[Telemedicine in stroke-pertinent to stroke care in Germany]. / Telemedizin in der Schlaganfallversorgung ­ versorgungsrelevant für Deutschland.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Telemedical stroke networks improve stroke care and provide access to time-dependent acute stroke treatment in predominantly rural regions. The aim is a presentation of data on its utility and regional distribution. METHODS: The working group on telemedical stroke care of the German Stroke Society performed a survey study among all telestroke networks. RESULTS: Currently, 22 telemedical stroke networks including 43 centers (per network: median 1.5, interquartile range, IQR, 1-3) as well as 225 cooperating hospitals (per network: median 9, IQR 4-17) operate in Germany and contribute to acute stroke care delivery to 48 million people. In 2018, 38,211 teleconsultations (per network: median 1340, IQR 319-2758) were performed. The thrombolysis rate was 14.1% (95% confidence interval 13.6-14.7%) and transfer for thrombectomy was initiated in 7.9% (95% confidence interval 7.5-8.4%) of ischemic stroke patients. Financial reimbursement differs regionally with compensation for telemedical stroke care in only three federal states. CONCLUSION: Telemedical stroke care is utilized in about 1 out of 10 stroke patients in Germany. Telemedical stroke networks achieve similar rates of thrombolysis and transfer for thrombectomy compared with neurological stroke units and contribute to stroke care in rural regions. Standardization of network structures, financial assurance and uniform quality measurements may further strengthen the importance of telestroke networks in the future.

Patients Requiring Conversion to General Anesthesia during Endovascular Therapy Have Worse Outcomes: A Post Hoc Analysis of Data from the SAGA Collaboration.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke is often performed with the patient under conscious sedation. Emergent conversion from conscious sedation to general anesthesia is sometimes necessary. The aim of this study was to assess the functional outcome in converted patients compared with patients who remained in conscious sedation and to identify predictors associated with the risk of conversion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 368 patients, included in 3 trials randomizing between conscious sedation and general anesthesia before endovascular therapy (SIESTA, ANSTROKE, and GOLIATH) constituted the study cohort. Twenty-one (11%) of 185 patients randomized to conscious sedation were emergently converted to general anesthesia. RESULTS: Absence of hyperlipidemia seemed to be the strongest predictor of conversion to general anesthesia, albeit a weak predictor (area under curve = 0.62). Sex, hypertension, diabetes, smoking status, atrial fibrillation, blood pressure, size of the infarct, and level and side of the occlusion were not significantly associated with conversion to general anesthesia. Neither age (mean age, 71.3 ± 13.8 years for conscious sedation versus 71.6 ± 12.3 years for converters, P = .58) nor severity of stroke (mean NIHSS score, 17 ± 4 versus 18 ± 4, respectively, P = .27) were significantly different between converters and those who tolerated conscious sedation. The converters had significantly worse outcome with a common odds ratio of 2.67 (P = .015) for a shift toward a higher mRS score compared with the patients remaining in the conscious sedation group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing conversion had significantly worse outcome compared with patients remaining in conscious sedation. No factor was identified that predicted conversion from conscious sedation to general anesthesia.

[Periinterventional management of acute endovascular stroke treatment]. / Periinterventionelles Management der akuten endovaskulären Schlaganfallbehandlung.

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is more effective than standard medical treatment with or without intravenous thrombolysis alone for treating acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by large vessel occlusion (LVO) in the anterior circulation. MT is therefore recommended in current international guidelines, and many acute-care hospitals and stroke centers will have to prepare for providing this treatment in an optimal way. Beside successful recanalization, management before, during, and after the intervention represents significant challenges. One unresolved matter is whether the choice of anesthetic strategy, including airway management, affects functional outcome. Based on current data, treatment under general anesthesia (GA)-respecting predefined safety criteria and contraindications-seem seems to be equivalent to treating the patient in conscious sedation (CS) and not necessarily disadvantageous. Aspects of periinterventional management of MT, including pragmatic recommendations concerning logistics, monitoring, postprocedural steps, and follow-up imaging, will be summarized in this overview.

