High-volume centers

A Narrative Review of Interhospital Transfers for Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Of the 750,000 strokes in the United States every year, 15% patients suffer from hemorrhagic stroke. Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a subtype of hemorrhagic stroke. Despite advances in acute management, patients with hemorrhagic stroke continue to suffer from high mortality and survivors suffer from multidomain impairments in the physical, cognitive, and mental health domains which could last for months to years from their index stroke. Long-term prognosis after ICH is critically dependent on the quality and efficacy of care a patient receives during the acute phase of care. With ongoing care consolidation in stroke systems of care, the number of ICH patients who need to undergo interhospital transfers (IHTs) is increasing. However, the associations between IHT and ICH outcomes have not been well described in literature. In this review, we describe the epidemiology of IHT for ICH, the relationship between IHT and ICH patient outcomes, and proposed improvements to the IHT process to ensure better long-term patient outcomes. Our review indicates that evidence regarding the safety and benefit of IHT for ICH patients is conflicting, with some studies reporting poorer outcomes for transferred patients compared to direct admissions via emergency rooms and other studies showing no effect on outcomes. The American Heart Association guidelines for ICH provide recommendations for timely blood pressure control and anticoagulation reversal to improve patient outcomes. The American Heart Association stroke systems of care guidelines provide recommendations for transfer agreements and but do not provide details on how patients should be managed while undergoing IHT. Large, prospective, and multicenter studies comparing outcomes of IHT patients to direct admissions are necessary to provide more definitive guidance to optimize IHT protocols and aid clinical decision-making.

A comparative propensity-adjusted analysis of microsurgical versus endovascular treatment of unruptured ophthalmic artery aneurysms

OBJECTIVE

Ophthalmic artery (OA) aneurysms are surgically challenging lesions that are now mostly treated using endovascular procedures. However, in specialized tertiary care centers with experienced neurosurgeons, controversy remains regarding the optimal treatment of these lesions. This study used propensity adjustment to compare microsurgical and endovascular treatment of unruptured OA aneurysms in experienced tertiary and quaternary settings.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients who underwent microsurgical treatment of an unruptured OA aneurysm at the University of California, San Francisco, from 1997 to 2017 and either microsurgical or endovascular treatment at Barrow Neurological Institute from 2011 to 2019. Patients were categorized into two cohorts for comparison: those who underwent open microsurgical clipping, and those who underwent endovascular flow diversion or coil embolization. Outcomes included neurological or visual outcomes, residual or recurrent aneurysms, retreatment, and severe complications.

RESULTS

A total of 345 procedures were analyzed: 247 open microsurgical clipping procedures (72%) and 98 endovascular procedures (28%). Of the 98 endovascular procedures, 16 (16%) were treated with primary coil embolization and 82 (84%) with flow diversion. After propensity adjustment, microsurgical treatment was associated with higher odds of a visual deficit (OR 8.5, 95% CI 1.1-64.9, p = 0.04) but lower odds of residual aneurysm (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.01-0.28, p < 0.001) or retreatment (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02-0.58, p = 0.008) than endovascular therapy. No difference was found between the two cohorts with regard to worse modified Rankin Scale score, modified Rankin Scale score greater than 2, or severe complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with endovascular therapy, microsurgical clipping of unruptured OA aneurysms is associated with a higher rate of visual deficits but a lower rate of residual and recurrent aneurysms. In centers experienced with both open microsurgical and endovascular treatment of these lesions, the treatment choice should be based on patient preference and aneurysm morphology.

Improving Safety and Quality During Interhospital Transfer of Patients With Nontraumatic Intracranial Hemorrhage: A Simulation-Based Pilot Program

BACKGROUND

The presentation of critically ill patients to emergency departments often necessitates interhospital transfer (IHT) to a tertiary care center for specialized neurocritical care. Patients with nontraumatic intracranial hemorrhage represent a critically ill population subject to high rates of IHT and who is thus an important target for research and quality improvement of IHT. We describe the use of an innovative simulation methodology engaging transfer staff, clinicians, and stakeholders to refine and facilitate the adoption of a standardized IHT protocol for transferring patients with neurovascular emergencies.

METHODS

This was a qualitative study using a phenomenological approach. Participants consisted of IHT call center staff members, neurointensivists, neurosurgeons, and emergency physicians. We conducted a standardized telephone-based simulation case to prime participants for feedback on their experiences with IHT for intracranial hemorrhage patients. Facilitators conducted focus groups immediately after the simulation to identify process improvement opportunities. A structured thematic analysis identified overarching concepts from the data.

RESULTS

We achieved data saturation with 7 simulations and a total of 24 participants. Thematic analysis identified 3 IHT-specific themes: (1) challenges unique to multispecialty critical illness, (2) interdisciplinary relationships and dynamics, and (3) communication and information processing for IHT. Three quality improvement initiatives emerged from the debriefings: standardized communication checklist, early acceptance protocol, and structure for telephone-based care handoffs.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate the use of telephone-based simulation technology to identify potential pitfalls and accelerate the adoption of a new IHT protocol for patients with nontraumatic intracranial hemorrhage. New quality improvement strategies can organically result through interprofessional debriefings for patients with potentially complex handoffs between hospitals.

Discrimination of residents during neurosurgical training in Mexico: Results of a survey prior to SARS-CoV-2

Background:

Recent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic represents an important negative impact on global training of neurosurgery residents. Even before the pandemic, discrimination is a challenge that neurosurgical residents have consistently faced. In the present study, we evaluated discriminatory conditions experienced by residents during their neurosurgical training in Mexico before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Methods:

An electronic survey of 18 questions was sent among residents registered in the Mexican Society of Neurological Surgery (MSNS), between October 2019 and July 2020. Statistical analysis was made in IBM SPSS Statistics 25. The survey focused on demographic characteristics, discrimination, personal satisfaction, and expectations of residents.

