Acute care bundles should be used for patients with intracerebral haemorrhage: An expert consensus statement

PURPOSE

Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is the most devastating form of stroke and a major cause of disability. Clinical trials of individual therapies have failed to definitively establish a specific beneficial treatment. However, clinical trials of introducing care bundles, with multiple therapies provided in parallel, appear to clearly reduce morbidity and mortality. Currently, not enough patients receive these interventions in the acute phase.

METHODS

We convened an expert group to discuss best practices in ICH and to develop recommendations for bundled care that can be delivered in all settings that treat acute ICH, with a focus on European healthcare systems.

FINDINGS

In this consensus paper, we argue for widespread implementation of formalised care bundles in ICH, including specific metrics for time to treatment and criteria for the consideration of neurosurgical therapy.

DISCUSSION

There is an extraordinary opportunity to improve clinical care and clinical outcomes in this devastating disease. Substantial evidence already exists for a range of therapies that can and should be implemented now.

Doctors and nurses subjective predictions of 6-month outcome compared to actual 6-month outcome for adult patients with spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) in neurocritical care: An observational study

Background

Acute spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage is a devastating form of stroke. Prognostication after ICH may be influenced by clinicians' subjective opinions.

Purpose

To evaluate subjective predictions of 6-month outcome by clinicians' for ICH patients in a neurocritical care using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and compare these to actual 6-month outcome.

Method

We included clinicians' predictions of 6-month outcome in the first 48 h for 52 adults with ICH and compared to actual 6-month outcome using descriptive statistics and multilevel binomial logistic regression.

Results

35/52 patients (66%) had a poor 6-month outcome (mRS 4-6); 19/52 (36%) had died. 324 predictions were included. For good (mRS 0-3) versus poor (mRS 4-6), outcome, accuracy of predictions was 68% and exact agreement 29%. mRS 6 and mRS 4 received the most correct predictions. Comparing job roles, predictions of death were underestimated, by doctors (12%) and nurses (13%) compared with actual mortality (36%). Predictions of vital status showed no significant difference between doctors and nurses: OR = 1.24 {CI; 0.50-3.05}; (p = 0.64) or good versus poor outcome: OR = 1.65 {CI; 0.98-2.79}; (p = 0.06). When predicted and actual 6-month outcome were compared, job role did not significantly relate to correct predictions of good versus poor outcome: OR = 1.13 {CI;0.67-1.90}; (p = 0.65) or for vital status: OR = 1.11 {CI; 0.47-2.61}; p = 0.81).

Conclusions

Early prognostication is challenging. Doctors and nurses were most likely to correctly predict poor outcome but tended to err on the side of optimism for mortality, suggesting an absence of clinical nihilism in relation to ICH.

Predicting 30-day mortality in intensive care unit patients with ischaemic stroke or intracerebral haemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Stroke patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) follow a particular survival pattern with a high short-term mortality, but if they survive the first 30 days, a relatively favourable subsequent survival is observed.

OBJECTIVES

The development and validation of two prognostic models predicting 30-day mortality for ICU patients with ischaemic stroke and for ICU patients with intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), analysed separately, based on parameters readily available within 24 h after ICU admission, and with comparison with the existing Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV (APACHE-IV) model.

DESIGN

Observational cohort study.

SETTING

All 85 ICUs participating in the Dutch National Intensive Care Evaluation database.

PATIENTS

All adult patients with ischaemic stroke or ICH admitted to these ICUs between 2010 and 2019.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Models were developed using logistic regressions and compared with the existing APACHE-IV model. Predictive performance was assessed using ROC curves, calibration plots and Brier scores.

RESULTS

We enrolled 14 303 patients with stroke admitted to ICU: 8422 with ischaemic stroke and 5881 with ICH. Thirty-day mortality was 27% in patients with ischaemic stroke and 41% in patients with ICH. Important factors predicting 30-day mortality in both ischaemic stroke and ICH were age, lowest Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score in the first 24 h, acute physiological disturbance (measured using the Acute Physiology Score) and the application of mechanical ventilation. Both prognostic models showed high discrimination with an AUC 0.85 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.84 to 0.87] for patients with ischaemic stroke and 0.85 (0.83 to 0.86) in ICH. Calibration plots and Brier scores indicated an overall good fit and good predictive performance. The APACHE-IV model predicting 30-day mortality showed similar performance with an AUC of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.85 to 0.87) in ischaemic stroke and 0.87 (0.86 to 0.89) in ICH.

