Search

Background and ObjectivesEarly consciousness disorder (ECD) after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is understudied. ECD may influence outcomes and the decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment.MethodsWe studied patients with AIS from 2010 to 2019 across 122 hospitals participating in the Florida Stroke Registry. We studied the effect of ECD on in-hospital mortality, withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment (WLST), ambulation status on discharge, hospital length of stay, and discharge disposition.ResultsOf 238,989 patients with AIS, 32,861 (14%) had ECD at stroke presentation. Overall, average age was 72 years (Q1 61, Q3 82), 49% were women, 63% were White, 18% were Black, and 14% were Hispanic. Compared to patients without ECD, patients with ECD were older (77 vs 72 years), were more often female (54% vs 48%), had more comorbidities, had greater stroke severity as assessed by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (score ≥5 49% vs 27%), had higher WLST rates (21% vs 6%), and had greater in-hospital mortality (9% vs 3%). Using adjusted models accounting for basic characteristics, patients with ECD had greater in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR] 2.23, 95% CI 1.98–2.51), had longer hospitalization (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.33–1.44), were less likely to be discharged home or to rehabilitation (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.52–0.57), and were less likely to ambulate independently (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.57–0.64). WLST significantly mediated the effect of ECD on mortality (mediation effect 265; 95% CI 217–314). In temporal trend analysis, we found a significant decrease in early WLST (2 0.7, p = 0.002) and an increase in late WLST (≥2 days) (R2 0.7, p = 0.004).DiscussionIn this large prospective multicenter stroke registry, patients with AIS presenting with ECD had greater mortality and worse discharge outcomes. Mortality was largely influenced by the WLST decision.

Background and Purpose: Impaired level of consciousness (LOC) on presentation at hospital admission in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) may affect outcomes and the decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment (WOLST). Methods: Patients with ICH were included across 121 Florida hospitals participating in the Florida Stroke Registry from 2010 to 2019. We studied the effect of LOC on presentation on in-hospital mortality (primary outcome), WOLST, ambulation status on discharge, hospital length of stay, and discharge disposition. Results: Among 37 613 cases with ICH (mean age 71, 46% women, 61% White, 20% Black, 15% Hispanic), 12 272 (33%) had impaired LOC at onset. Compared with cases with preserved LOC, patients with impaired LOC were older (72 versus 70 years), more women (49% versus 45%), more likely to have aphasia (38% versus 16%), had greater ICH score (3 versus 1), greater risk of WOLST (41% versus 18%), and had an increased in-hospital mortality (32% versus 12%). In the multivariable-logistic regression with generalized estimating equations accounting for basic demographics, comorbidities, ICH severity, hospital size and teaching status, impaired LOC was associated with greater mortality (odds ratio, 3.7 [95% CI, 3.1–4.3], P P P Conclusions: In this large multicenter stroke registry, a third of ICH cases presented with impaired LOC. Impaired LOC was associated with greater in-hospital mortality and worse disposition at discharge, largely influenced by early decision to withhold or WOLST.

Introduction: The decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining therapy (WLST) is common after acute stroke. Factors that may influence the decision are not well determined. We aimed to investigate factors associated with WLST in hospitalized acute stroke patients. Methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were included across 152 Florida hospitals participating in the prospective Florida Stroke Registry from 2008-2021. Importance plots were performed to generate the predictive factors associated with WLST. AUC-ROC curves were generated for the performance of logistic regression (LR) and random forest (RF) models. We used 75/15/15 for training/testing/validation. Results: Among 309,393 AIS patients, 47,485 ICH patients, and 16,694 SAH patients; 9%, 28%, and 19% subsequently had WLST during hospitalization. Patients who had WLST were older (77 vs. 69 years), more women (57% vs. 49%), more White (76% vs. 67%), greater stroke severity at presentation NIHSS ≥ 5 (29% vs.19%), more likely to be treated in comprehensive stroke centers (52% vs. 44%), more likely to have Medicare insurance (53% vs. 44%), less likely to be uninsured (8% vs. 13%), more likely to undergo surgical treatments (1.2% vs 0.3%), and more likely to have impaired level of consciousness (38% vs. 12%). The most predictive factors associated with the decision to WLST in AIS were age, stroke severity, state region, insurance status, stroke center type, race, and level of consciousness (RF AUC of .93 and LR AUC of .85). The most predictive factors in ICH were age, impaired level of consciousness, state region, race, insurance status, stroke center type, and ambulation status at baseline (RF AUC of .76 and LR AUC of .71). Most predictive factors in SAH were age, impaired level of consciousness, state region, insurance status, race, and stroke center type (RF AUC of .82 and LR AUC of .72). Conclusion: Among acute hospitalized stroke patients; age, level of consciousness, state region, race, insurance status, ambulation status at baseline, and stroke center type could contribute to the decision to WLST.