Results:

A response rate of 50% (132 of 264 residents’ members of MSNS) was obtained and considered for analysis. Median age was 30.06 ± 2.48 years, 5.3% (n = 7) were female and 16.7% (n = 22) were foreigners undergoing neurosurgical training in Mexico. Approximately 27% of respondents suffered any form of discrimination, mainly by place of origin (9.1%), by gender (8.3%) or by physical appearance (6.1%). About 42.9% (n = 3) of female residents were discriminated by gender versus 6.4% (n = 8) of male residents (P = 0.001); while foreign residents mentioned having suffered 10 times more an event of discrimination by place of origin compared to native Mexican residents (36.4% vs. 3.6%, P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

This manuscript represents the first approximation to determine the impact of discrimination suffered by residents undergoing neurosurgical training in Mexico before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Microsurgical Clipping of Intracranial Aneurysms in the Endovascular Era

The treatment of intracranial aneurysms (IA) began in the late 19th century. Some degree of controversy has always surrounded the best treatment modality for IA. Cushing and Dandy debated about cervical carotid ligation as the only surgical alternative before the introduction of microsurgical clipping. In the early 21st century, the debate has centered on surgical versus^ endovascular techniques. With the advent of newer endovascular techniques and devices, there has been a dramatic shift in treatment paradigms toward endovascular intervention that is preferred by both physicians and patients. However, there will always be a need for microsurgical cerebrovascular expertise since some aneurysms cannot or should not be embolized. This creates a difficult conundrum as only the most complex of aneurysms will require open surgery, but the lack of volume and training will be a challenge in teaching and maintaining the surgical expertise required to safely treat them. The purpose of this review is to discuss the history of IA treatment and critically evaluate the current state of the art of IA treatment, with a specific focus on the necessary role microsurgical clipping continues to play in the current treatment landscape.

First in Man Pilot Feasibility Study in Extracranial Carotid Robotic-Assisted Endovascular Intervention

BACKGROUND

Robotic-assistance in endovascular intervention represents a nascent yet promising innovation.

OBJECTIVE

To present the first human experience utilizing robotic-assisted angiography in the extracranial carotid circulation.

METHODS

Between March 2019 and September 2019, patients with extracranial carotid circulation pathology presenting to Houston Methodist Hospital were enrolled.

RESULTS

A total of 6 patients met inclusion criteria: 5 underwent diagnostic angiography only with robotic-assisted catheter manipulation, while 1 underwent both diagnostic followed by delayed therapeutic intervention. Mean age was 51 +/- 17.5 yr. Mean anesthesia time was 158.7 +/- 37.9 min, mean fluoroscopic time was 22.0 +/- 7.3 min, and mean radiation dose was 815.0 +/- 517.0 mGy. There were no technical complications and no clinical deficits postprocedure. None of the cases required conversion to manual neurovascular intervention (NVI).

CONCLUSION

Incorporating robotic technology in NVI can enhance procedural technique and diminish occupational hazards. Its application in the coronary and peripheral vascular settings has established safety and efficacy, but in the neurovascular setting, this has yet to be demonstrated. This study presents the first in human feasibility experience of robotic-assisted NVI in the extracranial carotid circulation.

Vasopressor treatment and mortality following nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage: a nationwide electronic health record analysis

OBJECTIVE

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a devastating cerebrovascular condition, not only due to the effect of initial hemorrhage, but also due to the complication of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). While hypertension facilitated by vasopressors is often initiated to prevent DCI, which vasopressor is most effective in improving outcomes is not known. The objective of this study was to determine associations between initial vasopressor choice and mortality in patients with nontraumatic SAH.

METHODS

The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study using a large, national electronic medical record data set from 2000-2014 to identify patients with a new diagnosis of nontraumatic SAH (based on ICD-9 codes) who were treated with the vasopressors dopamine, phenylephrine, or norepinephrine. The relationship between the initial choice of vasopressor therapy and the primary outcome, which was defined as in-hospital death or discharge to hospice care, was examined.

RESULTS

In total, 2634 patients were identified with nontraumatic SAH who were treated with a vasopressor. In this cohort, the average age was 56.5 years, 63.9% were female, and 36.5% of patients developed the primary outcome. The incidence of the primary outcome was higher in those initially treated with either norepinephrine (47.6%) or dopamine (50.6%) than with phenylephrine (24.5%). After adjusting for possible confounders using propensity score methods, the adjusted OR of the primary outcome was higher with dopamine (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.70-2.81) and norepinephrine (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.80-2.80) compared with phenylephrine. Sensitivity analyses using different variable selection procedures, causal inference models, and machine-learning methods confirmed the main findings.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with nontraumatic SAH, phenylephrine was significantly associated with reduced mortality in SAH patients compared to dopamine or norepinephrine. Prospective randomized clinical studies are warranted to confirm this finding.

Volumes, outcomes, and complications after surgical versus endovascular treatment of aneurysms in the United States (1993-2015): continued evolution versus steady-state after more than 2 decades of practice

OBJECTIVE

Adoption of endovascular treatment (EVT) and other advances in aneurysm care have shifted practice patterns of cerebral aneurysm treatment over the past 2 decades in the US. The objective of this study was to determine whether resulting trends in volumes, outcomes, and complications have matured in general practice or continue to evolve.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the National Inpatient Sample from 1993 to 2015. ICD-9 codes were used to estimate annual volumes, outcomes, and complications following treatment of ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to estimate risk ratios for complications and outcomes. Trends in time were assessed utilizing annual percentage change (APC).

