Intracranial pressure and compliance in hypoxic ischemic brain injury patients after cardiac arrest

Ketone Bodies after Cardiac Arrest: A Narrative Review and the Rationale for Use

Cardiac arrest survivors suffer the repercussions of anoxic brain injury, a critical factor influencing long-term prognosis. This injury is characterised by profound and enduring metabolic impairment. Ketone bodies, an alternative energetic resource in physiological states such as exercise, fasting, and extended starvation, are avidly taken up and used by the brain. Both the ketogenic diet and exogenous ketone supplementation have been associated with neuroprotective effects across a spectrum of conditions. These include refractory epilepsy, neurodegenerative disorders, cognitive impairment, focal cerebral ischemia, and traumatic brain injuries. Beyond this, ketone bodies possess a plethora of attributes that appear to be particularly favourable after cardiac arrest. These encompass anti-inflammatory effects, the attenuation of oxidative stress, the improvement of mitochondrial function, a glucose-sparing effect, and the enhancement of cardiac function. The aim of this manuscript is to appraise pertinent scientific literature on the topic through a narrative review. We aim to encapsulate the existing evidence and underscore the potential therapeutic value of ketone bodies in the context of cardiac arrest to provide a rationale for their use in forthcoming translational research efforts.

Blood-brain barrier permeability for the first 24 hours in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury following cardiac arrest

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to explore the changes in blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and intracranial pressure (ICP) for the first 24 h after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and their association with injury severity of cardiac arrest.

METHODS

This prospective study analysed the BBB permeability assessed using the albumin quotient (Qa) and ICP every 2 h for the first 24 h after ROSC. The injury severity of cardiac arrest was assessed using Pittsburgh Cardiac Arrest Category (PCAC) scores. The primary outcome was the time course of changes in the BBB permeability and ICP for the first 24 h after ROSC and their association with injury severity (PCAC scores of 1-4).

RESULTS

Qa and ICP were measured 274 and 197 times, respectively, in 32 enrolled patients. Overall, the BBB permeability increased progressively over time after ROSC, and then it increased significantly at 18 h after ROSC compared with the baseline. In contrast, the ICP revealed non-significant changes for the first 24 h after ROSC. The Qa in the PCAC 2 group was < 0.01, indicating normal or mild BBB disruption at all time points, whereas the PCAC 3 and 4 groups showed a significant increase in BBB permeability at 14 and 22 h, and 12 and 14 h after ROSC, respectively.

CONCLUSION

BBB permeability increased progressively over time for the first 24 h after ROSC despite post-resuscitation care, whereas ICP did not change over time. BBB permeability has an individual pattern when stratified by injury severity.

Intimate Partner Violence-Related Brain Injury: Unmasking and Addressing the Gaps

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant, global public health concern. Women, individuals with historically underrepresented identities, and disabilities are at high risk for IPV and tend to experience severe injuries. There has been growing concern about the risk of exposure to IPV-related head trauma, resulting in IPV-related brain injury (IPV-BI), and its health consequences. Past work suggests that a significant proportion of women exposed to IPV experience IPV-BI, likely representing a distinct phenotype compared with BI of other etiologies. An IPV-BI often co-occurs with psychological trauma and mental health complaints, leading to unique issues related to identifying, prognosticating, and managing IPV-BI outcomes. The goal of this review is to identify important gaps in research and clinical practice in IPV-BI and suggest potential solutions to address them. We summarize IPV research in five key priority areas: (1) unique considerations for IPV-BI study design; (2) understanding non-fatal strangulation as a form of BI; (3) identifying objective biomarkers of IPV-BI; (4) consideration of the chronicity, cumulative and late effects of IPV-BI; and (5) BI as a risk factor for IPV engagement. Our review concludes with a call to action to help investigators develop ecologically valid research studies addressing the identified clinical-research knowledge gaps and strategies to improve care in individuals exposed to IPV-BI. By reducing the current gaps and answering these calls to action, we will approach IPV-BI in a trauma-informed manner, ultimately improving outcomes and quality of life for those impacted by IPV-BI.

Critical Care Management of Patients After Cardiac Arrest: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association and Neurocritical Care Society

The critical care management of patients after cardiac arrest is burdened by a lack of high-quality clinical studies and the resultant lack of high-certainty evidence. This results in limited practice guideline recommendations, which may lead to uncertainty and variability in management. Critical care management is crucial in patients after cardiac arrest and affects outcome. Although guidelines address some relevant topics (including temperature control and neurological prognostication of comatose survivors, 2 topics for which there are more robust clinical studies), many important subject areas have limited or nonexistent clinical studies, leading to the absence of guidelines or low-certainty evidence. The American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee and the Neurocritical Care Society collaborated to address this gap by organizing an expert consensus panel and conference. Twenty-four experienced practitioners (including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and a respiratory therapist) from multiple medical specialties, levels, institutions, and countries made up the panel. Topics were identified and prioritized by the panel and arranged by organ system to facilitate discussion, debate, and consensus building. Statements related to postarrest management were generated, and 80% agreement was required to approve a statement. Voting was anonymous and web based. Topics addressed include neurological, cardiac, pulmonary, hematological, infectious, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and general critical care management. Areas of uncertainty, areas for which no consensus was reached, and future research directions are also included. Until high-quality studies that inform practice guidelines in these areas are available, the expert panel consensus statements that are provided can advise clinicians on the critical care management of patients after cardiac arrest.

Monitoring of Brain Tissue Oxygen Tension in Cardiac Arrest: a Translational Systematic Review from Experimental to Clinical Evidence

BACKGROUND

Cardiac arrest (CA) is a sudden event that is often characterized by hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI), leading to significant mortality and long-term disability. Brain tissue oxygenation (PbtO2) is an invasive tool for monitoring brain oxygen tension, but it is not routinely used in patients with CA because of the invasiveness and the absence of high-quality data on its effect on outcome. We conducted a systematic review of experimental and clinical evidence to understand the role of PbtO2 in monitoring brain oxygenation in HIBI after CA and the effect of targeted PbtO2 therapy on outcomes.