The German trial on Aciclovir and Corticosteroids in Herpes-simplex-virus-Encephalitis (GACHE): a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Comprehensive treatment of Herpes-simplex-virus-encephalitis (HSVE) remains a major clinical challenge. The current therapy gold standard is aciclovir, a drug that inhibits viral replication. Despite antiviral treatment, mortality remains around 20% and a majority of survivors suffer from severe disability. Experimental research and recent retrospective clinical observations suggest a favourable therapy response to adjuvant dexamethasone. Currently there is no randomized clinical trial evidence, however, to support the routine use of adjuvant corticosteroid treatment in HSVE. METHODS: The German trial of Aciclovir and Corticosteroids in Herpes-simplex-virus-Encephalitis (GACHE) studied the effect of adjuvant dexamethasone versus placebo on top of standard aciclovir treatment in adult patients aged 18 up to 85 years with proven HSVE in German academic centers of Neurology in a randomized and double blind fashion. The trial was open from November 2007 to December 2012. The initially planned sample size was 372 patients with the option to increase to up to 450 patients after the second interim analysis. The primary endpoint was a binary functional outcome after 6 months assessed using the modified Rankin scale (mRS 0-2 vs. 3-6). Secondary endpoints included mortality after 6 and 12 months, functional outcome after 6 months measured with the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS), functional outcome after 12 months measured with mRS and GOS, quality of life as measured with the EuroQol 5D instrument after 6 and 12 months, neuropsychological testing after 6 months, cranial magnetic resonance imaging findings after 6 months, seizures up to day of discharge or at the latest at day 30, and after 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: The trial was stopped prematurely for slow recruitment after 41 patients had been randomized, 21 of them treated with dexamethasone and 20 with placebo. No difference was observed in the primary endpoint. In the full analysis set (n = 19 in each group), 12 patients in each treatment arm achieved a mRS of 0-2. Similarly, we did not observe significant differences in the secondary endpoints (GOS, mRS, quality of life, neuropsychological testing). CONCLUSION: GACHE being prematurely terminated demonstrated challenges encountered performing randomized, placebo-controlled trials in rare life threatening neurological diseases. Based upon our trial results the use of adjuvant steroids in addition to antiviral treatment remains experimental and is at the decision of the individual treating physician. Unfortunately, the small number of study participants does not allow firm conclusions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT-Nr. 2005-003201-81.

The pCONus Device in Treatment of Wide-necked Aneurysms : Technical and Midterm Clinical and Angiographic Results.

PURPOSE: A variety of devices for treatment of wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms are emerging. Here we report our results using the new pCONus device with special emphasis on the morphological and anatomical requirements for successful implantation. METHODS: In this study we treated 21 patients with 22 aneurysms by endovascular interventions. After providing informed consent, patients were included according to the following criteria: aneurysm dome to neck ratio <2 or neck diameter >4 mm. The primary end points for clinical safety were the absence of death, absence of major or minor stroke and absence of transient ischemic attack. RESULTS: A total of 22 aneurysms in 21 patients were treated with pCONus-assisted coiling. In 19 patients harboring 20 aneurysms the implantation of the device was successful and these aneurysms showed an adequate occlusion after 6 months in 95 %. The complication rate was low (5 %) with one case of minor neurological stroke. Analysis of the data showed that the difference in aneurysm angulation between successful (mean 45°) and failed implantations (mean 71.5°) was highly significant. CONCLUSION: Use of the pCONus device and coiling in wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms is safe and provides good occlusion rates but might be limited by the angulation between the aneurysm and the parent vessel.

The Impact of Conscious Sedation versus General Anesthesia for Stroke Thrombectomy on the Predictive Value of Collateral Status: A Post Hoc Analysis of the SIESTA Trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Radiologic selection criteria to identify patients likely to benefit from endovascular stroke treatment are still controversial. In this post hoc analysis of the recent randomized Sedation versus Intubation for Endovascular Stroke TreAtment (SIESTA) trial, we aimed to investigate the impact of sedation mode (conscious sedation versus general anesthesia) on the predictive value of collateral status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using imaging data from SIESTA, we assessed collateral status with the collateral score of Tan et al and graded it from absent to good collaterals (0-3). We examined the association of collateral status with 24-hour improvement of the NIHSS score, infarct volume, and mRS at 3 months according to the sedation regimen. RESULTS: In a cohort of 104 patients, the NIHSS score improved significantly in patients with moderate or good collaterals (2-3) compared with patients with no or poor collaterals (0-1) (P = .011; mean, -5.8 ± 7.6 versus -1.1 ± 10.7). Tan 2-3 was also associated with significantly higher ASPECTS before endovascular stroke treatment (median, 9 versus 7; P < .001) and smaller mean infarct size after endovascular stroke treatment (median, 35.0 versus 107.4; P < .001). When we differentiated the population according to collateral status (0.1 versus 2.3), the sedation modes conscious sedation and general anesthesia were not associated with significant differences in the predictive value of collateral status regarding infarction size or functional outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The sedation mode, conscious sedation or general anesthesia, did not influence the predictive value of collaterals in patients with large-vessel occlusion anterior circulation stroke undergoing thrombectomy in the SIESTA trial.