RESULTS

The authors found a nearly 5-fold increase in annual admissions with diagnoses of unruptured aneurysms, whereas SAH volume increased less than 50%. Clipping ruptured aneurysms steadily declined (APC -0.86%, p = 0.69 until 1999, then -6.22%, p < 0.001 thereafter), whereas clipping unruptured aneurysms slightly increased (APC 2.02%, p < 0.001). EVT tripled in 2002-2004 and steadily increased thereafter (APC 7.22%, p < 0.001 and 5.85%, p = 0.01 for unruptured and ruptured aneurysms, respectively). Despite a 3-fold increase in both diagnosis and treatment of unruptured aneurysms, the incidence of SAH remained steady at 12 per 100,000 persons per year (APC 0.04%, p = 0.83). In contrast, SAH severity increased over time, as did patient age and comorbidities (all p < 0.001). SAH led to nonroutine discharge more frequently over time after both EVT and clipping (APC 1.24% and 1.10%, respectively), although mortality decreased during the same time (APC -2.48% and -1.44%, respectively). Complications were more frequent after clipping than EVT, but this differential risk diminished during the study period and was less perceptible in ruptured aneurysms. The proportion of patients discharged home after treatment of unruptured aneurysms was significantly lower (p < 0.001) after clipping (69.3%-79.5%) than EVT (88.3%-93.3%); both proportions changed minimally since 1998 (APC -0.39%, p = 0.02, and APC -0.11%, p = 0.14, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

EVT volume markedly increased for ruptured and unruptured aneurysms from 1993 to 2015, whereas clipping decreased for ruptured and slightly increased for unruptured aneurysms. The incidence of SAH remained unchanged despite increased diagnosis and treatment of unruptured aneurysms. In ruptured aneurysms, SAH severity has increased over time, as have age, comorbidities, and nonroutine discharges. In contrast, routine discharge after treatment of unruptured aneurysms remains largely unchanged since 1998 and remains lower with clipping.

A Multimodal Intervention to Improve the Quality and Safety of Interhospital Care Transitions for Nontraumatic Intracerebral and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Regionalization of care has increased interhospital transfers (IHTs) of nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) to specialized centers yet exposes patients to the latent risks inherent to IHT. The researchers examined how a multimodal quality improvement intervention affected quality and safety measures for patients with ICH or SAH exposed to IHT.

METHODS

Pre and post analyses of timeliness, effectiveness, and communication outcome measures were performed for patients transferred to an urban, academic center with nontraumatic ICH/SAH following implementation of a multimodal intervention. Intervention components included clinical practice guideline dissemination, IHT process redesign, electronic patient arrival notification, electronic imaging exchange, and electronic health record improvements. Three months of preintervention outcomes were compared to six months of postintervention outcomes to assess impact and sustainability of the intervention; t-tests and chi-square tests were used to compare continuous and proportional outcomes, respectively.

RESULTS

The IHT study population included 106 patients (37 preintervention, 69 postintervention). Significant improvements were observed in timeliness outcomes, including emergency department (ED) time to admission order (preintervention median: 66 minutes vs. postintervention: 33 minutes, p = 0.008), ED boarding time (preintervention median: 223 minutes vs. postintervention: 93 minutes, p = 0.001), and ED length of stay (preintervention median: 300 minutes vs. postintervention: 150 minutes, p ≤ 0.0001). Verbal communication between ED and neurocritical care clinicians prior to IHT improved from 40.0% preintervention to 90.9% postintervention.

CONCLUSION

Application of scripted quality improvement interventions as part of the IHT process is feasible and effective at improving the timeliness of care and communication of critical information in patients with nontraumatic ICH/SAH.

Time to treatment following an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, rural place of residence and inter-hospital transfers

BACKGROUND

Little is known about how transfers influence time to treatment for cases of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). We examine the effect of geographical location, socioeconomic status and inter-hospital transfer on time to treatment following an aSAH.

METHODS

A state-wide retrospective cohort study was established from 2010-2014. Time intervals from ictus to treatment were calculated. Linear regression examined associations between transfer status, place of residence and socioeconomic status and log-transformed times to treatment.

RESULTS

The median (IQR) time to intervention was 13.78 (6.48-20.63) hours. Socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with a 1.52-fold increase in the time to hospital (p<0.05) and a 1.76-fold increase in time to neurosurgical admission (p<0.05). Residing in an outer regional area was associated with a 2.27-fold increase (p<0.05) in time to neurosurgical admission. Inter-hospital transfers were associated with a 6.26-fold increase in time to neurosurgical admission (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The time to treatment was negatively influenced by socioeconomic disadvantage; geographical location and inter-hospital transfers. The urgent transfer of individuals with suspected aSAH is undeniably necessary when neurosurgical services are unavailable locally. The timeliness and organisation of transfers should be reviewed to overcome the potential vulnerability to poor outcomes for people from rural and disadvantaged areas.