METHODS

The search was conducted using four search engines (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane), using the Boolean operator to combine mesh terms such as PbtO2, CA, and HIBI.

RESULTS

Among 1,077 records, 22 studies were included (16 experimental studies and six clinical studies). In experimental studies, PbtO2 was mainly adopted to assess the impact of gas exchanges, drugs, or systemic maneuvers on brain oxygenation. In human studies, PbtO2 was rarely used to monitor the brain oxygen tension in patients with CA and HIBI. PbtO2 values had no clear association with patients' outcomes, but in the experimental studies, brain tissue hypoxia was associated with increased inflammation and neuronal damage.

CONCLUSIONS

Further studies are needed to validate the effect and the threshold of PbtO2 associated with outcome in patients with CA, as well as to understand the physiological mechanisms influencing PbtO2 induced by gas exchanges, drug administration, and changes in body positioning after CA.

Quantitative cistern effacement and reduced gray to white matter ratio for prognostication in early brain computed tomography of patients with cardiac arrest

Background

The impact of cerebral edema on brain cells and ventricles in cardiac arrest patients can manifest as effacement of cortical sulci, diminished ventricle size, altered gray matter to white matter ratio (GWR), and increased optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in brain CT scans. However, a complete investigation of GWR in whole lobes, quantitative cistern size, and comprehensive comparison of various brain CT parameters has not been conducted. This study aimed to comprehensively compare various early brain CT parameters along with conventional significant variables in relation to poor neurological outcome and diffuse cortical necrosis.

Methods

This retrospective study included 86 adult patients with cardiac arrest who underwent brain CT/MRI. GWRs, the distance of the posterior ambient cistern, and ONSD in early brain CT and regions of interest (ROIs) in brain MRI were measured and analyzed along with clinical characteristics.

Results

ROIs in the putamen and parietal white matter showed significant differences (p = 0.05, p = 0.022, respectively). The distance of the posterior ambient cistern and the GWR of the putamen and parietal white matter were newly developed predictors that were not used previously and demonstrated a significant correlation with the presence of diffuse cortical necrosis (OR 0.4, p = 0.006, AUC 0.637; OR 0.478, p = 0.02, AUC 0.603, respectively) or poor neurological outcomes (AUC 0.637, AUC 0.603, respectively), but were not more significant than pupil reflex (OR 0.06, p < 0.001). ONSD was not significantly associated with the outcomes.

Conclusions

Quantitative cistern effacement and reduced GWR of the putamen and parietal white matter in early brain CT measurements of cardiac arrest patients were promising predictors in early brain CT for prognostication, but compared with clinical characteristics, the clinical significance of the CT predictors was not considerable. The relationship and clinical significance between the parameters in early brain CT and the outcomes might have to be separately considered.

Critical Care Management of Patients After Cardiac Arrest: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association and Neurocritical Care Society

The critical care management of patients after cardiac arrest is burdened by a lack of high-quality clinical studies and the resultant lack of high-certainty evidence. This results in limited practice guideline recommendations, which may lead to uncertainty and variability in management. Critical care management is crucial in patients after cardiac arrest and affects outcome. Although guidelines address some relevant topics (including temperature control and neurological prognostication of comatose survivors, 2 topics for which there are more robust clinical studies), many important subject areas have limited or nonexistent clinical studies, leading to the absence of guidelines or low-certainty evidence. The American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee and the Neurocritical Care Society collaborated to address this gap by organizing an expert consensus panel and conference. Twenty-four experienced practitioners (including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and a respiratory therapist) from multiple medical specialties, levels, institutions, and countries made up the panel. Topics were identified and prioritized by the panel and arranged by organ system to facilitate discussion, debate, and consensus building. Statements related to postarrest management were generated, and 80% agreement was required to approve a statement. Voting was anonymous and web based. Topics addressed include neurological, cardiac, pulmonary, hematological, infectious, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and general critical care management. Areas of uncertainty, areas for which no consensus was reached, and future research directions are also included. Until high-quality studies that inform practice guidelines in these areas are available, the expert panel consensus statements that are provided can advise clinicians on the critical care management of patients after cardiac arrest.

Associations between clinical characteristics of cardiac arrest and early CT head findings of hypoxic ischaemic brain injury following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Post-cardiac arrest patients are vulnerable to hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury (HIBI), but HIBI may not be identified until computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain is obtained post-resuscitation and stabilization. We aimed to evaluate the association of clinical arrest characteristics with early CT findings of HIBI to identify those at the highest risk for HIBI.

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients who underwent whole-body imaging. Head CT reports were analyzed with an emphasis on findings suggestive of HIBI; HIBI was present if any of the following were noted on the neuroradiologist read: global cerebral oedema, sulcal effacement, blurred grey-white junction, and ventricular compression. The primary exposure was duration of cardiac arrest. Secondary exposures included age, cardiac vs noncardiac etiology, and witnessed vs unwitnessed arrest. The primary outcome was CT findings of HIBI.

RESULTS

A total of 180 patients (average age 54 years, 32% female, 71% White, 53% witnessed arrest, 32% cardiac etiology of arrest, mean CPR duration of 15 ± 10 minutes) were included in this analysis. CT findings of HIBI were seen in 47 (48.3%) patients. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated a significant association between CPR duration and HIBI (adjusted OR = 1.1, 95% CI 1.01-1.11, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Signs of HIBI are commonly seen on CT head within 6 hours of OHCA, occurring in approximately half of patients, and are associated with CPR duration. Determining risk factors for abnormal CT findings can help clinically identify patients at higher risk for HIBI and target interventions appropriately.