CONCLUSION

We developed and validated two prognostic models for patients with ischaemic stroke and ICH separately with a high discrimination and good calibration to predict 30-day mortality within 24 h after ICU admission.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Trial registration: Dutch Trial Registry ( https://www.trialregister.nl/ ); identifier: NTR7438.

Validation of the Swedish Quality Register for Ear Surgery - SwedEar

BACKGROUND

The Swedish Quality Register for Ear Surgery (SwedEar) is a national register monitoring surgical procedures and outcomes of ear surgery to facilitate quality improvement. The value of the register is dependent on the quality of its data. SwedEar has never been validated regarding data quality or missing entries. Therefor, the purpose of this study was to assess coverage, completeness and response rate in the register and validate the physicians' reported data accuracy.

METHODS

In this validation study, the completeness, response rate and missing registrations were analysed. Data in SwedEar were compared with the yearly collected statistics of otosurgical procedures in The Swedish Otosurgical Society and the comparison of rates between groups was calculated with Fisher's exact test. Validation of registered data accuracy was performed on every 20th registered case during a five-year period. Data were reabstracted from medical records and compared with the original registration. Interrater agreement, reliability measures, Cohen's kappa, Gwet's AC1 and positive predictive value were calculated.

RESULTS

SwedEar has a coverage of 100%. The completeness of registered cases was 84% and the response rate was 74%. The validation of data accuracy assessed 13 530 variables, including audiograms. Less than 3% of incorrect or missing variables were identified. For most of the pre- and postoperative variables the Kappa and Gwet´s AC1 results show an almost perfect agreement (> 0.80). For audiogram data the ICC shows an excellent reliability (> 0.9) for all but one value.

CONCLUSION

This validation shows that SwedEar has excellent coverage, high completeness, and that the data in the register have almost perfect reliability. The data are suitable for both clinical and research purposes. Further efforts to improve completeness are warranted.

The third Intensive Care Bundle with Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Haemorrhage Trial (INTERACT3): an international, stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Early control of elevated blood pressure is the most promising treatment for acute intracerebral haemorrhage. We aimed to establish whether implementing a goal-directed care bundle incorporating protocols for early intensive blood pressure lowering and management algorithms for hyperglycaemia, pyrexia, and abnormal anticoagulation, implemented in a hospital setting, could improve outcomes for patients with acute spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage.

METHODS

We performed a pragmatic, international, multicentre, blinded endpoint, stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial at hospitals in nine low-income and middle-income countries (Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Sri Lanka, and Viet Nam) and one high-income country (Chile). Hospitals were eligible if they had no or inconsistent relevant, disease-specific protocols, and were willing to implement the care bundle to consecutive patients (aged ≥18 years) with imaging-confirmed spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage presenting within 6 h of the onset of symptoms, had a local champion, and could provide the required study data. Hospitals were centrally randomly allocated using permuted blocks to three sequences of implementation, stratified by country and the projected number of patients to be recruited over the 12 months of the study period. These sequences had four periods that dictated the order in which the hospitals were to switch from the control usual care procedure to the intervention implementation of the care bundle procedure to different clusters of patients in a stepped manner. To avoid contamination, details of the intervention, sequence, and allocation periods were concealed from sites until they had completed the usual care control periods. The care bundle protocol included the early intensive lowering of systolic blood pressure (target <140 mm Hg), strict glucose control (target 6·1-7·8 mmol/L in those without diabetes and 7·8-10·0 mmol/L in those with diabetes), antipyrexia treatment (target body temperature ≤37·5°C), and rapid reversal of warfarin-related anticoagulation (target international normalised ratio <1·5) within 1 h of treatment, in patients where these variables were abnormal. Analyses were performed according to a modified intention-to-treat population with available outcome data (ie, excluding sites that withdrew during the study). The primary outcome was functional recovery, measured with the modified Rankin scale (mRS; range 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]) at 6 months by masked research staff, analysed using proportional ordinal logistic regression to assess the distribution in scores on the mRS, with adjustments for cluster (hospital site), group assignment of cluster per period, and time (6-month periods from Dec 12, 2017). This trial is registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03209258) and the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IOC-17011787) and is completed.