The future of open vascular neurosurgery: perspectives on cavernous malformations, AVMs, and bypasses for complex aneurysms

Despite the erosion of microsurgical case volume because of advances in endovascular and radiosurgical therapies, indications remain for open resection of pathology and highly technical vascular repairs. Treatment risk, efficacy, and durability make open microsurgery a preferred option for cerebral cavernous malformations, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), and many aneurysms. In this paper, a 21-year experience with 7348 cases was reviewed to identify trends in microsurgical management. Brainstem cavernous malformations (227 cases), once considered inoperable and managed conservatively, are now resected in increasing numbers through elegant skull base approaches and newly defined safe entry zones, demonstrating that microsurgical techniques can be applied in ways that generate entirely new areas of practice. Despite excellent results with microsurgery for low-grade AVMs, brain AVM management (836 cases) is being challenged by endovascular embolization and radiosurgery, as well as by randomized trials that show superior results with medical management. Reviews of ARUBA-eligible AVM patients treated at high-volume centers have demonstrated that open microsurgery with AVM resection is still better than many new techniques and less invasive approaches that are occlusive or obliterative. Although the volume of open aneurysm surgery is declining (4479 cases), complex aneurysms still require open microsurgery, often with bypass techniques. Intracranial arterial reconstructions with reimplantations, reanastomoses, in situ bypasses, and intracranial interpositional bypasses (third-generation bypasses) augment conventional extracranial-intracranial techniques (first- and second-generation bypasses) and generate innovative bypasses in deep locations, such as for anterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysms. When conventional combinations of anastomoses and suturing techniques are reshuffled, a fourth generation of bypasses results, with eight new types of bypasses. Type 4A bypasses use in situ suturing techniques within the conventional anastomosis, whereas type 4B bypasses maintain the basic construct of reimplantations or reanastomoses but use an unconventional anastomosis. Bypass surgery (605 cases) demonstrates that open microsurgery will continue to evolve. The best neurosurgeons will be needed to tackle the complex lesions that cannot be managed with other modalities. Becoming an open vascular neurosurgeon will be intensely competitive. The microvascular practice of the future will require subspecialization, collaborative team effort, an academic medical center, regional prominence, and a large catchment population, as well as a health system that funnels patients from hospital networks outside the region. Dexterity and meticulous application of microsurgical technique will remain the fundamental skills of the open vascular neurosurgeon.

Real-Time Surveys Reveal Important Safety Risks During Interhospital Care Transitions for Neurologic Emergencies

Critically ill patients may be exposed to unique safety threats as a result of the complexity of interhospital and intrahospital transitions involving the emergency department (ED). Real-time surveys were administered to clinicians in the ED and neuroscience intensive care unit of a tertiary health care system to assess perceptions of handoff safety and quality in transitions involving critically ill neurologic patients. In all, 115 clinical surveys were conducted among 26 patient transfers. Among all clinician types, 1 in 5 respondents felt the handoff process was inadequate. Risks to patient safety during the transfer process were reported by 1 in 3 of respondents. Perceived risks were reported more frequently by nurses (44%) than physicians/advanced practice providers (28%). Real-time survey methodology appears to be a feasible and valuable, albeit resource intensive, tool to identify safety risks, expose barriers to communication, and reveal challenges not captured by traditional approaches to inform multidisciplinary quality improvement efforts.

Lifting the veil on stroke outcomes: revisiting stroke centers' transparency through public reporting of metrics

Public reporting of healthcare metrics provides transparency that allows patients and emergency medical providers to make informed decisions about where patients should receive care. Most previous reports about public reporting of health metrics have demonstrated significant improvements in outcome metrics after implementation. However, no mechanism exists, voluntary or otherwise, for the public reporting of outcomes of stroke care. We review the components of public reporting of health outcomes data and its limited history in stroke outcomes. We summarize the literature on public reporting in cardiovascular interventions, particularly percutaneous coronary interventions, as a close corollary to mechanical neurothrombectomy. The benefits, limitations, and controversies associated with reporting of cardiovascular outcomes are reviewed with a focus on the development of risk-avoidant behaviors. This article serves as a primer for discussion of the potential benefits, limitations, and unintended consequences of public reporting of stroke data.

Interhospital Transfer of Neurosurgical Patients: Implications of Timing on Hospital Course and Clinical Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Interhospital transfer of neurosurgical patients is common; however, little is known about the impact of transfer parameters on clinical outcomes. Lower survival rates have been reported for patients admitted at night and on weekends in other specialties. Whether time or day of admission affects neurosurgical patient outcomes, specifically those transferred from other facilities, is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the impact of the timing of interhospital transfer on the hospital course and clinical outcomes of neurosurgical patients.

METHODS

All consecutive admissions of patients transferred to our adult neurosurgical service were retrospectively analyzed for a 1-year study period using data from a central transfer database and the electronic health record.

RESULTS

Patients arrived more often at night (70.8%) despite an even distribution of transfer requests. The lack of transfer imaging did not affect length of stay, intervention times, or patient outcomes. Daytime arrivals had shorter total transfer time, but longer intenstive care unit and overall length of stay (8.7 and 11.6 days, respectively), worse modified Rankin Scale scores, lower rates of functional independence, and almost twice the mortality rate. Weekend admissions had significantly worse modified Rankin Scale scores and lower rates of functional independence.

CONCLUSIONS

The timing of transfer arrivals, both by hour or day of the week, is correlated with the time to intervention, hospital course, and overall patient outcomes. Patients admitted during the weekend suffered worse functional outcomes and a trend towards increased mortality. While transfer logistics clearly impact patient outcomes, further work is needed to understand these complex relationships.

Functional Outcome After Poor-Grade Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Single-Center Study and Systematic Literature Review

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grade 4 and 5) is associated with high mortality rates and unfavorable functional outcomes. We report a single-center cohort of poor-grade SAH patients, combined with a systematic review of studies reporting functional outcome in the poor-grade SAH population.

METHODS

Data on a cohort of poor-grade SAH patients treated between 2009 and 2013 were retrospectively collected and combined with a systematic review (from inception to November 2015; PubMed, Embase). Two reviewers assessed the studies independently based on predefined inclusion criteria: consecutive poor-grade SAH, functional outcome measured at least 3 months after hemorrhage, and the report of patients who died before aneurysm treatment.