Clinical targeting of the cerebral oxygen cascade to improve brain oxygenation in patients with hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury after cardiac arrest

The cerebral oxygen cascade includes three key stages: (a) convective oxygen delivery representing the bulk flow of oxygen to the cerebral vascular bed; (b) diffusion of oxygen from the blood into brain tissue; and (c) cellular utilisation of oxygen for aerobic metabolism. All three stages may become dysfunctional after resuscitation from cardiac arrest and contribute to hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury (HIBI). Improving convective cerebral oxygen delivery by optimising cerebral blood flow has been widely investigated as a strategy to mitigate HIBI. However, clinical trials aimed at optimising convective oxygen delivery have yielded neutral results. Advances in the understanding of HIBI pathophysiology suggest that impairments in the stages of the oxygen cascade pertaining to oxygen diffusion and cellular utilisation of oxygen should also be considered in identifying therapeutic strategies for the clinical management of HIBI patients. Culprit mechanisms for these impairments may include a widening of the diffusion barrier due to peri-vascular oedema and mitochondrial dysfunction. An integrated approach encompassing both intra-parenchymal and non-invasive neuromonitoring techniques may aid in detecting pathophysiologic changes in the oxygen cascade and enable patient-specific management aimed at reducing the severity of HIBI.

Temperature control after cardiac arrest

Managing temperature is an important part of post-cardiac arrest care. Fever or hyperthermia during the first few days after cardiac arrest is associated with worse outcomes in many studies. Clinical data have not determined any target temperature or duration of temperature management that clearly improves patient outcomes. Current guidelines and recent reviews recommend controlling temperature to prevent hyperthermia. Higher temperatures can lead to secondary brain injury by increasing seizures, brain edema and metabolic demand. Some data suggest that targeting temperature below normal could benefit select patients where this pathology is common. Clinical temperature management should address the physiology of heat balance. Core temperature reflects the heat content of the head and torso, and changes in core temperature result from changes in the balance of heat production and heat loss. Clinical management of patients after cardiac arrest should include measurement of core temperature at accurate sites and monitoring signs of heat production including shivering. Multiple methods can increase or decrease heat loss, including external and internal devices. Heat loss can trigger compensatory reflexes that increase stress and metabolic demand. Therefore, any active temperature management should include specific pharmacotherapy or other interventions to control thermogenesis, especially shivering. More research is required to determine whether individualized temperature management can improve outcomes.

Post-Cardiac Arrest Syndrome

Post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) is a multicomponent entity affecting many who survive an initial period of resuscitation following cardiac arrest. This focussed review explores some of the strategies for mitigating the effects of PCAS following the return of spontaneous circulation. We consider the current evidence for controlled oxygenation, strategies for blood-pressure targets, the timing of coronary reperfusion, and the evidence for temperature control and treatment of seizures. Despite several large trials investigating specific strategies to improve outcomes after cardiac arrest, many questions remain unanswered. Results of some studies suggest that interventions may benefit specific subgroups of cardiac arrest patients, but the optimal timing and duration of many interventions remain unknown. The role of intracranial pressure monitoring has been the subject of only a few studies, and its benefits remain unclear. Research aimed at improving the management of PCAS is ongoing.

Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury in ECMO: Pathophysiology, Neuromonitoring, and Therapeutic Opportunities

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), in conjunction with its life-saving benefits, carries a significant risk of acute brain injury (ABI). Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) is one of the most common types of ABI in ECMO patients. Various risk factors, such as history of hypertension, high day 1 lactate level, low pH, cannulation technique, large peri-cannulation PaCO2 drop (∆PaCO2), and early low pulse pressure, have been associated with the development of HIBI in ECMO patients. The pathogenic mechanisms of HIBI in ECMO are complex and multifactorial, attributing to the underlying pathology requiring initiation of ECMO and the risk of HIBI associated with ECMO itself. HIBI is likely to occur in the peri-cannulation or peri-decannulation time secondary to underlying refractory cardiopulmonary failure before or after ECMO. Current therapeutics target pathological mechanisms, cerebral hypoxia and ischemia, by employing targeted temperature management in the case of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR), and optimizing cerebral O2 saturations and cerebral perfusion. This review describes the pathophysiology, neuromonitoring, and therapeutic techniques to improve neurological outcomes in ECMO patients in order to prevent and minimize the morbidity of HIBI. Further studies aimed at standardizing the most relevant neuromonitoring techniques, optimizing cerebral perfusion, and minimizing the severity of HIBI once it occurs will improve long-term neurological outcomes in ECMO patients.

Hypertonic sodium lactate infusion reduces vasopressor requirements and biomarkers of brain and cardiac injury after experimental cardiac arrest

INTRODUCTION

Prognosis after resuscitation from cardiac arrest (CA) remains poor, with high morbidity and mortality as a result of extensive cardiac and brain injury and lack of effective treatments. Hypertonic sodium lactate (HSL) may be beneficial after CA by buffering severe metabolic acidosis, increasing brain perfusion and cardiac performance, reducing cerebral swelling, and serving as an alternative energetic cellular substrate. The aim of this study was to test the effects of HSL infusion on brain and cardiac injury in an experimental model of CA.

METHODS

After a 10-min electrically induced CA followed by 5 min of cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers, adult swine (n = 35) were randomly assigned to receive either balanced crystalloid (controls, n = 11) or HSL infusion started during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR, Intra-arrest, n = 12) or after return of spontaneous circulation (Post-ROSC, n = 11) for the subsequent 12 h. In all animals, extensive multimodal neurological and cardiovascular monitoring was implemented. All animals were treated with targeted temperature management at 34 °C.

RESULTS

Thirty-four of the 35 (97.1%) animals achieved ROSC; one animal in the Intra-arrest group died before completing the observation period. Arterial pH, lactate and sodium concentrations, and plasma osmolarity were higher in HSL-treated animals than in controls (p < 0.001), whereas potassium concentrations were lower (p = 0.004). Intra-arrest and Post-ROSC HSL infusion improved hemodynamic status compared to controls, as shown by reduced vasopressor requirements to maintain a mean arterial pressure target > 65 mmHg (p = 0.005 for interaction; p = 0.01 for groups). Moreover, plasma troponin I and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) concentrations were lower in HSL-treated groups at several time-points than in controls.

