Aneurysm treatment within 6 h versus 6-24 h after rupture in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage

BACKGROUND The risk of rebleeding after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is the highest during the initial hours after rupture. Emergency aneurysm treatment may decrease this risk, but is a logistic challenge and economic burden. We aimed to investigate whether aneurysm treatment <6 h after rupture is associated with a decreased risk of poor functional outcome compared to aneurysm treatment 6-24 h after rupture. METHODS We used data of patients included in the ULTRA trial (NCT02684812). All patients in ULTRA were admitted within 24 h after aneurysm rupture. For the current study, we excluded patients in whom the aneurysm was not treated <24 h after rupture. We calculated crude and adjusted risk ratios (aRR) with 95% confidence intervals using Poisson regression analyses for poor functional outcome (death or dependency, assessed by the modified Rankin Scale) after aneurysm treatment <6 h versus 6-24 h after rupture. Adjustments were made for age, sex, clinical condition on admission (WFNS scale), amount of extravasated blood (Fisher score), aneurysm location, tranexamic acid treatment, and aneurysm treatment modality. RESULTS We included 497 patients. Poor outcome occurred in 63/110 (57%) patients treated within 6 h compared to 145/387 (37%) patients treated 6-24 h after rupture (crude RR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.24-1.88; adjusted RR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.11-1.66). CONCLUSION Aneurysm treatment <6 h is not associated with better functional outcome than aneurysm treatment 6-24 h after rupture. Our results do not support a strategy aiming to treat every patient with a ruptured aneurysm <6 h after rupture

Induced Hypertension in Preventing Cerebral Infarction in Delayed Cerebral Ischemia After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background and Purpose- Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is an important cause of poor outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. If clinical signs of DCI occur, induced hypertension is a plausible but unproven therapeutic intervention. There is clinical equipoise if the use of hypertension induction is useful or not with the consequence that this strategy is irregularly used. We explored the effect of blood pressure augmentation in preventing cerebral infarction in patients with clinical signs of DCI. Methods- We performed a retrospective observational study, totaling 1647 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage admitted at 3 academic hospitals in the Netherlands between 2006 and 2015. To study the primary outcome DCI related cerebral infarcts, we only included patients with no cerebral infarct at the time of onset of clinical signs of DCI. Cox regression was used to test the association between induced hypertension after onset of clinical signs of DCI and the occurrence of DCI related cerebral infarcts. Logistic regression was used to relate hypertension induction with poor outcome after 3 months, defined as a modified Rankin score >3. Results were adjusted for treatment center and baseline characteristics. Results- Clinical signs of DCI occurred in 479 (29%) patients of whom 300 without cerebral infarction on computed tomography scan at that time. Of these 300 patients, 201 (67%) were treated with hypertension induction and 99 were not. Of the patients treated with hypertension induction, 41 (20%) developed a DCI related cerebral infarct compared with 33 (33%) with no induced hypertension: adjusted hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.99. Hypertension induction also prevented poor outcome: adjusted odds ratio, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.55. Conclusions- Hypertension induction seems an effective strategy for preventing DCI related cerebral infarcts if not already present at the time of onset of clinical signs of DCI. This may lead to a reduction in poor clinical outcome

National survey on the current practice and attitudes toward the management of chronic subdural hematoma

BACKGROUND: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a frequent pathological entity in daily clinical practice. However, evidence‐based CSDH‐guidelines are lacking and level I evidence from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) is limited. In order to establish and subsequently implement a guideline, insight into current clinical practice and attitudes toward CSDH‐treatment is required. The aim is to explore current practice and attitudes toward CSDH‐management in the Netherlands. METHODS: A national online survey was distributed among Dutch neurologists and neurosurgeons, examining variation in current CSDH‐management through questions on treatment options, (peri)operative management, willingness to adopt new treatments and by presenting four CSDH‐cases. RESULTS: One hundred nineteen full responses were received (8% of neurologists, N = 66 and 35% of neurosurgeons, N = 53). A majority of the respondents had a positive experience with burr‐hole craniostomy (93%) and with a conservative policy (56%). Around a third had a positive experience with the use of dexamethasone as primary (30%) and additional (33.6%) treatment. These numbers were also reflected in the treatment preferences in the presented cases. (Peri)operative management corresponded among responding neurosurgeons. Most respondents would be willing to implement dexamethasone (98%) if equally effective as surgery and tranexamic acid (93%) if effective in CSDH‐management. CONCLUSION: Variation was found regarding preferential CSDH‐treatment. However, this is considered not to be insurmountable when implementing evidence‐based treatments. This baseline inventory on current clinical practice and current attitudes toward CSDH‐treatment is a stepping‐stone in the eventual development and implementation of a national guideline

External validation of prognostic models predicting outcome after chronic subdural hematoma