e-ASPECTS Correlates with and Is Predictive of Outcome after Mechanical Thrombectomy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The e-ASPECTS software is a tool for the automated use of ASPECTS. Our aim was to analyze whether baseline e-ASPECT scores correlate with outcome after mechanical thrombectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with ischemic strokes in the anterior circulation who were admitted between 2010 and 2015, diagnosed by CT, and received mechanical thrombectomy were included. The ASPECTS on baseline CT was scored by e-ASPECTS and 3 expert raters, and interclass correlation coefficients were calculated. The e-ASPECTS was correlated with functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale) at 3 months by using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Unfavorable outcome was defined as mRS 4-6 at 3 months, and a poor scan was defined as e-ASPECTS 0-5. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty patients were included, and 147 (67%) were treated with bridging protocols. The median e-ASPECTS was 9 (interquartile range, 8-10). Intraclass correlation coefficients between e-ASPECTS and raters were 0.72, 0.74, and 0.76 (all, P < .001). e-ASPECTS (Spearman rank correlation coefficient = -0.15, P = .027) correlated with mRS at 3 months. Patients with unfavorable outcome had lower e-ASPECTS (median, 8; interquartile range, 7-10 versus median, 9; interquartile range, 8-10; P = .014). Sixteen patients (7.4%) had a poor scan, which was associated with unfavorable outcome (OR, 13.6; 95% CI, 1.8-104). Independent predictors of unfavorable outcome were e-ASPECTS (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63-0.99), blood sugar (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.004-1.02), atrial fibrillation (OR, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.22-5.69), premorbid mRS (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.21-2.58), NIHSS (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04-1.19), general anesthesia (OR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.07-0.84), failed recanalization (OR, 8.47; 95% CI, 3.5-20.2), and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (OR, 25.8; 95% CI, 2.5-268). CONCLUSIONS: The e-ASPECTS correlated with mRS at 3 months and was predictive of unfavorable outcome after mechanical thrombectomy, but further studies in patients with poor scan are needed.

[Acute focal neurological deficits in the emergency room]. / Akutes fokal-neurologisches Defizit in der Notaufnahme.

A focal neurological deficit with sudden onset or rapid progression is an alarming symptom indicating a neurological disorder with often urgent need for treatment. Particularly in the emergency room, where time and resources are limited, it is necessary to rapidly assign such a focal neurological deficit to a certain syndrome and to define a suspected diagnosis in order to execute the correct diagnostics and emergency therapy. In this article, we highlight frequent and typical neurological disorders presenting in the emergency room and their corresponding focal neurological deficits. The article and a suggested algorithm are to guide less-experienced colleagues to find quick steps from acute symptoms to diagnosis and emergency treatment of frequent and relevant neurological disorders in the emergency room.

Airway management and mechanical ventilation in acute brain injury.

Patients with acute neurologic disease often develop respiratory failure, the management of which profoundly affects brain physiology and long-term functional outcomes. This chapter reviews airway management and mechanical ventilation of patients with acute brain injury, offering practical strategies to optimize treatment of respiratory failure and minimize secondary brain injury. Specific concerns that are addressed include physiologic changes during intubation and ventilation such as the effects on intracranial pressure and brain perfusion; cervical spine management during endotracheal intubation; the role of tracheostomy; and how ventilation and oxygenation are utilized to minimize ischemia-reperfusion injury and cerebral metabolic distress.

Endovascular Stroke Treatment of Nonagenarians.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although endovascular treatment has become a standard therapy in patients with acute stroke, the benefit for very old patients remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was the evaluation of procedural and outcome data of patients ≥90 years undergoing endovascular stroke treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed prospectively collected data of patients ≥90 years in whom endovascular stroke treatment was performed between January 2011 and January 2016. Recanalization was assessed according to the TICI score. The clinical condition was evaluated on admission (NIHSS, prestroke mRS), at discharge (NIHSS), and after 3 months (mRS). RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients met the inclusion criteria for this analysis. The median prestroke mRS was 2. Successful recanalization (TICI ≥ 2b) was achieved in 22 patients (75.9%). In 9 patients, an NIHSS improvement ≥ 10 points was noted between admission and discharge. After 3 months, 17.2% of the patients had an mRS of 0-2 or exhibited prestroke mRS, and 24.1% achieved mRS 0-3. Mortality rate was 44.8%. There was only 1 minor procedure-related complication (small SAH without clinical sequelae). CONCLUSIONS: Despite high mortality rates and only moderate overall outcome, 17.2% of the patients achieved mRS 0-2 or prestroke mRS, and no serious procedure-related complications occurred. Therefore, very high age should not per se be an exclusion criterion for endovascular stroke treatment.