CONCLUSIONS

In this experimental CA model, HSL infusion was associated with reduced vasopressor requirements and decreased plasma concentrations of measured biomarkers of cardiac and cerebral injury.

Brain monitoring after cardiac arrest

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To describe the available neuromonitoring tools in patients who are comatose after resuscitation from cardiac arrest because of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI).

RECENT FINDINGS

Electroencephalogram (EEG) is useful for detecting seizures and guiding antiepileptic treatment. Moreover, specific EEG patterns accurately identify patients with irreversible HIBI. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) decreases in HIBI, and a greater decrease with no CBF recovery indicates poor outcome. The CBF autoregulation curve is narrowed and right-shifted in some HIBI patients, most of whom have poor outcome. Parameters derived from near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), intracranial pressure (ICP) and transcranial Doppler (TCD), together with brain tissue oxygenation, are under investigation as tools to optimize CBF in patients with HIBI and altered autoregulation. Blood levels of brain biomarkers and their trend over time are used to assess the severity of HIBI in both the research and clinical setting, and to predict the outcome of postcardiac arrest coma. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is recommended as a prognostic tool for HIBI in the current postresuscitation guidelines, but other potentially more accurate biomarkers, such as neurofilament light chain (NfL) are under investigation.

SUMMARY

Neuromonitoring provides essential information to detect complications, individualize treatment and predict prognosis in patients with HIBI.

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR) and cerebral perfusion: A narrative review

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR) is emerging as an effective, lifesaving resuscitation strategy for select patients with prolonged or refractory cardiac arrest. Currently, a paucity of evidence-based recommendations is available to guide clinical management of eCPR patients. Despite promising results from initial clinical trials, neurological injury remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Neuropathology associated with utilization of an extracorporeal circuit may interact significantly with the consequences of a prolonged low-flow state that typically precedes eCPR. In this narrative review, we explore current gaps in knowledge about cerebral perfusion over the course of cardiac arrest and resuscitation with a focus on patients treated with eCPR. We found no studies which investigated regional cerebral blood flow or cerebral autoregulation in human cohorts specific to eCPR. Studies which assessed cerebral perfusion in clinical eCPR were small and limited to near-infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, no studies prospectively or retrospectively evaluated the relationship between epinephrine and neurological outcomes in eCPR patients. In summary, the field currently lacks a comprehensive understanding of how regional cerebral perfusion and cerebral autoregulation are temporally modified by factors such as pre-eCPR low-flow duration, vasopressors, and circuit flow rate. Elucidating these critical relationships may inform future strategies aimed at improving neurological outcomes in patients treated with lifesaving eCPR.

Cerebral monitoring in a pig model of cardiac arrest with 48 h of intensive care

Background

Neurological injury is the primary cause of death after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. There is a lack of studies investigating cerebral injury beyond the immediate post-resuscitation phase in a controlled cardiac arrest experimental setting.

Methods

The aim of this study was to investigate temporal changes in measures of cerebral injury and metabolism in a cardiac arrest pig model with clinically relevant post-cardiac arrest intensive care. A cardiac arrest group (n = 11) underwent 7 min of no-flow and was compared with a sham group (n = 6). Pigs underwent intensive care with 24 h of hypothermia at 33 °C. Blood markers of cerebral injury, cerebral microdialysis, and intracranial pressure (ICP) were measured. After 48 h, pigs underwent a cerebral MRI scan. Data are presented as median [25th; 75th percentiles].

Results

Return of spontaneous circulation was achieved in 7/11 pigs. Time to ROSC was 4.4 min [4.2; 10.9]. Both NSE and NfL increased over time (p < 0.001), and were higher in the cardiac arrest group at 48 h (NSE 4.2 µg/L [2.4; 6.1] vs 0.9 [0.7; 0.9], p < 0.001; NfL 63 ng/L [35; 232] vs 29 [21; 34], p = 0.02). There was no difference in ICP at 48 h (17 mmHg [14; 24] vs 18 [13; 20], p = 0.44). The cerebral lactate/pyruvate ratio had secondary surges in 3/7 cardiac arrest pigs after successful resuscitation. Apparent diffusion coefficient was lower in the cardiac arrest group in white matter cortex (689 × 10^–6 mm²/s [524; 765] vs 800 [799; 815], p = 0.04) and hippocampus (854 [834; 910] vs 1049 [964; 1180], p = 0.03). N-Acetylaspartate was lower on MR spectroscopy in the cardiac arrest group (− 17.2 log [− 17.4; − 17.0] vs − 16.9 [− 16.9; − 16.9], p = 0.03).

Conclusions

We have developed a clinically relevant cardiac arrest pig model that displays cerebral injury as marked by NSE and NfL elevations, signs of cerebral oedema, and reduced neuron viability. Overall, the burden of elevated ICP was low in the cardiac arrest group. A subset of pigs undergoing cardiac arrest had persisting metabolic disturbances after successful resuscitation.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40635-022-00475-2.

Comparison of intracranial pressure changes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with and without malignant blood-brain barrier disruption

OBJECTIVE

In the present study, intracranial pressure (ICP) changes were investigated in out-ofhospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients with and without malignant blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption who underwent target temperature management.

METHODS

This prospective, single-center, observational study was conducted from June 2019 to December 2021. ICP and albumin quotient values were measured on days 1, 2, 3, and 4 of hospitalization. Malignant BBB disruption was defined as the sum of scores for the degree of BBB disruption ≥9 on days 1 to 4.