FINDINGS

Between May 27, 2017, and July 8, 2021, 206 hospitals were assessed for eligibility, of which 144 hospitals in ten countries agreed to join and were randomly assigned in the trial, but 22 hospitals withdrew before starting to enrol patients and another hospital was withdrawn and their data on enrolled patients was deleted because regulatory approval was not obtained. Between Dec 12, 2017, and Dec 31, 2021, 10 857 patients were screened but 3821 were excluded. Overall, the modified intention-to-treat population included 7036 patients enrolled at 121 hospitals, with 3221 assigned to the care bundle group and 3815 to the usual care group, with primary outcome data available in 2892 patients in the care bundle group and 3363 patients in the usual care group. The likelihood of a poor functional outcome was lower in the care bundle group (common odds ratio 0·86; 95% CI 0·76-0·97; p=0·015). The favourable shift in mRS scores in the care bundle group was generally consistent across a range of sensitivity analyses that included additional adjustments for country and patient variables (0·84; 0·73-0·97; p=0·017), and with different approaches to the use of multiple imputations for missing data. Patients in the care bundle group had fewer serious adverse events than those in the usual care group (16·0% vs 20·1%; p=0·0098).

INTERPRETATION

Implementation of a care bundle protocol for intensive blood pressure lowering and other management algorithms for physiological control within several hours of the onset of symptoms resulted in improved functional outcome for patients with acute intracerebral haemorrhage. Hospitals should incorporate this approach into clinical practice as part of active management for this serious condition.

FUNDING

Joint Global Health Trials scheme from the Department of Health and Social Care, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and the Medical Research Council and Wellcome Trust; West China Hospital; the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia; Sichuan Credit Pharmaceutic and Takeda China.

Hemorrhagic Stroke in Pregnancy

Hemorrhagic stroke carries a high risk of disability and mortality. The obstetrical population is at increased risk. Prompt diagnosis and maternal stabilization with a multidisciplinary approach are the mainstays in management. Computed tomography head is the diagnostic imaging of choice and is considered safe in pregnancy. Fetal status optimization before neurosurgery and delivery should be considered if the fetus is viable or if worsening maternal condition. Obstetric indications guide the mode of delivery. Cesarean delivery may be indicated to reduce increasing intracranial pressure. Neuraxial anesthesia should be considered to minimize catecholamine surges, reduce sedation, and control blood pressures.

Therapeutic strategies for intracerebral hemorrhage

Stroke is the second highest cause of death globally, with an increasing incidence in developing countries. Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) accounts for 10-15% of all strokes. ICH is associated with poor neurological outcomes and high mortality due to the combination of primary and secondary injury. Fortunately, experimental therapies are available that may improve functional outcomes in patients with ICH. These therapies targeting secondary brain injury have attracted substantial attention in their translational potential. Here, we summarize recent advances in therapeutic strategies and directions for ICH and discuss the barriers and issues that need to be overcome to improve ICH prognosis.

Causes of Death in Endovascularly Treated Patients with Acute Stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Because stroke therapy has changed with the introduction of endovascular stroke treatment as a standard approach, studies on intrahospital causes of death from stroke are no longer up-to-date. The purpose of this observational study was to present the causes of death during hospitalization of patients with ischemic stroke who received endovascular stroke treatment, with the focus on a differentiation of curative and secondary palliative treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied a total cohort of 1342 patients who received endovascular stroke treatment in a tertiary stroke center (Aachen, Germany) between 2010 and 2020 and analyzed the causes of death in all 326 consecutive deceased patients. We distinguished between curative treatment and a secondary palliative approach and analyzed causes of death and treatment numbers across the years.

RESULTS

In the entire cohort of 326 deceased patients, the most common cause of death was of a cerebrovascular nature (51.5%), followed by pneumonia and sepsis (25.8%) and cardiovascular causes (8.3%). Neurovascular causes constituted 75.8% of reasons for palliation. In the group with a secondary palliative approach, causes of death were neurovascular in 54.0% of patients and pneumonia and sepsis in 26.0% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Cerebrovascular causes in patients with stroke play a major role in the intrahospital causes of death and reasons for palliation. Considering the large proportion of secondarily palliative-treated patients, reasons for palliation should be considered instead of causes of death to avoid concealment by, for example, life-terminating measures.

