Predicting Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Dependence in High Grade Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) commonly presents with hydrocephalus due to obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) passage across the ventricular system in the brain. Placement of an external ventricular device (EVD) and in some cases ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) are often necessary for patients requiring prolonged CSF diversion. The study aimed at evaluating critical factors that play a role in determining the need for extended extraventricular drainage. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study of two groups of patients with radiological imaging confirmed high grade aSAH (Hunt & Hess grades 3-5) who required VPS placement, shunt-dependent group, and who did not require long term CSF diversion, non-shunt-dependent group. We collected and analyzed data regarding the daily CSF output for 10 days following EVD placement, daily EVD height, intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), indicators of hydrocephalus, and CSF characteristics. RESULTS: The cohort, comprising of 8 patients in the shunt-dependent group and 32 patients in the non-shunt-dependent group, displayed median daily CSF output of 275.1 mL/day and 193.4 mL/day, respectively (P = .0005). ROC curve for CSF drainage for the two groups showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.71 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65 to 0.77. Qualitative analysis of CSF characteristics revealed that the shunt-dependent group had more proteinaceous, darker red color, and greater proportion of red blood cells (RBCs) although not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Determinants of prolonged CSF drainage requirements in patients with high grade aSAH are not fully elucidated to this date and there is no standardized protocol for CSF diversion. Our study revealed potential markers that can be used in the assessment for the need for long term CSF diversion. Our limited sample size necessitates further research to establish clear correlations and cutoffs of these parameters in predicting long term CSF diversion requirements.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Treatment of Depression in a Patient With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) commonly presents with a constellation of findings, including physical, cognitive, and psychological disturbances. Traditionally, few options have been available for long-term management of mood symptoms for post-TBI patients who are refractory to medications. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a promising alternative treatment. CASE REPORT: A 37-year-old male with history of anxiety and bipolar depression incurred a TBI after a 60-foot fall. After his physical recovery, the patient had refractory depression. Eight months after the TBI event, he underwent a 6-week course of rTMS treatment and had a 70.8% improvement in mood symptoms by the end of the therapy as indicated by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, transitioning from severe to mild depression according to the scoring system. Clinical correlation during the months following conclusion of rTMS therapy showed no signs of remission or adverse side effects. The patient remains stable and lives independently 1 year after treatment with mood-stabilizing medications. CONCLUSION: This case provides evidence for successful treatment of refractory depressive symptoms after severe TBI with the addition of rTMS to psychotherapy and mood-stabilizing medications, supporting the safety and tolerability of this novel therapeutic approach. Further studies are needed to validate the contribution of rTMS for management of mood symptoms in patients with TBI.

Agreement Between Patient-reported and Cardiology-adjudicated Medical History in Patients With Possible Ischemic Chest Pain: An Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: Obtaining an accurate medical history is essential in the assessment of patients, particularly in emergency department (ED) patients with acute chest pain, as there can be a time imperative for diagnosis and commencement of treatment. We aimed to evaluate reliability of patient-reported compared with physician-adjudicated medical history by assessing patient's recall and communication of personal events and its influence on the accuracy of the medical history. METHODS: A total of 776 patients presenting at ED with suspected cardiac chest pain were recruited. Data collection included self-reported patient history, electrocardiogram testing, and troponin I measurements. Independent assessment of risk factors and medical history was adjudicated by cardiologists. Diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) at 30 days after presentation was assessed. Cohen's kappa measured patient-cardiologist agreement. Cardiologist adjudicated events were taken as true to assess accuracy. RESULTS: A total of 83 participants (10.7%) were diagnosed with ACS at 30 days after presentation. "Previous coronary artery bypass grafting" showed highest agreement (K = 1.00) between patient-reported and cardiologist-adjudicated events. Lowest agreement between patient-reported and cardiologist-adjudicated events was found for "prior ventricular dysrhythmia" (K = 0.33). Accuracy of reported "prior congestive heart failure" differed significantly between patients with and without diagnosed ACS at 30 days (92.8% and 97.5%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Accuracy of patient's recall and communication of medical history and risk factors was substantial but not perfect in the assessment of patients with ACS in the ED context. Our study reinforces the importance in the utilization of medical records and collateral information to address possible discrepancies in the medical history and improve patient care.