RESULTS

ICP in OHCA patients without malignant BBB disruption on days 1, 2, 3, and 4 of hospitalization was 9.58±0.53, 12.32±0.65, 14.39±0.76, and 13.88±0.87 mmHg, respectively, and in OHCA patients with malignant BBB disruption 13.65±0.74, 15.72±0.67, 16.10±0.92, and 15.22±0.87 mmHg, respectively (P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.150, and P=0.280, respectively). The P-values of changes in ICP between days 1 and 2, days 2 and 3, and days 3 and 4 of hospitalization in OHCA patients without malignant BBB disruption were P<0.001, P=0.001, and P=0.540, respectively, and in OHCA patients with malignant BBB disruption were P=0.002, P=0.550, and P=0.100, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Among OHCA patients treated with target temperature management, ICP was higher on days 1 and 2 of hospitalization and an increase in ICP occurred earlier with malignant BBB disruption than without malignant BBB disruption.

Deviations from PRx-derived optimal blood pressure are associated with mortality after cardiac arrest

AIM

Pressure reactivity index (PRx) provides a surrogate measurement of cerebrovascular autoregulation (CAR). We determined whether deviations from PRx-derived optimal mean arterial pressure (MAPopt) were associated with in-hospital mortality after adult cardiac arrest.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of post-cardiac arrest patients who had continuously recorded intracranial pressure (ICP) and MAP. PRx was calculated as a moving, linear correlation between ICP and MAP. Impaired CAR was defined as PRx ≥ 0.3. MAPopt was calculated using a multi-window weighted algorithm. The burdens of MAP < 5 mmHg below MAPopt (MAPopt-5) and > 5 mmHg above MAPopt (MAPopt + 5) were calculated by integrating the area between MAP and MAPopt-5 or MAPopt + 5 curves, respectively. Univariate logistic regression tested the association between burden of MAP < MAPopt-5 and outcome.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients were analyzed. Thirteen (59%) patients died before hospital discharge. Time (median [IQR]) between ROSC and monitoring initiation was 16 [14, 21] hours and duration of monitoring was 35 [22, 48] hours; neither differed between survivors and non-survivors. Median MAPopt was 89 [85, 97] mmHg and did not differ between survivors and non-survivors (89 [83, 94] vs. 91 [85, 105] mmHg, p = 0.64). Burden of MAP < MAPopt-5 was greater for non-survivors compared to survivors (OR 3.6 [95% CI 1.2-15.6]). Range of intact CAR (upper-lower limit) was narrower for non-survivors when compared to survivors (5 [0, 22] vs. 24 [7, 36] mmHg, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

A greater burden of MAP below PRx-derived MAPopt-5 was associated with mortality after cardiac arrest. Non-survivors had a narrower range of intact CAR than survivors.

Ultrasound imaging of preterm brain injury: fundamentals and updates

Neurosonography has become an essential tool for diagnosis and serial monitoring of preterm brain injury. Preterm infants are at significantly higher risk of hypoxic-ischemic injury, intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia and post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus. Neonatologists have become increasingly dependent on neurosonography to initiate medical and surgical interventions because it can be used at the bedside. While brain MRI is regarded as the gold standard for detecting preterm brain injury, neurosonography offers distinct advantages such as its cost-effectiveness, diagnostic utility and convenience. Neurosonographic signatures associated with poor long-term outcomes shape decisions regarding supportive care, medical or behavioral interventions, and family members' expectations. Within the last decade substantial progress has been made in neurosonography techniques, prompting an updated review of the topic. In addition to the up-to-date summary of neurosonography, this review discusses the potential roles of emerging neurosonography techniques that offer new functional insights into the brain, such as superb microvessel imaging, elastography, three-dimensional ventricular volume assessment, and contrast-enhanced US.

A comprehensive neuromonitoring approach in a large animal model of cardiac arrest

Background

Anoxic brain injuries represent the main determinant of poor outcome after cardiac arrest (CA). Large animal models have been described to investigate new treatments during CA and post‐resuscitation phase, but a detailed model that includes extensive neuromonitoring is lacking.

Method

Before an electrically‐induced 10‐minute CA and resuscitation, 46 adult pigs underwent neurosurgery for placement of a multifunctional probe (intracranial pressure or ICP, tissue oxygen tension or PbtO₂ and cerebral temperature) and a bolt‐based technique for the placement and securing of a regional blood flow probe and two sEEG electrodes; two modified cerebral microdialysis (CMD) probes were also inserted in the frontal lobes and accidental misplacement was prevented using a perforated head support.

Result

42 animals underwent the CA procedure and 41 achieved the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). In 4 cases (8.6%) an adverse event took place during preparation, but only in two cases (4.3%) this was related to the neurosurgery. In 6 animals (13.3%) the minor complications that occurred resolved after probe repositioning.

Conclusion

Herein we provide a detailed comprehensive neuromonitoring approach in a large animal model of CA that might help future research.

Arterial and Venous Cerebral Blood Flow Velocities and Their Correlation in Healthy Volunteers and Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

BACKGROUND

Few studies have explored the cerebral venous compartment or the correlation between venous and arterial cerebral blood flows. We aimed to correlate cerebral blood flow velocities in the arterial (middle cerebral artery) and venous (straight sinus) compartments in healthy volunteers and traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. In addition, we determined the normative range of these parameters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 122 healthy volunteers and 95 severe TBI patients of both sexes were included and stratified into 3 age groups as follows: group 1 (aged, 18 to 44 y); group 2 (aged, 45 to 64 y); group 3 (older than 65 y). Transcranial Doppler systolic cerebral blood flow velocity, diastolic cerebral blood flow velocity, and mean cerebral blood flow velocity (FVs, FVd, FVm, respectively) were measured in the middle cerebral artery and peak cerebral venous blood flow velocity (FVVs) was measured in the straight sinus. The arteriovenous correlation was assessed on the basis of a positive relationship between FVs and FVVs.