Construction of a nomogram to reveal the prognostic benefit of spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage among Chinese adults: a population-based study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We aimed to build a nomogram, based on patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH), to predict the probability of mortality and morbidity at 7 days and 90 days, respectively.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study, with patients at less than 6 h from ictus admitted to the department of neurosurgery in a single institute, from January 2011 to December 2018. A total of 1036 patients with SICH were included, 486 patients (46.9%) were 47-66 years old at diagnosis, and 711 patients (68.6%) were male. The least absolute shrinkage and section operator method was performed to identify the key adverse factors predicting the outcomes in patients with SICH, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was built on these variables, and then the results were visualized by a nomogram. The discrimination of the prognostic models was measured and compared by means of Harrell's concordance index (C-index), calibration curve, area under the curve (AUC), and decision curve analysis (DCA).

RESULTS

Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that factors affecting 7-day mortality, including the following: age, therapy, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) admission, location, ventricle involved, hematoma volume, white blood cell (WBC), uric acid (UA), and L-lactic dehydrogenase (LDH); and factors affecting 90-day mortality, including temperature, therapy, GCS admission, ventricle involved, WBC, international normalized ratio, UA, LDH, and systolic blood pressure. The C-index for the 7-day mortality and 90-day mortality prediction nomogram was 0.9239 (95% CI = 0.9061-0.9416) and 0.9241 (95% CI = 0.9064-0.9418), respectively. The AUC of 7-day mortality was 92.4, as is true of 90-day mortality. The calibration curve and DCA indicated that nomograms in our study had a good prediction ability. For 90-day morbidity, age, marital status, and GCS at 7-day remained statistically significant in multivariate analysis. The C-index for the prediction nomogram was 0.6898 (95% CI = 0.6511-0.7285), and the calibration curve, AUC as well as DCA curve indicated that the nomogram for the prediction of good outcome demonstrated good agreement in this cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Nomograms in this study revealed many novel prognostic demographic and laboratory factors, and the individualized quantitative risk estimation by this model would be more practical for treatment management and patient counseling.

Clinicians' Perceptions of the Appropriateness of Neurocritical Care for Patients with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH): A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Clinicians working in intensive care frequently report perceptions of inappropriate care (PIC) situations. Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. Prognosticating after ICH is complex and may be influenced by clinicians' subjective impressions and biases, which may, in turn, influence decision making regarding the level of care provided. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore perceptions of neurocritical care in relation to the expected functional outcome for ICH patients.

DESIGN

Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with neurocritical care doctors and nurses.

SETTING

Neurocritical care (NCC) department in a UK neuroscience tertiary referral center.

SUBJECTS

Eleven neurocritical care nurses, five consultant neurointensivists, two stroke physicians, three neurosurgeons.

INTERVENTION

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We conducted 21 semi-structured interviews and identified five key themes: (1) prognostic uncertainty (2) subjectivity of good versus poor outcome (3) perceived inappropriate care (PIC) situations (including for frail elderly patients) (4) challenging nature of decision-making (5) clinician distress.

CONCLUSIONS

Caring for severely affected ICH patients in need of neurocritical care is challenging, particularly with frail elderly patients. Awareness of the challenges could facilitate interventions to improve decision-making for this group of stroke patients and their families, as well as measures to reduce the distress on clinicians who care for this patient group. Our findings highlight the need for effective interdisciplinary shared decision making involving the family, taking into account patients' previously expressed values and preferences and incorporating these into bespoke care planning.

Life Support Limitations in Mechanically Ventilated Stroke Patients

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Objectives:

The determinants of decisions to limit life support (withholding or withdrawal) in ventilated stroke patients have been evaluated mainly for patients with intracranial hemorrhages. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of life support limitations in ventilated ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients compared with a nonbrain-injured population and to determine factors associated with such decisions.

Design:

Multicenter prospective French observational study.

Setting:

Fourteen ICUs of the French OutcomeRea network.