RESULTS

The search yielded 329 publications, and 23 met our inclusion criteria with 2713 subjects enrolled from 1977 to 2014 in 10 countries (including 179 poor-grade patients from our cohort). Mortality rate was 60 % (1683 patients), of which 806 (29 %) died before and 877 (31 %) died after aneurysm treatment, respectively. Treatment was undertaken in 1775 patients (1775/2826-63 %): 1347 by surgical clipping (1347/1775-76 %) and 428 (428/1775-24 %) by endovascular methods. Outcome was favorable in 794 patients (28 %) and unfavorable in 1867 (66 %). When the studies were grouped into decades, favorable outcome increased from 13 % in the late 1970s to early 1980s to 35 % in the late 1980s to early 1990s, and remained unchanged thereafter.

CONCLUSION

Although mortality remains high in poor-grade SAH patients, a favorable functional outcome can be achieved in approximately one-third of patients. The development of new diagnostic methods and implementation of therapeutic approaches were probably responsible for the decrease in mortality and improvement in the functional outcome from 1970 to the 1990s. The plateau in functional outcome seen thereafter might be explained by the treatment of sicker and older patients and by the lack of new therapeutic interventions specific for SAH.

Estimated Impact of Emergency Medical Service Triage of Stroke Patients on Comprehensive Stroke Centers: An Urban Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The American Stroke Association recommends that Emergency Medical Service bypass acute stroke-ready hospital (ASRH)/primary stroke center (PSC) for comprehensive stroke centers (CSCs) when transporting appropriate stroke patients, if the additional travel time is ≤15 minutes. However, data on additional transport time and the effect on hospital census remain unknown.

METHODS

Stroke patients ≥20 years old who were transported from home to an ASRH/PSC or CSC via Emergency Medical Service in 2010 were identified in the Greater Cincinnati area population of 1.3 million. Addresses of all patients' residences and hospitals were geocoded, and estimated travel times were calculated. We estimated the mean differences between the travel time for patients taken to an ASRH/PSC and the theoretical time had they been transported directly to the region's CSC.

RESULTS

Of 929 patients with geocoded addresses, 806 were transported via Emergency Medical Service directly to an ASRH/PSC. Mean additional travel time of direct transport to the CSC, compared with transport to an ASRH/PSC, was 7.9±6.8 minutes; 85% would have ≤15 minutes added transport time. Triage of all stroke patients to the CSC would have added 727 patients to the CSC's census in 2010. Limiting triage to the CSC to patients with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of ≥10 within 6 hours of onset would have added 116 patients (2.2 per week) to the CSC's annual census.

CONCLUSIONS

Emergency Medical Service triage to CSCs based on stroke severity and symptom duration may be feasible. The impact on stroke systems of care and patient outcomes remains to be determined and requires prospective evaluation.

Operative Landscape at Canadian Neurosurgery Residency Programs

Background Currently, the literature lacks reliable data regarding operative case volumes at Canadian neurosurgery residency programs. Our objective was to provide a snapshot of the operative landscape in Canadian neurosurgical training using the trainee-led Canadian Neurosurgery Research Collaborative.

METHODS

Anonymized administrative operative data were gathered from each neurosurgery residency program from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2014. Procedures were broadly classified into cranial, spine, peripheral nerve, and miscellaneous procedures. A number of prespecified subspecialty procedures were recorded. We defined the resident case index as the ratio of the total number of operations to the total number of neurosurgery residents in that program. Resident number included both Canadian medical and international medical graduates, and included residents on the neurosurgery service, off-service, or on leave for research or other personal reasons.

RESULTS

Overall, there was an average of 1845 operative cases per neurosurgery residency program. The mean numbers of cranial, spine, peripheral nerve, and miscellaneous procedures were 725, 466, 48, and 193, respectively. The nationwide mean resident case indices for cranial, spine, peripheral nerve, and total procedures were 90, 58, 5, and 196, respectively. There was some variation in the resident case indices for specific subspecialty procedures, with some training programs not performing carotid endarterectomy or endoscopic transsphenoidal procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents the breadth of neurosurgical training within Canadian neurosurgery residency programs. These results may help inform the implementation of neurosurgery training as the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons residency training transitions to a competence-by-design curriculum.

Neurothrombectomy trial results: stroke systems, not just devices, make the difference

The overwhelming benefit demonstrated in the four recent randomized trials comparing intra-arterial therapies to medical management alone will have a transformative effect on the emergent management of strokes throughout the world. New generation neurothrombectomy devices were critical to trial success, but not the sole driver of patient outcomes in these trials. Patients in the positive trials were treated at hospitals with complex, efficient, resource-rich, team-based stroke systems in place. To ensure attainment of trial results in actual practice, patients should receive treatment at facilities certified as having the resources, personnel, organization, and continuous quality improvement processes characteristic of trial centers. It is our hope that, through greater education initiatives, robust resource investment, and developing quality-based certification processes, the results demonstrated by these trials may be extrapolated to greater numbers of centers - in turn allowing greater access for patients to high-quality, advanced stroke care.

Safety and tolerability of gabapentin for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (sah) headache and meningismus

BACKGROUND

Headache after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is very common and is often described as the "worst headache imaginable." SAH-associated headache can persist for days to weeks and is traditionally treated with narcotics. However, narcotics can have significant adverse effects. We hypothesize that gabapentin (GBP), a non-narcotic neuropathic pain medication, would be safe and tolerable and would reduce narcotic requirements after SAH.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical, radiographic, and laboratory data of SAH patients at the neuroscience intensive care unit at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, from January 2011 through February 2013. Headache intensity was quantified by a visual analog scale score. Total opioid use per day was tabulated using an intravenous morphine equivalents scale. Cerebrospinal fluid was also reviewed when available.

