scholarly journals Cerebral venous thrombosis requiring invasive treatment for elevated intracranial pressure in women with combined hormonal contraceptive intake: risk factors, anatomical distribution, and clinical presentation

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. E12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Roethlisberger ◽  
Lara Gut ◽  
Daniel Walter Zumofen ◽  
Urs Fisch ◽  
Oliver Boss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intracranial Pressure ◽  
Venous Thrombosis ◽  
Scale Score ◽  
Cerebral Venous Thrombosis ◽  
Unfavorable Outcome ◽  
Hormonal Contraceptives ◽  
Induced Hypothermia ◽  
Similar Distribution ◽  
Elevated Intracranial Pressure ◽  
Barbiturate Coma

OBJECTIVEWomen taking combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) are generally considered to be at low risk for cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). When it does occur, however, intensive care and neurosurgical management may, in rare cases, be needed for the control of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). The use of nonsurgical strategies such as barbiturate coma and induced hypothermia has never been reported in this context. The objective of this study is to determine predictive factors for invasive or surgical ICP treatment and the potential complications of nonsurgical strategies in this population.METHODSThe authors conducted a 2-center, retrospective chart review of 168 cases of CVT in women between 2000 and 2012. Eligible patients were classified as having had a mild or a severe clinical course, the latter category including all patients who underwent invasive or surgical ICP treatment and all who had an unfavorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≥ 3 or Glasgow Outcome Scale score ≤ 3). The Mann-Whitney U-test was used for continuous parameters and Fisher’s exact test for categorical parameters, and odds ratios were calculated with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05.RESULTSOf the 168 patients, 57 (age range 16–49 years) were determined to be eligible for the study. Six patients (10.5%) required invasive or surgical ICP treatment. Three patients (5.3%) developed refractory ICP > 30 mm Hg despite early surgical decompression; 2 of them (3.5%) were treated with barbiturate coma and induced hypothermia, with documented infectious, thromboembolic, and hemorrhagic complications. Coma on admission, thrombosis of the deep venous system with consecutive hydrocephalus, intraventricular hemorrhage, and hemorrhagic venous infarction were associated with a higher frequency of surgical intervention. Coma, quadriparesis on admission, and hydrocephalus were more commonly seen among women with unfavorable outcomes. Thrombosis of the transverse sinus was less common in patients with an unfavorable outcome, with similar distribution in patients needing invasive or surgical ICP treatment.CONCLUSIONSThe need for invasive or surgical ICP treatment in women taking CHCs who have CVT is partly predictable on the basis of the clinical and radiological findings on admission. The use of nonsurgical treatments for refractory ICP, such as barbiturate coma and induced hypothermia, is associated with systemic infectious and hematological complications and may worsen morbidity in this patient population. The significance of these factors should be studied in larger multicenter cohorts.

scholarly journals Intracranial pressure–based barbiturate coma treatment in children with refractory intracranial hypertension due to traumatic brain injury

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 375-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fartein Velle ◽  
Anders Lewén ◽  
Timothy Howells ◽  
Per Enblad ◽  
Pelle Nilsson
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Intracranial Pressure ◽  
Intracranial Hypertension ◽  
Scale Score ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Physiological Data ◽  
Barbiturate Coma ◽  
Severe Condition ◽  
Long Term Outcome

OBJECTIVERefractory intracranial pressure (ICP) hypertension following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a severe condition that requires potentially harmful treatment strategies such as barbiturate coma. However, the use of barbiturates may be restricted due to concerns about inducing multiorgan system complications related to the therapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome and occurrence of treatment-related complications to barbiturate coma treatment in children with refractory intracranial hypertension (RICH) due to TBI in a modern multimodality neurointensive care unit (NICU).METHODSThe authors conducted a retrospective cohort study of 21 children ≤ 16 years old who were treated in their NICU between 2005 and 2015 with barbiturate coma for RICH following TBI. Demographic and clinical data were acquired from patient records and physiological data from digital monitoring system files.RESULTSThe median age of these 21 children was 14 years (range 2–16 years) and at admission the median Glasgow Coma Scale score was 7 (range 4–8). Barbiturate coma treatment was added due to RICH at a median of 46 hours from trauma and had a median duration of 107 hours. The onset of barbiturate coma resulted in lower ICP values, lower pulse amplitudes on the ICP curve, and decreased amount of A-waves. No major disturbances in blood gases, liver and kidney function, or secondary insults were observed during this period. Outcome 1 year later revealed a median Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 5 (good recovery), however on the King’s Outcome Scale for Childhood Head Injury, the median was 4a (moderate disability).CONCLUSIONSThe results of this study indicate that barbiturate coma, when used in a modern NICU, is an effective means of lowering ICP without causing concomitant severe side effects in children with RICH and was compatible with good long-term outcome.