Pulmonary and circulatory parameter guided anesthesia in patients with ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular recanalization.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endovascular recanalization in ischemic stroke is often performed under general anesthesia. Some studies have shown a detrimental effect of general anesthesia. The reasons are unknown. METHODS: This was an observational study with retrospective and prospective phases. From 2008 to 2010, 60 patients treated by endovascular recanalization due to proximal vessel occlusion were analyzed with regard to ventilation parameters, blood gas values, blood pressure, and clinical parameters (pre-protocol phase). Subsequently, a protocol with target values for end-tidal CO2 (Petco2) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) was introduced and prospectively analyzed in 64 patients in 2012 (protocol phase). RESULTS: In the pre-protocol phase, significant hypocapnia (<30 mm Hg), a decrease in SBP after intervention (p<0.001), and an increase in SBP after extubation (p<0.001) were observed. After implementing the protocol in 2012, 63% of Petco2 values and 55% of SBP values (median) of the duration of intervention were within the predefined range. Severe hypocapnia and hypotension (SBP <100 mm Hg) after the intervention were significantly reduced. Longer duration of Petco2 values within 40-45 mm Hg, intracerebral hemorrhage, longer door to needle time, older age, unsuccessful recanalization, longer duration of endovascular treatment, and higher cumulative dose of norepinephrine were associated with an unfavorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score >2). Intracerebral hemorrhage (OR 0.028, p=0.001), age (OR 0.9, p=0.013), and cumulative dose of norepinephrine (OR 0.142, p=0.003) were independent predictors of an unfavorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In patients receiving endovascular stroke treatment under general anesthesia, the cumulative dose of norepinephrine was an independent predictor of an unfavorable outcome. Further studies are needed to evaluate the optimal management of blood pressure in these patients, and whether avoidance of catecholamines could partly explain the improved outcomes for patients treated under conscious sedation in retrospective studies.

[Peri-interventional management of acute endovascular stroke treatment]. / Periinterventionelles Management der akuten endovaskulären Schlaganfallbehandlung.

Due to the ground breaking consistent evidence that supports the effect of endovascular stroke treatment (EST), many acute care hospitals and stroke centers will have to be prepared to provide this treatment in an optimal way within the coming years. In addition to the intervention itself, patient preparation, stabilization and monitoring during the treatment as well as the aftercare represent significant challenges and have mostly not yet been sufficiently investigated. Under these aspects, the questions of optimal sedation and airway management have received the highest attention. Based on retrospective study results it already seems to be justified, respecting certain criteria, to prefer EST with the patient under conscious sedation (CS) in comparison to general anesthesia (GA) and to only switch to GA in cases of emergency until this question has been clarified by prospective studies. This and other aspects of peri-interventional management, such as logistics, monitoring, blood pressure, ventilation settings, postprocedural steps of intensive or stroke unit care and imaging follow-up are summarized in this overview. The clinical and radiological selection of patients and thus the decision for intervention or technical aspects of the intervention itself will not be part of this article.

Intensivtherapie des raumfordernden ischämischen Hemisphäreninfarkts: Zusammenfassung der NCS/DGNI-Leitlinie / Intensive care therapy of space-occupying large hemispheric infarction: summary of the NCS/DGNI guidelines

Der grobe ischämische Hemisphäreninfarkt ("large hemispheric infarction", LHI, Synonym maligner Mediainfarkt, MMI) ist eine schwerwiegende neurologische Erkrankung mit hoher Mortalität und Morbidität. Sowohl behandelnde Ärzte als auch Angehörige sehen sich insbesondere hinsichtlich konservativer Therapiemaßnahmen mit einer schwachen Datenlange konfrontiert. Aktuelle Leitlinien zur allgemeinen Schlaganfallbehandlung legen den Hauptfokus auf Risikofaktoren, Prävention und das akute Rekanalisierungsmanagement, beinhalten aber nur sehr limitierte Empfehlungen zur ggf. folgenden spezifischen intensivmedizinischen Behandlung. Um diese Lücke zu füllen, wurde kürzlich eine interdisziplinäre Konsensus-Konferenz der Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) und der Deutschen Gesellschaft für NeuroIntensiv- und Notfallmedizin (DGNI) zum intensivmedizinischen Management des MMI organisiert. Experten aus Neurologie, Neurointensivmedizin, Neurochirurgie, Neuroradiologie und Neuroanästhesie aus Europa und Nordamerika wurden auf Basis ihrer Expertise und ihrer Forschungsschwerpunkte ausgewählt. Arbeitsgruppen zu einzelnen Schwerpunktthemen erarbeiteten eine Reihe zentraler klinischer Fragestellungen zu diesem Thema und erstellten auf dem Boden der aktuellen Datenlage nach dem System Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Empfehlungen. Dies ist eine kommentierte Kurzfassung derselben.(AU)