RESULTS

There were 53 SAH patients who were treated with GBP along with other analgesics for headache. Among these SAH patients, 34 (64 %) were women, with a mean age of 54 years (SD 12.3). Severe headache was observed in all SAH patients. GBP dosing was rapidly escalated within days of SAH up to a median of 1,200 mg/day, with a range of 300 mg three times a day to 900 mg three times a day. Approximately 6 % of patients treated with GBP had nausea (95 % CI 1-16 %), and only one patient (1.8 %) had to discontinue GBP.

CONCLUSIONS

GBP appears to be relatively safe and tolerable in SAH patients with headache and may be a useful narcotic-sparing agent to prevent narcotics-associated complications, such as gastrointestinal immobility, ileus, and constipation.

High Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patient Volume Associated With Lower Mortality and Better Outcomes

BACKGROUND

High-volume centers have better outcomes than low-volume centers when managing complex conditions including subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

OBJECTIVE

To quantify SAH volume-outcome association and determine the extent to which this association is influenced by aggressiveness of care.

METHODS

A serial cross-sectional retrospective study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for 2002 to 2010 was performed. Included were all adult (older than 18 years of age) discharged patients with a primary diagnosis of SAH admitted from the emergency department or transferred to a discharging hospital; cases of trauma or arteriovenous malformation were excluded. Survey-weighted descriptive statistics estimated temporal trends. Multilevel logistic regression estimated volume-outcome associations for inpatient mortality and discharge home. Models were adjusted for demographic characteristics, year, transfer status, insurance status, all individual Charlson comorbidities, intubation, and all patient-refined, diagnosis-related group mortality. Analyses were repeated, excluding cases in which aggressive care was not pursued.

RESULTS

A total of 32,336 discharges were included; 13,398 patients underwent clipping (59.1%) or coiling (40.9%). The inpatient mortality rate decreased from 32.2% in 2002 to 22.2% in 2010; discharge home increased from 28.5% to 40.8% during the same period. As SAH volume decreased from 100/year, the mortality rate increased from 18.7% to 19.8% at 80/year, 21.7% at 60/year, 24.5% at 40/year, and 28.4% at 20/year. As SAH patient volume decreased, the probability of discharge home decreased from 40.3% at 100/year to 38.7% at 60/year, and 35.3% at 20/year. Better outcomes persisted in patients receiving aggressive care and in those not receiving aggressive care.

CONCLUSION

Short-term SAH outcomes have improved. High-volume hospitals have more favorable outcomes than low-volume hospitals. This effect is substantial, even for hospitals conventionally classified as high volume.

The critical care management of poor-grade subarachnoid haemorrhage

Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage is a neurological syndrome with complex systemic complications. The rupture of an intracranial aneurysm leads to the acute extravasation of arterial blood under high pressure into the subarachnoid space and often into the brain parenchyma and ventricles. The haemorrhage triggers a cascade of complex events, which ultimately can result in early brain injury, delayed cerebral ischaemia, and systemic complications. Although patients with poor-grade subarachnoid haemorrhage (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies 4 and 5) are at higher risk of early brain injury, delayed cerebral ischaemia, and systemic complications, the early and aggressive treatment of this patient population has decreased overall mortality from more than 50% to 35% in the last four decades. These management strategies include (1) transfer to a high-volume centre, (2) neurological and systemic support in a dedicated neurological intensive care unit, (3) early aneurysm repair, (4) use of multimodal neuromonitoring, (5) control of intracranial pressure and the optimisation of cerebral oxygen delivery, (6) prevention and treatment of medical complications, and (7) prevention, monitoring, and aggressive treatment of delayed cerebral ischaemia. The aim of this article is to provide a summary of critical care management strategies applied to the subarachnoid haemorrhage population, especially for patients in poor neurological condition, on the basis of the modern concepts of early brain injury and delayed cerebral ischaemia.

Hospital case volume is associated with mortality in patients hospitalized with subarachnoid hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Prior studies have suggested that hospital case volume may be associated with improved outcomes after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), but contemporary national data are limited.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between hospital case volume for SAH and in-hospital mortality.

METHODS

Using the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke registry, we analyzed patients with a discharge diagnosis of SAH between April 2003 and March 2012. We assessed the association of annual SAH case volume with in-hospital mortality by using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for relevant patient, hospital, and geographic characteristics.

RESULTS

Among 31,973 patients with SAH from 685 hospitals, the median annual case volume per hospital was 8.5 (25th-75th percentile, 6.7-12.9) patients. Mean in-hospital mortality was 25.7%, but was lower with increasing annual SAH volume: 29.5% in quartile 1 (range, 4-6.6), 27.0% in quartile 2 (range, 6.7-8.5), 24.1% in quartile 3 (range, 8.5-12.7), and 22.1% in quartile 4 (range, 12.9-94.5). Adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics, hospital SAH volume was independently associated with in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio 0.79 for quartile 4 vs 1, 95% confidence interval, 0.67-0.92). The quartile of SAH volume also was associated with length of stay but not with discharge home or independent ambulatory status.

CONCLUSION

In a large nationwide registry, we observed that patients treated at hospitals with higher volumes of SAH patients have lower in-hospital mortality, independent of patient and hospital characteristics. Our data suggest that experienced centers may provide more optimized care for SAH patients.

Design and validation of a prehospital scale to predict stroke severity: Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Severity Scale

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We derived and validated the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Severity Scale (CPSSS) to identify patients with severe strokes and large vessel occlusion (LVO).

METHODS

CPSSS was developed with regression tree analysis, objectivity, anticipated ease in administration by emergency medical services personnel and the presence of cortical signs. We derived and validated the tool using the 2 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) tissue-type plasminogen activator Stroke Study trials and Interventional Management of Stroke III (IMS III) Trial cohorts, respectively, to predict severe stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS]≥15) and LVO. Standard test characteristics were determined and receiver operator curves were generated and summarized by the area under the curve.