RESULTS

There was an arteriovenous correlation (FVs vs. FVVs) in healthy volunteers (R=0.39, P<0.0001). We found no arteriovenous correlation in the TBI cohort overall, but FVs and FVVs were correlated in age group 1 (R=0.28, P=0.05) and in males (R=0.29, P=0.01). In healthy volunteers, FVs and FVm were significantly higher in males compared with females; and FVs, FVm, FVd, FVVs all increased across the age spectrum. There were no significant differences in any of these parameters in TBI patients.

CONCLUSIONS

There are age and sex differences in arterial and venous cerebral blood flow velocities in healthy volunteers. Arteriovenous correlation is present in healthy volunteers but absent in TBI patients.

Monitoring of cerebrovascular pressure reactivity in children may predict neurologic outcome after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury

OBJECTIVES

Impaired cerebral blood flow is a first-line reason of ischemic-hypoxic brain injury in children. The principal goal of intensive care management is to detect and prevent further cerebral blood flow deficits. This can be achieved by actively managing cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) using input from cerebrovascular autoregulation (CAR). The main objective of the current study was to investigate CAR after cardiac arrest in children.

METHODS

Nineteen consecutive children younger than 18 years after cardiopulmonary resuscitation, in whom intracranial pressure (ICP) was continuously measured, were included. Blood pressure and ICP were continuously monitored via ICM + software and actively managed using the pressure reactivity index (PRx) to achieve and maintain an optimal CPP. Outcome was scored using the extended Glasgow outcome scale (eGOS) at discharge and 6 months.

RESULTS

Eight children died in hospital. At 6 months, further 4 children had an unfavorable (eGOS1-4) and 7 a favorable (eGOS5-8) outcome. Over the entire monitoring period, we found an elevated ICP (24.5 vs 7.4 mmHg), a lower CPP (50.3 vs 66.2 mmHg) and a higher PRx (0.24 vs - 0.01), indicating impaired CAR, in patients with unfavorable outcome. The dose of impaired autoregulation was significantly higher in unfavorable outcome (54.6 vs 29.3%). Analyzing only the first 72 h after cardiac arrest, ICP ≥ 10 mmHg and PRx > 0.2 correlated to unfavorable outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant doses of impaired CAR within 72 h after resuscitation are associated with unfavorable outcome. The inability to restore autoregulation despite active attempts to do so as well as an elevated ICP may serve as a bad prognostic sign indicating a severe initial hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

A Survey of Neuromonitoring Practices in North American Pediatric Intensive Care Units

BACKGROUND

Neuromonitoring is the use of continuous measures of brain physiology to detect clinically important events in real-time. Neuromonitoring devices can be invasive or non-invasive and are typically used on patients with acute brain injury or at high risk for brain injury. The goal of this study was to characterize neuromonitoring infrastructure and practices in North American pediatric intensive care units (PICUs).

METHODS

An electronic, web-based survey was distributed to 70 North American institutions participating in the Pediatric Neurocritical Care Research Group. Questions related to the clinical use of neuromonitoring devices, integrative multimodality neuromonitoring capabilities, and neuromonitoring infrastructure were included. Survey results were presented using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

The survey was completed by faculty at 74% (52 of 70) of institutions. All 52 institutions measure intracranial pressure and have electroencephalography capability, whereas 87% (45 of 52) use near-infrared spectroscopy and 40% (21/52) use transcranial Doppler. Individual patient monitoring decisions were driven by institutional protocols and collaboration between critical care, neurology, and neurosurgery attendings. Reported device utilization varied by brain injury etiology. Only 15% (eight of 52) of institutions utilized a multimodality neuromonitoring platform to integrate and synchronize data from multiple devices. A database of neuromonitoring patients was maintained at 35% (18 of 52) of institutions. Funding for neuromonitoring programs was variable with contributions from hospitals (19%, 10 of 52), private donations (12%, six of 52), and research funds (12%, six of 52), although 73% (40 of 52) have no dedicated funds.

CONCLUSIONS

Neuromonitoring indications, devices, and infrastructure vary by institution in North American pediatric critical care units. Noninvasive modalities were utilized more liberally, although not uniformly, than invasive monitoring. Further studies are needed to standardize the acquisition, interpretation, and reporting of clinical neuromonitoring data, and to determine whether neuromonitoring systems impact neurological outcomes.

Intracranial Pressure Patterns and Neurological Outcomes in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Survivors after Targeted Temperature Management: A Retrospective Observational Study

We aimed to investigate intracranial pressure (ICP) changes over time and the neurologic prognosis for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors who received targeted temperature management (TTM). ICP was measured immediately after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) (day 1), then at 24 h (day 2), 48 h (day 3), and 72 h (day 4), through connecting a lumbar drain catheter to a manometer or a LiquoGuard machine. Neurological outcomes were determined at 3 months after ROSC, and a poor neurological outcome was defined as Cerebral Performance Category 3–5. Of the 91 patients in this study (males, n = 67, 74%), 51 (56%) had poor neurological outcomes. ICP was significantly higher in the poor outcome group at each time point except day 4. ICP elevation was highest between days 2 and 3 in the good outcome group, and between days 1 and 2 in the poor outcome group. However, there was no difference in total ICP elevation between the poor and good outcome groups (3.0 vs. 3.1; p = 0.476). All OHCA survivors who had received TTM had elevated ICP, regardless of neurologic prognosis. However, the changing pattern of ICP levels differed depending on the neurological outcome.

Brain injury after cardiac arrest: pathophysiology, treatment, and prognosis

Post-cardiac arrest brain injury (PCABI) is caused by initial ischaemia and subsequent reperfusion of the brain following resuscitation. In those who are admitted to intensive care unit after cardiac arrest, PCABI manifests as coma, and is the main cause of mortality and long-term disability. This review describes the mechanisms of PCABI, its treatment options, its outcomes, and the suggested strategies for outcome prediction.