Background: Several prognostic models for outcomes after chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) treatment have been published in recent years. However, these models are not sufficiently validated for use in daily clinical practice. We aimed to assess the performance of existing prediction models for outcomes in patients diagnosed with CSDH. Methods: We systematically searched relevant literature databases up to February 2021 to identify prognostic models for outcome prediction in patients diagnosed with CSDH. For the external validation of prognostic models, we used a retrospective database, containing data of 2384 patients from three Dutch regions. Prognostic models were included if they predicted either mortality, hematoma recurrence, functional outcome, or quality of life. Models were excluded when predictors were absent in our database or available for < 150 patients in our database. We assessed calibration, and discrimination (quantified by the concordance index C) of the included prognostic models in our retrospective database. Results: We identified 1680 original publications of which 1656 were excluded based on title or abstract, mostly because they did not concern CSDH or did not define a prognostic model. Out of 18 identified models, three could be externally validated in our retrospective database: a model for 30-day mortality in 1656 patients, a model for 2 months, and another for 3-month hematoma recurrence both in 1733 patients. The models overestimated the proportion of patients with these outcomes by 11% (15% predicted vs. 4% observed), 1% (10% vs. 9%), and 2% (11% vs. 9%), respectively. Their discriminative ability was poor to modest (C of 0.70 [0.63–0.77]; 0.46 [0.35–0.56]; 0.59 [0.51–0.66], respectively). Conclusions: None of the examined models showed good predictive performance for outcomes after CSDH treatment in our dataset. This study confirms the difficulty in predicting outcomes after CSDH and emphasizes the heterogeneity of CSDH patients. The importance of developing high-quality models by using unified predictors and relevant outcome measures and appropriate modeling strategies is warranted

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion with stand-alone Trabecular Metal cages for repeatedly recurrent lumbar disc herniation and back pain

Patients with recurrent sciatica due to repeated reherniation of the intervertebral disc carry a poor prognosis for recovery and create a large burden on society. There is no consensus about the best treatment for this patient group. The goal of this study was to evaluate the 12-month results of the placement of stand-alone Trabecular Metal cages in these patients. The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 26 patients with recurrent disc herniations treated with stand-alone posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) with Trabecular Metal cages. At 1 year patients were evaluated using the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and a visual analog scale (VAS) for back and leg pain. Furthermore, Likert scores of perceived recovery and satisfaction with the treatment were recorded. Lumbar spine radiographs after 1 year were compared with postoperative radiographs to measure subsidence. Stability of the operated segment was assessed using dynamic radiography. The patient group consisted of 26 patients (62% male) with a mean age of 45.7 ± 11.4 years (± SD). Patients had a history of 1 (31%), 2 (42%), or more (27%) discectomies at the same level. The mean follow-up period was 15.3 ± 7.3 months. At follow-up the mean VAS score for pain in the affected leg was 36.7 ± 27.9. The mean VAS score for back pain was 42.5 ± 30.2. The mean RMDQ score at follow-up was 9.8 ± 6.2. Twelve (46%) of the 26 patients had a global perceived good recovery. With respect to treatment satisfaction, 18 patients (69%) were content or very content with the operation and would recommend it. Disc height was increased immediately postoperatively, and at the 1-year follow-up it was still significantly higher compared with the preoperative height (mean 41% ± 38.7%, range -25.7 to 126.8, paired t-test, both p < 0.001), although a mean of 7.52% ± 11.6% subsidence occurred (median 2.0% [interquartile range 0.0%-10.9%], p < 0.003). No significant correlation between subsidence and postoperative back pain was found (Spearman's rho -0.2, p = 0.459). Flexion-extension radiographs showed instability in 1 patient. Although only 46% of patients reported a good recovery with significant reductions in back and leg pain, 85% of patients reported at least some benefit from the operation, and a marked improvement in working status at follow-up was noted. In view of previously published poor results of instrumented lumbar fusion for patients with failed back surgery syndrome, the present data indicate that Trabecular Metal interbody fusion cages can be used in a stand-alone fashion and should not always need supplemental posterior fixation in patients with recurrent disc herniation without spinal instability, although a long-term follow-up study is warrante

3D Volumetric Measurement of Neurofibromatosis Type 2-Associated Meningiomas: Association Between Tumor Location and Growth Rate

Treatment of meningiomas in neurofibromatosis type II (NF2) patients is challenging because the natural history of these tumors is unclear. More insight in tumor growth and factors predicting growth may contribute to a better clinical management. In this study, growth characteristics of supratentorial NF-related meningiomas were examined and the association between tumor growth rate and location was evaluated. In all NF2 patients followed up at the VU University Medical Center, who underwent a minimum of 3 consecutive scans, tumor volumes were assessed by using 3D volumetric measurement (Brainlab, Feldkirchen, Germany). Growth patterns were visually analyzed. To assess the association between tumor growth rate and tumor location, the meningiomas were divided in 3 groups on the basis of their location: skull base, convexity, and "other." Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were built. Twenty-one patients (13 females) with a mean (standard deviation) follow-up period of 5.55 (2.48) years and a total of 210 meningiomas were included in the analyses. Tumors followed different growth patterns and did not increase in size simultaneously within 1 patient. Skull base meningiomas had a significantly higher absolute growth rate compared with convexity (β = 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.08-1.73) and "other" (β = 1.07, 95% CI 0.27-1.86) and a significantly higher relative growth rate on both linear and geometric growth rate compared with "other" (β = 90.73, 95% CI 5.50-175.95 and β = 18.63, 95% CI 2.94-34.31, respectively) on multivariable logistic regression. Within a single patient, NF2-related meningiomas follow different growth patterns. Skull base meningiomas grow faster compared with other locations. Yearly magnetic resonance imaging scans and timely treatment of skull base meningiomas should be considere