PATIENTS:

From 2005 to 2016, we included stroke patients and nonbrain-injured patients requiring invasive ventilation within 24 hours of ICU admission.

INTERVENTION:

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

We identified 373 stroke patients (ischemic, n = 167 [45%]; hemorrhagic, n = 206 [55%]) and 5,683 nonbrain-injured patients. Decisions to limit life support were taken in 41% of ischemic stroke cases (vs nonbrain-injured patients, subdistribution hazard ratio, 3.59 [95% CI, 2.78–4.65]) and in 33% of hemorrhagic stroke cases (vs nonbrain-injured patients, subdistribution hazard ratio, 3.9 [95% CI, 2.97–5.11]). Time from ICU admission to the first limitation was longer in ischemic than in hemorrhagic stroke (5 [3–9] vs 2 d [1–6] d; p < 0.01). Limitation of life support preceded ICU death in 70% of ischemic strokes and 45% of hemorrhagic strokes (p < 0.01). Life support limitations in ischemic stroke were increased by a vertebrobasilar location (vs anterior circulation, subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.61 [95% CI, 1.01–2.59]) and a prestroke modified Rankin score greater than 2 (2.38 [1.27–4.55]). In hemorrhagic stroke, an age greater than 70 years (2.29 [1.43–3.69]) and a Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 8 (2.15 [1.08–4.3]) were associated with an increased risk of limitation, whereas a higher nonneurologic admission Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score was associated with a reduced risk (per point, 0.89 [0.82–0.97]).

Conclusions:

In ventilated stroke patients, decisions to limit life support are more than three times more frequent than in nonbrain-injured patients, with different timing and associated risk factors between ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes.

Are do-not-resuscitate orders associated with limitations of care beyond their intended purpose in patients with acute intracerebral haemorrhage? Analysis of the ABC-ICH study

Implementation of an acute bundle of care for intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) was associated with a marked improvement in survival at our centre, mediated by a reduction in early (<24 hours) do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders. The aim of this study was to identify possible mechanisms for this mediation. We retrospectively extracted additional data on resuscitation attempts and supportive care. This observational study utilised existing data collected for the Acute Bundle of Care for ICH (ABC-ICH) quality improvement project between from 2013 to 2017. The primary outcome was whether a patient received an early (<24 hours) DNR order. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate the adjusted association between clinically meaningful factors, including an indicator for a change in treatment on the introduction of the ABC care bundle. Early DNR orders were associated with a reduced odds of escalation to critical care (OR: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.17, p<0.001). Commencement of palliative care within 72 hours was far more likely (OR: 8.76, 95% CI: 4.74 to 16.61, p<0.001) if an early DNR was in place. The cardiac arrest team were not called for an ICH patient before implementation but were called on five occasions overall during and after implementation. Further qualitative evaluation revealed that on only one occasion was there a cardiac or respiratory arrest with cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed. We found no significant increase in resuscitation attempts after bundle implementation but early DNR orders were associated with less admission to critical care and more early palliation. Early DNR orders are associated with less aggressive supportive care and should be judiciously used in acute ICH.

Acute intracerebral haemorrhage: diagnosis and management

Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) accounts for half of the disability-adjusted life years lost due to stroke worldwide. Care pathways for acute stroke result in the rapid identification of ICH, but its acute management can prove challenging because no individual treatment has been shown definitively to improve its outcome. Nonetheless, acute stroke unit care improves outcome after ICH, patients benefit from interventions to prevent complications, acute blood pressure lowering appears safe and might have a modest benefit, and implementing a bundle of high-quality acute care is associated with a greater chance of survival. In this article, we address the important questions that neurologists face in the diagnosis and acute management of ICH, and focus on the supporting evidence and practical delivery for the main acute interventions.

Association between critical care admission and 6-month functional outcome after spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage

BACKGROUND

There is uncertainty about the clinical benefit of admission to critical care after spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH).

PURPOSE

We investigated factors associated with critical care admission after spontaneous ICH and evaluated associations between critical care and 6-month functional outcome.

METHODS

We included 825 patients with acute spontaneous non-traumatic ICH, recruited to a prospective multicenter observational study. We evaluated the characteristics associated with critical care admission and poor 6-month functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale, mRS > 3) using univariable (chi-square test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test, as appropriate) and multivariable analysis.