RESULTS

CPSSS score ranges from 0 to 4; composed and scored by individual NIHSS items: 2 points for presence of conjugate gaze (NIHSS≥1); 1 point for presence of arm weakness (NIHSS≥2); and 1 point for presence abnormal level of consciousness commands and questions (NIHSS level of consciousness≥1 each). In the derivation set, CPSSS had an area under the curve of 0.89; score≥2 was 89% sensitive and 73% specific in identifying NIHSS≥15. Validation results were similar with an area under the curve of 0.83; score≥2 was 92% sensitive, 51% specific, a positive likelihood ratio of 3.3, and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.15 in predicting severe stroke. For 222 of 303 IMS III subjects with LVO, CPSSS had an area under the curve of 0.67; a score≥2 was 83% sensitive, 40% specific, positive likelihood ratio of 1.4, and negative likelihood ratio of 0.4 in predicting LVO.

CONCLUSIONS

CPSSS can identify stroke patients with NIHSS≥15 and LVO. Prospective prehospital validation is warranted.

International multidisciplinary consensus conference on multimodality monitoring: ICU processes of care

There is an increased focus on evaluating processes of care, particularly in the high acuity and cost environment of intensive care. Evaluation of neurocritical-specific care and evidence-based protocol implementation are needed to effectively determine optimal processes of care and effect on patient outcomes. General quality measures to evaluate intensive care unit (ICU) processes of care have been proposed; however, applicability of these measures in neurocritical care populations has not been established. A comprehensive literature search was conducted for English language articles from 1990 to August 2013. A total of 1,061 articles were reviewed, with 145 meeting criteria for inclusion in this review. Care in specialized neurocritical care units or by neurocritical teams can have a positive impact on mortality, length of stay, and in some cases, functional outcome. Similarly, implementation of evidence-based protocol-directed care can enhance outcome in the neurocritical care population. There is significant evidence to support suggested quality indicators for the general ICU population, but limited research regarding specific use in neurocritical care. Quality indices for neurocritical care have been proposed; however, additional research is needed to further validate measures.

Caseload as a factor for outcome in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Object

Increasing evidence exists that treatment of complex medical conditions in high-volume centers is found to improve outcome. Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a complex disease, probably also benefit from treatment at a high-volume center. The authors aimed to determine, based on published literature, whether a higher hospital caseload is associated with improved outcomes of patients undergoing treatment after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Methods

The authors identified studies from MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library up to September 28, 2012, that evaluated outcome in high-volume versus low-volume centers in patients with SAH who were treated by either clipping or endovascular coiling. No language restrictions were set. The compared outcome measure was in-hospital mortality. Mortality in studies was pooled in a random effects meta-analysis. Study quality was reported according to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) criteria.

Results

Four articles were included in this analysis, representing 36,600 patients. The quality of studies was graded low in 3 and very low in 1. Meta-analysis using a random effects model showed a decrease in hospital mortality (OR 0.77 [95% CI 0.60–0.97]; p = 0.00; I2 = 91%) in high-volume hospitals treating SAH patients. Sensitivity analysis revealed the relative weight of the 1 low-quality study. Removal of the study with very low quality increased the effect size of the meta-analysis to an OR of 0.68 (95% CI 0.56–0.84; p = 0.00; I2 = 86%). The definition of hospital volume differed among studies. Cutoffs and dichotomizations were used as well as division in quartiles. In 1 study, low volume was defined as 9 or fewer patients yearly, whereas in another it was defined as fewer than 30 patients yearly. Similarly, 1 study defined high volume as more than 20 patients annually, and another defined it as more than 50 patients a year. For comparability between studies, recalculation was done with dichotomized data if available. Cross et al., 2003 (low volume ≤ 18, high volume ≥ 19) and Johnston, 2000 (low volume ≤ 31, high volume ≥ 32) provided core data for recalculation. The overall results of this analysis revealed an OR of 0.85 (95% CI 0.72–0.99; p = 0.00; I2 = 87%).

Conclusions

Despite the shortcomings of this study, the mortality rate was lower in hospitals with a larger caseload. Limitations of the meta-analysis are the not uniform cutoff values and uncertainty about case mix.

Racial/ethnic differences in inpatient mortality and use of institutional postacute care following subarachnoid hemorrhage

Object

The goal of this study was to determine racial/ethnic differences in inpatient mortality rates and the use of institutional postacute care following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in the US.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of hospital discharges for SAH was conducted using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for the years 2005–2010. Discharges with a principal diagnosis of SAH were identified and abstracted using the appropriate ICD-9-CM diagnostic code. Racial/ethnic groups were defined as white, black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander (API), and American Indian. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed comparing racial/ethnic groups with respect to the primary outcome of risk of in-hospital mortality and the secondary outcome of likelihood of discharge to institutional care.

Results

During the study period, 31,631 discharges were related to SAH. Race/ethnicity was a significant predictor of death (p = 0.003) and discharge to institutional care (p ≤ 0.001). In the adjusted analysis, compared with white patients, API patients were at higher risk of death (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.13–1.59) and Hispanic patients were at lower risk of death (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72–0.97). The likelihood of discharge to institutional care was statistically similar between white, Hispanic, API, and Native American patients. Black patients were more likely to be discharged to institutional care compared with white patients (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.14–1.40), but were similar to white patients in the risk of death.

Conclusions

Significant racial/ethnic differences are present in the risk of inpatient mortality and discharge to institutional care among patients with SAH in the US. Outcome is likely to be poor among API patients and best among Hispanic patients compared with other groups.