Background: Impaired level of consciousness (LOC) on presentation after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) may affect outcomes and the decision to withdraw life-sustaining treatment (WLST). We aim to investigate the outcomes and trends after ICH by the LOC status on presentation. Methods: We studied 37,613 cases with ICH in the Florida Stroke Registry from 2010-2019. Pearson chi-squared and Kruskall-Wallis tests were used to compare descriptive statistics. A multivariable-logistic regression with GEE accounted for basic demographics, comorbidities, ICH severity, hospital size and teaching status. Results: At stroke presentation, 12,272 (33%) cases had impaired LOC (mean age 72, 49% women, 61 white%, 20% Black, 14% Hispanic). Compared to cases with preserved LOC, LOC case were older (72 vs. 70 years old), more women (49% vs. 45%), more likely to have aphasia (38% vs. 16%), had lower GCS score (9 vs. 15), had greater ICH score (3 vs. 1), greater WLST rates (41% vs. 18%), and had greater in-hospital mortality rates (32% vs. 12%). In our adjusted model, no association was found between impaired LOC and in-hospital mortality, or length of stay. Those with preserved LOC were more likely discharged home/rehab (OR 0.4, 95%CI 0.2-0.9, p=0.03) and more likely to ambulate independently (OR 1.6, 95%CI 1.1-2.4, p=0.02). Trend analysis (2010-2019) showed decreased mortality, increased length of stay, and increased rates of discharge to home/rehab in all, regardless of the LOC status. Conclusion: In this large multi-center registry, a third of ICH cases presents with impaired LOC. Although LOC was not associated with significantly more in-hospital morality, LOC was associated with had higher rates of WLST and more disability at discharge. Future efforts should focus on biomarkers of LOC that detect early recovery and reduced disability in ICH patients with impaired LOC.

Background: Impaired level of consciousness (LOC) on presentation after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) may affect outcomes and the decision to withdraw life-sustaining treatment (WLST). We aim to investigate the outcomes and their trends after AISby the LOC on stroke presentation. Methods: We studied 238,989 cases with AIS in the Florida Stroke Registry from 2010-2019. Pearson chi-squared and Kruskall-Wallis tests were used to compare descriptive statistics. A multivariable-logistic regression with GEE accounted for basic demographics, comorbidities, stroke severity, location, hospital size and teaching status. Results: At stroke presentation, 32,861 (14%) cases had impaired LOC (mean age 77, 54% women, 60 white%, 19% Black, 16% Hispanic). Compared to cases with preserved LOC, impaired cases were older (77 vs. 72 years old), more women (54% vs. 48%), had more comorbidities, greater stroke severity on NIHSS ≥ 5 (49% vs. 27%), higher WLST rates (3% vs. 0.6%), and greater in-hospital mortality rates (9% vs. 3%). In our adjusted model however, no significant association was found between impaired LOC and in-hospital mortality, or length of stay. Those with preserved LOC were more likely discharged home/rehab (OR 0.7, 95%CI 0.6-0.8, p Conclusion: In this large multicenter registry, AIS cases presenting with impaired LOC had more severe strokes at presentation. Although LOC was not associated with significantly worse in-hospital morality, it was associated with higher rates of WLST and more disability among survivors. Future efforts should focus on biomarkers of LOC that discriminates the potential for early recovery and reduced disability in acute stroke patients with impaired LOC.

Objectives Prone positioning has been shown to be a beneficial adjunctive supportive measure for patients who develop acute respiratory distress syndrome. Studies have excluded patients with reduced intracranial compliance, whereby patients with concomitant neurologic diagnoses and acute respiratory distress syndrome have no defined treatment algorithm or recommendations for management. In this study, we aim to determine the safety and feasibility of prone positioning in the neurologically ill patients. Design and setting A systematic review of the literature, performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses 2009 guidelines, yielded 10 articles for analysis. Using consensus from these articles, in combination with review of multi-institutional proning protocols for patients with nonneurologic conditions, a proning protocol for patients with intracranial pathology and concomitant acute respiratory distress syndrome was developed. Measurements and main results Among 10 studies included in the final analysis, we found that prone positioning is safe and feasible in the neurologically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Increased intracranial pressure and compromised cerebral perfusion pressure may occur with prone positioning. We propose a prone positioning protocol for the neurologically ill patients who require frequent neurologic examinations and intracranial monitoring. Conclusions Although elevations in intracranial pressure and reductions in cerebral perfusion pressure do occur during proning, they may not occur to a degree that would warrant exclusion of prone ventilation as a treatment modality for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and concomitant neurologic diagnoses. In cases where intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, and brain tissue oxygenation can be monitored, prone position ventilation should be considered a safe and viable therapy.

Nine days after surgery, her mental status takes an abrupt turn for the worse. What is going on?

Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring frequently guides key decisions in the management of diseases causing intracranial hypertension. Although typically measured by invasive means, contraindications may leave the clinician with little recourse for dynamic ICP evaluation—particularly when the patient’s mental status is compromised. We describe here a healthy 18-year-old woman who subacutely progressed to coma due to diffuse cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Heparinization precluded the use of invasive ICP monitoring, and electroencephalography (EEG) was used novelly as a surrogate ICP monitor. She responded well to anticoagulation and hyperosmolar therapy guided by qualitative EEG and was later discharged with a nearly normal neurologic examination. She was found to have Salmonella bacteremia, heterozygous prothrombin and factor V Leiden mutations, and hemoglobin H disease.

Neurologic emergencies arise frequently and, if not diagnosed and treated quickly, can have devastating results, with high rates of long-term disability and death. Prompt recognition is an important skill. This article provides detailed analyses of acute stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, status epilepticus, and other neurologic emergencies for physicians who are not neurologists.