RESULTS

286 patients (38.2%) had poor 6-month functional outcome. Seventy-seven (9.3%) patients were admitted to critical care. Patients admitted to critical care were younger (p < 0.001), had lower GCS score (p < 0.001), larger ICH volume (p < 0.001), more often had intraventricular extension (p = 0.008) and underwent neurosurgery (p < 0.001). Critical care admission was associated with poor functional outcome at 6 months (39/77 [50.7%] vs 286/748 [38.2%]; p = 0.034); adjusted OR 2.43 [95%CI 1.36-4.35], p = 0.003), but not with death (OR 1.29 [95%CI 0.71-2.35; p = 0.4). In ordinal logistic regression, patients admitted to critical care showed an OR 1.47 (95% CI 0.98-2.20; p = 0.07) for a shift in the 6-month modified Rankin Scale.

CONCLUSIONS

Admission to critical care is associated with poor 6-month functional outcome after spontaneous ICH but not with death. Patients admitted to critical care were a priori more severely affected. Although adjusted for main known predictors of poor outcome, our findings could still be confounded by unmeasured factors. Establishing the true effectiveness of critical care after ICH requires a randomised trial with clinical outcomes and quality of life assessments.

Can clinical audits be enhanced by pathway simulation and machine learning? An example from the acute stroke pathway

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the application of clinical pathway simulation in machine learning, using clinical audit data, in order to identify key drivers for improving use and speed of thrombolysis at individual hospitals.

DESIGN

Computer simulation modelling and machine learning.

SETTING

Seven acute stroke units.

PARTICIPANTS

Anonymised clinical audit data for 7864 patients.

RESULTS

Three factors were pivotal in governing thrombolysis use: (1) the proportion of patients with a known stroke onset time (range 44%-73%), (2) pathway speed (for patients arriving within 4 hours of onset: per-hospital median arrival-to-scan ranged from 11 to 56 min; median scan-to-thrombolysis ranged from 21 to 44 min) and (3) predisposition to use thrombolysis (thrombolysis use ranged from 31% to 52% for patients with stroke scanned with 30 min left to administer thrombolysis). A pathway simulation model could predict the potential benefit of improving individual stages of the clinical pathway speed, whereas a machine learning model could predict the benefit of 'exporting' clinical decision making from one hospital to another, while allowing for differences in patient population between hospitals. By applying pathway simulation and machine learning together, we found a realistic ceiling of 15%-25% use of thrombolysis across different hospitals and, in the seven hospitals studied, a realistic opportunity to double the number of patients with no significant disability that may be attributed to thrombolysis.

CONCLUSIONS

National clinical audit may be enhanced by a combination of pathway simulation and machine learning, which best allows for an understanding of key levers for improvement in hyperacute stroke pathways, allowing for differences between local patient populations. These models, based on standard clinical audit data, may be applied at scale while providing results at individual hospital level. The models facilitate understanding of variation and levers for improvement in stroke pathways, and help set realistic targets tailored to local populations.

An Intracerebral Hemorrhage Care Bundle Is Associated with Lower Case Fatality

Objective

Anticoagulation reversal, intensive blood pressure lowering, neurosurgery, and access to critical care might all be beneficial in acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We combined and implemented these as the “ABC” hyperacute care bundle and sought to determine whether the implementation was associated with lower case fatality.

Methods

The ABC bundle was implemented from June 1, 2015 to May 31, 2016. Key process targets were set, and a registry captured consecutive patients. We compared 30‐day case fatality before, during, and after bundle implementation with multivariate logistic regression and used mediation analysis to determine which care process measures mediated any association. Difference‐in‐difference analysis compared 30‐day case fatality with 32,295 patients with ICH from 214 other hospitals in England and Wales using Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme data.

Results

A total of 973 ICH patients were admitted in the study period. Compared to before implementation, the adjusted odds of death by 30 days were lower in the implementation period (odds ratio [OR] = 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.38–0.97, p = 0.03), and this was sustained after implementation (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.24–0.61, p < 0.0001). Implementation of the bundle was associated with a 10.8 percentage point (95% CI = −17.9 to −3.7, p = 0.003) reduction in 30‐day case fatality in difference‐in‐difference analysis. The total effect of the care bundle was mediated by a reduction in do‐not‐resuscitate orders within 24 hours (52.8%) and increased admission to critical care (11.1%).

