türkiye. Materials and Methods: On World Stroke Awareness Day, May 10, 2018, 1,790 patients hospitalized in 87 neurology units spread over 30 health regions were evaluated retrospectively and prospectively. Results: Intravenous tPA was administered to 12% of 859 cases of acute ischemic stroke in 45 units participating in the study. In the same period, 8.3% of the cases received neurointerventional treatment. The rate of good prognosis [modified Rankin score (mRS) 0–2] at discharge was 46% in 83 patients who received only IV tPA [age: 67 ± 12 years; National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS): 12 ± 6; hospital stay, 24 ± 29 days]; 35% in 51 patients who underwent thrombectomy (MT) alone (age: 64 ± 13 years; NIHSS: 14.1 ± 6.5; length of hospital stay, 33 ± 31 days), 19% in those who received combined treatment (age: 66 ± 14 years; NIHSS: 15.6 ± 5.4; length of hospital stay, 26 ± 35 days), and 56% of 695 patients who did not receive treatment for revascularization (age: 70 ± 13 years; NIHSS: 7.6 ± 7.2; length of hospital stay, 21 ± 28 days). The symptom-to-door time was 87 ± 53 minutes in the IV treatment group and 200 ± 26 minutes in the neurointerventional group. The average door-to-needle time was 66 ± 49 minutes in the IV tPA group. In the neurothrombectomy group, the door-to-groin time was 103 ± 90 minutes, and the TICI 2b-3 rate was 70.3%. In 103 patients who received IV tPA, the discharge mRS 0–2 was 41%, while the rate of mRS 0–1 was 28%. In 71 patients who underwent neurothrombectomy, the mRS 0–2 was 31% and mRS 0–1 was 18%. The door-to-groin time was approximately 30 minutes longer if IV tPA was received (125 ± 107 and 95 ± 83 minutes, respectively). Symptomatic bleeding rates were 4.8% in IV recipients, 17.6% among those who received only MT, and 15% in combined therapy. Globally, the hemorrhage rate was 6.8% in patients receiving IV tPA and 16.9% in MT. Conclusion: IV thrombolytic and neurointerventional treatment applications in acute ischemic stroke in Türkiye can provide the anticipated results. Heterogeneity has begun to be reduced in our country with the dissemination of the system indicated by the “Directive on Health Services to be Provided to Patients with Acute Stroke.”. © Copyright 2023 by the Turkish Neurological Society / Turkish Journal of Neurology published by Galenos Publishing House