Elevated jugular venous oxygen saturation after cardiac arrest

BACKGROUND

We performed a retrospective analysis of our earlier study on cerebral oxygenation monitoring by jugular venous oximetry (SjvO₂) in patients of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The study was focused on high SjvO₂ values (≥75%) and their association with neurological outcomes and serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) concentration.

METHOD

Forty OHCA patients were divided into (i) high (Group I), (ii) normal (Group II), and (iii) low (Group III) SjvO₂, with the mean SjvO₂ ≥ 75%, 55-74% and <55% respectively. The neurological outcome was evaluated using the Cerebral Performance Category scale (CPC) on the 90th day after cardiac arrest (post-CA). NSE concentration was determined after ICU admission and then at 24, 48, and 72 hours (h) post-CA.

RESULTS

High mean SjvO₂ occurred in 67% of patients, while no patients had low mean SjvO₂. The unfavourable outcome was significantly more common in Group I than Group II (74% versus 23%, p < 0.01). Group I patients had significantly higher median NSE than Group II at 48 and 72 h post-CA. A positive correlation was found between SjvO₂ and PaCO₂. Each 1 kPa increase in CO₂ led to an increase of SjvO₂ by 2.2 %+/-0.66 (p < 0.01) in group I and by 5.7%+/-1.36 (p < 0.0001) in group II. There was no correlation between SjvO₂ and MAP or SjvO₂ and PaO₂.

CONCLUSION

High mean SjvO₂ are often associated with unfavourable outcomes and high NSE at 48 and 72 hours post-CA. Not only low but also high SjvO₂ values may require therapeutic intervention.

Brain Protection after Anoxic Brain Injury: Is Lactate Supplementation Helpful?

While sudden loss of perfusion is responsible for ischemia, failure to supply the required amount of oxygen to the tissues is defined as hypoxia. Among several pathological conditions that can impair brain perfusion and oxygenation, cardiocirculatory arrest is characterized by a complete loss of perfusion to the brain, determining a whole brain ischemic-anoxic injury. Differently from other threatening situations of reduced cerebral perfusion, i.e., caused by increased intracranial pressure or circulatory shock, resuscitated patients after a cardiac arrest experience a sudden restoration of cerebral blood flow and are exposed to a massive reperfusion injury, which could significantly alter cellular metabolism. Current evidence suggests that cell populations in the central nervous system might use alternative metabolic pathways to glucose and that neurons may rely on a lactate-centered metabolism. Indeed, lactate does not require adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to be oxidated and it could therefore serve as an alternative substrate in condition of depleted energy reserves, i.e., reperfusion injury, even in presence of adequate tissue oxygen delivery. Lactate enriched solutions were studied in recent years in healthy subjects, acute heart failure, and severe traumatic brain injured patients, showing possible benefits that extend beyond the role as alternative energetic substrates. In this manuscript, we addressed some key aspects of the cellular metabolic derangements occurring after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and examined the possible rationale for the administration of lactate enriched solutions in resuscitated patients after cardiac arrest.

Targeted temperature management and early neuro-prognostication after cardiac arrest

Targeted temperature management (TTM) is a recommended neuroprotective intervention for coma after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, controversies exist concerning the proper implementation and overall efficacy of post-CA TTM, particularly related to optimal timing and depth of TTM and cooling methods. A review of the literature finds that optimizing and individualizing TTM remains an open question requiring further clinical investigation. This paper will summarize the preclinical and clinical trial data to-date, current recommendations, and future directions of this therapy, including new cooling methods under investigation. For now, early induction, maintenance for at least 24 hours, and slow rewarming utilizing endovascular methods may be preferred. Moreover, timely and accurate neuro-prognostication is valuable for guiding ethical and cost-effective management of post-CA coma. Current evidence for early neuro-prognostication after TTM suggests that a combination of initial prediction models, biomarkers, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological methods is the optimal strategy in predicting neurological functional outcomes.

Cerebrovascular pressure reactivity and intracranial pressure are associated with neurologic outcome after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury

AIM

We evaluated the association of physiological parameters measured by intracranial multimodality neuromonitoring with neurologic outcome in a consecutive series of patients with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI).

METHODS

We retrospectively identified all patients with HIBI who underwent combined invasive intracranial pressure (ICP) and brain tissue oxygen (P_btO₂) monitoring over a 3 year period. Cerebrovascular pressure reactivity index (PRx) was calculated continuously as a surrogate of cerebral autoregulation. Favorable outcome was defined as recovery of consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale motor score = 6). Differences in mean ICP, PRx and P_btO₂ for the entire monitoring period across outcomes were measured. Logistic regression and area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve were used to assess the association of each monitoring parameter with neurologic outcome.

RESULTS

We analyzed data from 36 patients. Most (89%) had an antecedent sudden cardiac arrest. Favorable outcome occurred in 8 (22%) patients. ICP and PRx were higher in patients with unfavorable outcome (ICP: 26 ± 4.1 mmHg vs 7.5 ± 2 mmHg, p = 0.0002; PRx: 0.51 ± 0.05 vs 0.11 ± 0.05, p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in P_btO₂ between groups (unfavorable: 20 ± 2.4 mmHg vs favorable: 25 ± 1.5 mmHg, p = 0.12). Both ICP (AUROC 0.84, 95%CI 0.72-0.98, p = 0.003) and PRx (AUROC 0.94, 95%CI 0.85-1, p = 0.0002) discriminated between favorable and unfavorable outcome, in contrast to P_btO₂, (AUROC 0.59, 95%CI 0.39-0.78, p = 0.52). ICP > 15 mmHg, PRx > 0.2, and P_btO₂ < 18 mmHg had sensitivity/specificity of 68%/100%, 89%/88%, and 40%/100% respectively for discriminating outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Cerebrovascular pressure reactivity and intracranial pressure appear to be associated with neurologic outcome in patients with HIBI.