Interpretation

Implementation of the ABC care bundle was significantly associated with lower 30‐day case fatality after ICH. ANN NEUROL 2019;86:495–503

Intracerebral hemorrhage: an update on diagnosis and treatment

Introduction: Spontaneous non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is most often caused by small vessel diseases: deep perforator arteriopathy (hypertensive arteriopathy) or cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Although ICH accounts for only 10-15% of all strokes it causes a high proportion of stroke mortality and morbidity, with few proven effective acute or preventive treatments. Areas covered: We conducted a literature search on etiology, diagnosis, treatment, management and current clinical trials in ICH. In this review, We describe the causes, diagnosis (including new brain imaging biomarkers), classification, pathophysiological understanding, treatment (medical and surgical), and secondary prevention of ICH. Expert opinion: In recent years, significant advances have been made in deciphering causes, understanding pathophysiology, and improving acute treatment and prevention of ICH. However, the clinical outcome remains poor and many challenges remain. Acute interventions delivered rapidly (including medical therapies - targeting hematoma expansion, hemoglobin toxicity, inflammation, edema, anticoagulant reversal - and minimally invasive surgery) are likely to improve acute outcomes. Improved classification of the underlying arteriopathies (from neuroimaging and genetic studies) and prognosis should allow tailored prevention strategies (including sustained blood pressure control and optimized antithrombotic therapy) to further improve longer-term outcome in this devastating disease.

Intracerebral haemorrhage: current approaches to acute management

Acute spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage is a life-threatening illness of global importance, with a poor prognosis and few proven treatments. As a heterogeneous disease, certain clinical and imaging features help identify the cause, prognosis, and how to manage the disease. Survival and recovery from intracerebral haemorrhage are related to the site, mass effect, and intracranial pressure from the underlying haematoma, and by subsequent cerebral oedema from perihaematomal neurotoxicity or inflammation and complications from prolonged neurological dysfunction. A moderate level of evidence supports there being beneficial effects of active management goals with avoidance of early palliative care orders, well-coordinated specialist stroke unit care, targeted neurointensive and surgical interventions, early control of elevated blood pressure, and rapid reversal of abnormal coagulation.

Utilization of Hospice Care in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background:

A significant percentage of terminally ill patients are discharged to hospice care following a devastating stroke.

Objective:

We sought to determine the factors associated with hospital discharge to hospice care in a large cohort of patients with stroke.

Methods:

Using the institutional Get With The Guidelines-Stroke database, all consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) who were alive at discharge, from January 2009 until July 2015, were analyzed. Univariate and multivariable statistical analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with discharge to hospice care.

Results:

Of 2446 patients with AIS, 3.4% died and were excluded of remaining 2363 patients, and 4.2% were discharged to hospice care. Univariate analysis identified patients who were discharged to hospice care to be older, caucasian, Medicare or private insurance, have atrial fibrillation, heart failure and less often had diabetes mellitus or smoked. Altered mentation at presentation and urinary tract infection were more common in patients discharged to hospice. On multivariable analysis, patients transferred to hospice care were older (odds ratio [OR]: 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.07; P < .001), had a high National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS; OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.10-1.20; P < .001), and altered mental status at presentation (OR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.29-4.55; P < .001).

Conclusion:

In our study, elderly patients with high NIHSS and altered mental status were identified as factors associated with transition to hospice care following AIS. Prospective studies on the optimal timing of initiation of these consults are needed.

20 years of researching stroke through audit

Over the last 20 years, England, Wales and Northern Ireland have developed an audit programme that now encompasses nearly all patients admitted to hospital with a stroke. This article records and reviews some questions that have been answered using data from the audit: Is the rate of institutional care after rehabilitation a possible measure of outcome? Does stroke unit care in routine practice give the benefits shown in randomized controlled trials? How is the quality of stroke care affected by a patient's age and the time of their stroke? Do patient-reported measures match those obtained from the professionals recording of processes of care? How do the processes of care after stroke affect mortality? Is thrombolysis safe to use in patients over the age of 80? Do staffing levels matter? Does assessing the safety of swallowing really make a difference? Do clinicians make rational decisions about end-of-life care in patients with haemorrhage? Does socioeconomic status influence the risk of stroke, outcome after stroke and the quality of stroke care? How much does stroke really cost in England, Wales and Northern Ireland? The article concludes that this national audit has improved stroke care across the United Kingdom, has given answers to important questions that could not be answered in any other way and has shown that benefits found in research do generalize into real clinical benefits in day-to-day practice.