Effect of Socioeconomic Status on Inpatient Mortality and Use of Postacute Care After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background and Purpose—

Studies in the United States and Canada have demonstrated socioeconomic gradients in outcomes of acute life-threatening cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The extent to which these findings are applicable to subarachnoid hemorrhage is uncertain. This study investigated socioeconomic status-related differences in risk of inpatient mortality and use of institutional postacute care after subarachnoid hemorrhage in the United States and Canada.

Methods—

Subarachnoid hemorrhage patient records in the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (2005–2010) and the Canadian Discharge Abstract Database (2004–2010) were analyzed separately, and summative results were compared. Both databases are nationally representative and contain relevant sociodemographic, diagnostic, procedural, and administrative information. We determined socioeconomic status on the basis of estimated median household income of residents for patient’s ZIP or postal code. Multinomial logistic regression models were fitted with adjustment for relevant confounding covariates.

Results—

The cohort consisted of 31 631 US patients and 16 531 Canadian patients. Mean age (58 years) and crude inpatient mortality rates (22%) were similar in both countries. A significant income–mortality association was observed among US patients (odds ratio, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.65–0.93), which was absent among Canadian patients (odds ratio, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.85–1.12). Neighborhood income status was not significantly associated with use of postacute care in the 2 countries.

Conclusions—

Socioeconomic status is associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage inpatient mortality risk in the United States, but not in Canada, although it does not influence the pattern of use of institutional care among survivors in both countries.

[Delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: prevention, diagnostics and therapy]

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is the second most important impacting factor for functional outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) following the initial severity of the bleeding. In contrast to the initial SAH severity the presence and consequences of DCI can be managed with prophylactic and therapeutic interventions. The previous notion of treatment of angiographically observed vasospasm has not been shown to be successful.This article covers prevention, monitoring and therapeutic concepts for patients with SAH with emphasis on the efficacy for DCI and current and ongoing research projects.

Volume-outcome relationship in neurotrauma care

Object

A positive correlation between outcomes and the volume of patients seen by a provider has been supported by numerous studies. Volume-outcome relationships (VORs) have been well documented in the setting of both neurosurgery and trauma care and have shaped regionalization policies to optimize patient outcomes. Several authors have also investigated the correlation between patient volume and cost of care, known as the volume-cost relationship (VCR), with mixed results. The purpose of the present study was to investigate VORs and VCRs in the treatment of common intracranial injuries by testing the hypotheses that outcomes suffer at small-volume centers and costs rise at large-volume centers.

Methods

The authors performed a cross-sectional cohort study of patients with neurological trauma using the 2006 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, the largest nationally representative all-payer data set. Patients were identified using ICD-9 codes for subdural, subarachnoid, and extradural hemorrhage following injury. Transfers were excluded from the study. In the primary analysis the association between a facility's neurotrauma patient volume and patient survival was tested. Secondary analyses focused on the relationships between patient volume and discharge status as well as between patient volume and cost. Analyses were performed using logistic regression.

Results

In-hospital mortality in the overall cohort was 9.9%. In-hospital mortality was 14.9% in the group with the smallest volume of patients, that is, fewer than 6 cases annually. At facilities treating 6–11, 12–23, 24–59, and 60+ patients annually, mortality was 8.0%, 8.3%, 9.5%, and 10.0%, respectively. For these groups there was a significantly reduced risk of in-hospital mortality as compared with the group with fewer than 6 annual patients; the adjusted ORs (and corresponding 95% CIs) were 0.45 (0.29–0.68), 0.56 (0.38–0.81), 0.63 (0.44–0.90), and 0.59 (0.41–0.87), respectively. For these same groups (once again using < 6 cases/year as the reference), there were no statistically significant differences in either estimated actual cost or duration of hospital stay.

Conclusions

A VOR exists in the treatment of neurotrauma, and a meaningful threshold for significantly improved mortality is 6 cases per year. Emergency and interfacility transport policies based on this threshold might improve national outcomes. Cost of care does not differ significantly with patient volume.

Impact of interhospital transfer on complications and outcome after intracranial hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Interhospital transfer of patients with intracranial hemorrhage can offer improved care, but may be associated with complications.

METHODS

A prospective single-center study was conducted between 2/2008 and 6/2010 of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and subdural hemorrhage (SDH), admitted to the neuro-ICU at a tertiary-care academic hospital. Admission demographics, complications and 3-month functional outcomes were compared between directly admitted and transferred patients. The effect of transfer time on complications and outcomes was assessed.

RESULTS

Of 257 total patients, 120 (47%) were transferred and 137 (53%) were directly admitted. About 86 (34%) had SAH, 80 (31%) had ICH and 91 (35%) had SDH. The median transfer time was 190 min (46-1,446). Transferred patients were significantly less educated, less likely to be insured and more frequently had SAH as a diagnosis than directly admitted patients (all P < 0.05), though admission neurological and cognitive status was similar. Complications did not differ between transferred and directly admitted patients; however, among transferred patients, longer transfer time was associated with aneurysm rebleed (7.3 vs. 1.8%, P = 0.007) and tracheostomy (20 vs. 17.5%, P = 0.013). In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for other predictors, transferred patients had worse cognitive outcome at 3-months (adjusted OR 12.4, 95% CI 1.2-125.2, P = 0.033) compared to direct admits, though there were no differences in death, disability or length of stay (LOS).

CONCLUSIONS

Transferred patients had similar rates of death, disability and LOS as directly admitted patients, though worse 3-month cognitive outcomes. Prolonged time to interhospital transfer was associated with an increased risk of aneurysm rerupture and tracheostomy.