Goal-Directed Care Using Invasive Neuromonitoring Versus Standard of Care After Cardiac Arrest: A Matched Cohort Study

PURPOSE

Following return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest, hypoxic ischemic brain injury is the primary cause of mortality and disability. Goal-directed care using invasive multimodal neuromonitoring has emerged as a possible resuscitation strategy. We evaluated whether goal-directed care was associated with improved neurologic outcome in hypoxic ischemic brain injury patients after cardiac arrest.

DESIGN

Retrospective, single-center, matched observational cohort study.

SETTING

Quaternary academic medical center.

PATIENTS

Adult patients admitted to the ICU following return of spontaneous circulation postcardiac arrest with clinical evidence of hypoxic ischemic brain injury defined as greater than or equal to 10 minutes of cardiac arrest with an unconfounded postresuscitation Glasgow Coma Scale of less than or equal to 8.

INTERVENTIONS

We compared patients who underwent goal-directed care using invasive neuromonitoring with those treated with standard of care (using both total and matched groups).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Goal-directed care patients were matched 1:1 to standard of care patients using propensity scores and exact matching. The primary outcome was a 6-month favorable neurologic outcome (Cerebral Performance Category of 1 or 2). We included 65 patients, of whom 21 received goal-directed care and 44 patients received standard of care. The median age was 50 (interquartile range, 35-61), 48 (74%) were male, and seven (11%) had shockable rhythms. Favorable neurologic outcome at 6 months was significantly greater in the goal-directed care group (n = 9/21 [43%]) compared with the matched (n = 2/21 [10%], p = 0.016) and total (n = 8/44 [18%], p = 0.034) standard of care groups. Goal-directed care group patients had higher mean arterial pressure (p < 0.001 vs total; p = 0.0060 vs matched) and lower temperature (p = 0.007 vs total; p = 0.041 vs matched).

CONCLUSIONS

In this preliminary study of patients with hypoxic ischemic brain injury postcardiac arrest, goal-directed care guided by invasive neuromonitoring was associated with a 6-month favorable neurologic outcome (Cerebral Performance Category 1 or 2) versus standard of care. Significant work is required to confirm this finding in a prospectively designed study.

The association between early impairment in cerebral autoregulation and outcome in a pediatric swine model of cardiac arrest

AIMS

Evaluate cerebral autoregulation (CAR) by intracranial pressure reactivity index (PRx) and cerebral blood flow reactivity index (CBFx) during the first four hours following return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in a porcine model of pediatric cardiac arrest. Determine whether impaired CAR is associated with neurologic outcome.

METHODS

Four-week-old swine underwent seven minutes of asphyxia followed by ventricular fibrillation induction and hemodynamic-directed CPR. Those achieving ROSC had arterial blood pressure, intracranial pressure (ICP), and microvascular cerebral blood flow (CBF) monitored for 4 h. Animals were assigned an 8 -h post-ROSC swine cerebral performance category score (1 = normal; 2-4=abnormal neurologic function). In this secondary analytic study, we calculated PRx and CBFx using a continuous, moving correlation coefficient between mean arterial pressure (MAP) and ICP, and between MAP and CBF, respectively. Burden of impaired CAR was the area under the PRx or CBFx curve using a threshold of 0.3 and normalized as percentage of monitoring duration.

RESULTS

Among 23 animals, median PRx was 0.14 [0.06,0.25] and CBFx was 0.36 [0.05,0.44]. Median burden of impaired CAR was 21% [18,27] with PRx and 30% [17,40] with CBFx. Neurologically abnormal animals (n = 10) did not differ from normal animals (n = 13) in post-ROSC MAP (63 vs. 61 mmHg, p = 0.74), ICP (15 vs. 14 mmHg, p = 0.78) or CBF (274 vs. 397 Perfusion Units, p = 0.12). CBFx burden was greater among abnormal than normal animals (45% vs. 24%, p = 0.001), but PRx burden was not (25% vs. 20%, p = 0.38).

CONCLUSION

CAR is impaired early after ROSC. A greater burden of CAR impairment measured by CBFx was associated with abnormal neurologic outcome.CHOP Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee protocol 19-001327.

Lack of agreement between optimal mean arterial pressure determination using pressure reactivity index versus cerebral oximetry index in hypoxic ischemic brain injury after cardiac arrest

INTRODUCTION

Invasive monitoring of cerebral autoregulation using the pressure reactivity index (PRx) allows for the determination of optimal mean arterial pressure (MAP_OPT) in hypoxic ischemic brain injury (HIBI) patients following cardiac arrest. However, the utility of non-invasive surrogates to determine MAP_OPT has not been addressed. We aimed to determine the agreement between PRx-derived MAP_OPT versus MAP_OPT determined by the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) based cerebral oximetry index (COx).

METHODS

Ten HIBI patients were enrolled. PRx-derived MAP_OPT, lower (LLA) and upper limits of autoregulation (ULA) were compared against COx-derived MAP_OPT, LLA and ULA. Multimodal neuromonitoring included mean arterial pressure, intracranial pressure, brain tissue oxygenation, jugular venous oxygen saturation, and NIRS-derived regional cerebral oxygen saturation.

RESULTS

Repeated measures Bland-Altman plots demonstrated limited agreement between MAP_OPT derived from COx and PRx (mean bias: 1.4 mmHg; upper limit of agreement: 25.9 mmHg; lower limit of agreement: -23.0 mmHg). Similarly, there was limited agreement between the absolute values of PRx and COx. Mean bias was 0.26 and the upper and lower limits of agreement were 1.05 and -0.53, respectively. Systematic bias was apparent, whereby at low PRx values COx overestimated PRx and at high PRx values, COx underestimated PRx. COx was limited in its ability to determine impaired autoregulation defined by PRx (receiver operator characteristic area under the curve was 0.488).

CONCLUSION

Collectively, we demonstrate that COx-based determination of MAP_OPT lacks agreement with MAP_OPT derived from PRx. Further research must be done to evaluate the physiologic and clinical efficacy of PRx derived MAP_OPT in HIBI.