Hyperacute management of intracerebral haemorrhage

Intracerebral haemorrhage causes 1 in 10 strokes, but has the worst overall outcomes of all stroke subtypes. Baseline haematoma volume is a key prognostic factor and early complications - such as haematoma expansion, obstructive hydrocephalus and perihaematomal oedema - may worsen outcome. There is evidence that withdrawal of care may occur more often in intracerebral haemorrhage than ischaemic stroke independent of premorbid health and stroke severity. However, recent evidence shows that reversal of anticoagulants, intensive blood pressure lowering and surgery in carefully selected cases may improve outcomes. Ongoing research may also provide evidence for new medical treatments and minimally invasive approaches to surgery. Effective implementation of evidence-based care to intracerebral haemorrhage patients can be difficult but quality improvement methodology can help to achieve maximal benefit.

Management of Acute Stroke in the Older Person

The majority of people who suffer a stroke are older adults. The last two decades have brought major progress in the diagnosis and management of stroke, which has led to significant reductions in mortality, long-term disability, and the need for institutional care. However, acute, interventional and preventative treatments have mostly been trialled in younger age groups. In this article we will provide an overview of the evidence for acute stroke treatments in relation to age, discuss special considerations in the older person, and contemplate patient choice, quality of life, and end-of-life-decisions.

Early transition to comfort measures only in acute stroke patients: Analysis from the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke registry

BACKGROUND

Death after acute stroke often occurs after forgoing life-sustaining interventions. We sought to determine the patient and hospital characteristics associated with an early decision to transition to comfort measures only (CMO) after ischemic stroke (IS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke registry.

METHODS

We identified patients with IS, ICH, or SAH between November 2009 and September 2013 who met study criteria. Early CMO was defined as the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments and interventions by hospital day 0 or 1. Using multivariable logistic regression, we identified patient and hospital factors associated with an early (by hospital day 0 or 1) CMO order.

RESULTS

Among 963,525 patients from 1,675 hospitals, 54,794 (5.6%) had an early CMO order (IS: 3.0%; ICH: 19.4%; SAH: 13.1%). Early CMO use varied widely by hospital (range 0.6%-37.6% overall) and declined over time (from 6.1% in 2009 to 5.4% in 2013; p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, older age, female sex, white race, Medicaid and self-pay/no insurance, arrival by ambulance, arrival off-hours, baseline nonambulatory status, and stroke type were independently associated with early CMO use (vs no early CMO). The correlation between hospital-level risk-adjusted mortality and the use of early CMO was stronger for SAH (r = 0.52) and ICH (r = 0.50) than AIS (r = 0.15) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Early CMO was utilized in about 5% of stroke patients, being more common in ICH and SAH than IS. Early CMO use varies widely between hospitals and is influenced by patient and hospital characteristics.

Management of acute intracerebral haemorrhage - an update

Managing acute intracerebral haemorrhage is a challenging task for physicians. Evidence shows that outcome can be improved with admission to an acute stroke unit and active care, including urgent reversal of anticoagulant effects and, potentially, intensive blood pressure reduction. Nevertheless, many management issues remain controversial, including the use of haemostatic therapy, selection of patients for neurosurgery and neurocritical care, the extent of investigations for underlying causes and the benefit versus risk of restarting antithrombotic therapy after an episode of intracerebral haemorrhage.

Medical management of intracerebral haemorrhage

The global burden of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is enormous. Developing evidence-based management strategies for ICH has been hampered by its diverse aetiology, high case fatality and variable cooperative organisation of medical and surgical care. Progress is being made through the conduct of collaborative multicentre studies with the large sample sizes necessary to evaluate therapies with realistically modest treatment effects. This narrative review describes the major consequences of ICH and provides evidence-based recommendations to support decision-making in medical management.