Detection of Brain Death in Barbiturate Coma: The Dilemma of an Intracranial Pulse

Neurosurgery ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard H. Kaufman ◽  
Fred H. Geisler ◽  
Thomas Kopitnik ◽  
William Higgins ◽  
Dan Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Head Injury ◽  
Intracranial Pressure ◽  
Brain Death ◽  
Cerebral Perfusion Pressure ◽  
Cerebral Perfusion ◽  
Perfusion Pressure ◽  
Elevated Intracranial Pressure ◽  
Barbiturate Coma ◽  
The Face

Abstract Patients treated with barbiturate coma for elevated intracranial pressure after head injury may suffer brain death. Since such patients have an iatrogenically induced absence of neurological function, brain death cannot be diagnosed clinically. Furthermore, as demonstrated by two of our patients, monitoring of intracranial pressure, even in the face of brain death, may show a low intracranial pressure and an intracranial pulse, suggesting the presence of adequate cerebral perfusion pressure and, therefore, brain viability. Under these circumstances. however, significant intracranial blood flow may be absent. Therefore, we suggest that a patient in barbiturate coma should undergo serial blood flow studies. even when the intracranial pressure is low and an intracranial pulse is present. to determine whether brain death has occurred.

Management of Elevated Intracranial Pressure

2002 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth A. Vanderheyden ◽  
Brian D. Buck
Keyword(s):  
Intracranial Pressure ◽  
Cerebral Blood Volume ◽  
Vital Signs ◽  
Elevated Intracranial Pressure ◽  
Neurologic Injury ◽  
Barbiturate Coma ◽  
Therapeutic Modalities ◽  
Neurologic Disorders ◽  
Pharmacologic Management ◽  
The Relationship

Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) is a primary cause of morbidity and mortality for many neurologic disorders. The relationship between ICP and brain volume is influenced by autoregulatory processes that can become dysfunctional. As a result, neurologic damage can occur by systemic and intracranial insults such as ischemia and excitatory amino acids. Therefore, survival is dependent on optimizing ICP and cerebral perfusion pressure. Treatment of intracranial hypertension requires intensive monitoring and aggressive therapy. Intracranial pressure monitoring techniques such as intraventricular catheters are useful for determining ICP elevations before changes in vital signs and neurologic status. Therapeutic modalities, generally aimed at reducing cerebral blood volume, brain tissue, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume, include nonpharmacologic (CSF removal, controlled hyperventilation, and elevating the patient’s head) and pharmacologic management. Mannitol and sedation are first-line agents used to lower ICP. Barbiturate coma may be beneficial in patients with elevated ICP refractory to conventional treatment. The use of prophylactic antiseizure therapy and optimal nutrition prevents significant complication. Currently, investigations are directed at discovering useful neuroprotective agents that prevent secondary neurologic injury.

scholarly journals Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Associated with COVID-19 Infection: An Observational, Multicenter Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 55-60
Author(s):  
Sajid Hameed ◽  
Mohammad Wasay ◽  
Bashir A. Soomro ◽  
Ossama Mansour ◽  
Foad Abd-allah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Venous Thrombosis ◽  
Scale Score ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Cerebral Venous Thrombosis ◽  
Imaging Finding ◽  
Elevated Serum ◽  
Cerebrovascular Diseases ◽  
Modified Rankin Scale ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Presenting Symptoms

<b><i>Background and Purpose:</i></b> Coronavirus disease 2019 (CO­VID-19) has an increased propensity for systemic hypercoagulability and thromboembolism. An association with cerebrovascular diseases, especially cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), has been reported among these patients. The objective of the present study was to identify risk factors for CVT as well as its presentation and outcome in COVID-19 patients. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This is a multicenter and multinational observational study. Ten centers in 4 countries (Pakistan, Egypt, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates) participated in this study. The study included patients (aged &#x3e;18 years) with symptomatic CVT and recent COVID-19 infection. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Twenty patients (70% men) were included. Their mean age was 42.4 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.3:1. Headache (85%) and seizures (65%) were the common presenting symptoms, with a mean admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13. CVT was the presenting feature in 13 cases (65%), while 7 patients (35%) developed CVT while being treated for COVID-19 infection. Respiratory symptoms were absent in 45% of the patients. The most common imaging finding was infarction (65%), followed by hemorrhage (20%). The superior sagittal sinus (65%) was the most common site of thrombosis. Acute inflammatory markers were raised, including elevated serum D-dimer (87.5%), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (69%), and C-reactive protein (47%) levels. Homocysteine was elevated in half of the tested cases. The mortality rate was 20% (4 patients). A good functional outcome was seen in the surviving patients, with a mean modified Rankin Scale score at discharge of 1.3. Nine patients (45%) had a modified Rankin Scale score of 0–1 at discharge. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> COVID-19-related CVT is more common among males at older ages when compared to previously reported non-COVID-19-related CVT cases. CVT should be suspected in COVID-19 patients presenting with headache or seizures. Mortality is high, but functional neurological outcome is good among survivors.

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