Large hemispheric infarction (LHI), synonymously called malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction, is a severe neurological disease with a high mortality and morbidity. Treating physicians as well as relatives are often faced with few and low quality data when attempting to apply optimal treatment to these patients and make decisions. While current stroke treatment guidelines focus on risk factors, prevention and acute management, they include only limited recommendations concerning intensive care management of LHI. The Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) and the German Society for Neurocritical and Emergency Medicine (DGNI) organized an interdisciplinary consensus conference on intensive care management of LHI to meet this demand. European and American experts in neurology, neurocritical care, neurosurgery, neuroradiology and neuroanesthesiology were selected based on their expertise and research focus. Subgroups for several main topics elaborated a number of central clinical questions concerning this topic and evaluated the quality of the currently available data according to the grading of recommendation assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) guideline system. Subsequently, evidence-based recommendations were compiled after weighing the advantages against the disadvantages of certain management options. This is a commented abridged version of the results of the consensus conference.(AU)

Posterior Circulation Acute Stroke Prognosis Early Computed Tomography Score Using Hypointense Vessels on Susceptibility Weighted Imaging Independently Predicts Outcome in Patients with Basilar Artery Occlusion.

PURPOSE: Appearance of hypointense vessels on susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) has been reported to correlate with outcome in patients with ischemia of the anterior circulation. This study investigates the correlation between the appearance of hypointense vessels on SWI after recanalization therapy and outcome in patients with basilar artery occlusion. METHODS: Patients with basilar artery occlusion who were treated with endovascular recanalization or intravenous alteplase and received an MRI including SWI after therapy were retrieved from the hospital database for retrospective analysis. Posterior circulation Acute Stroke Prognosis Early Computed Tomography Score (pcASPECTS) was calculated based on regions displaying hypointense vessels on SWI and compared to lesions on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). Subsequently, SWI based pcASPECTS was correlated with outcome determined with modified Rankin Scale (mRS), categorized as favorable outcome (mRS 0-2) or unfavorable outcome (3-6). RESULTS: Twenty-two MRI of patients with basilar artery occlusion were analyzed. In seven out of eight areas of the pcASPECTS hypointense vessels on SWI were significantly correlated to areas of restricted diffusion on DWI. In univariate analysis median pcASPECTS on SWI was significantly higher in patients with favorable outcome (7.5 vs. 5, p=0.02). In a multivariate analysis pcASPECTS on SWI was an independent predictor of favorable outcome (OR 2.02; CI [1.02;3,99]; p=0.04). CONCLUSION: pcASPECTS based on hypointense vessels on SWI after therapy predicts outcome in patients with basilar artery occlusion and might potentially be used as an additional imaging biomarker in the management of patients with stroke in the posterior circulation. This needs to be confirmed in larger prospective clinical trials.

[Intensive care therapy of space-occupying large hemispheric infarction. Summary of the NCS/DGNI guidelines]. / Intensivtherapie des raumfordernden ischämischen Hemisphäreninfarkts. Zusammenfassung der NCS/DGNI-Leitlinie.

Large hemispheric infarction (LHI), synonymously called malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction, is a severe neurological disease with a high mortality and morbidity. Treating physicians as well as relatives are often faced with few and low quality data when attempting to apply optimal treatment to these patients and make decisions. While current stroke treatment guidelines focus on risk factors, prevention and acute management, they include only limited recommendations concerning intensive care management of LHI. The Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) and the German Society for Neurocritical and Emergency Medicine (DGNI) organized an interdisciplinary consensus conference on intensive care management of LHI to meet this demand. European and American experts in neurology, neurocritical care, neurosurgery, neuroradiology and neuroanesthesiology were selected based on their expertise and research focus. Subgroups for several main topics elaborated a number of central clinical questions concerning this topic and evaluated the quality of the currently available data according to the grading of recommendation assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) guideline system. Subsequently, evidence-based recommendations were compiled after weighing the advantages against the disadvantages of certain management options. This is a commented abridged version of the results of the consensus conference.

Volatile sedation with sevoflurane in intensive care patients with acute stroke or subarachnoid haemorrhage using AnaConDa®: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: The anaesthetic conserving device, AnaConDa(®), allows use of inhaled anaesthetics for sedation in the intensive care unit. We prospectively measured cerebral and cardiopulmonary parameters in patients with acute stroke or subarachnoid haemorrhage during a switch from i.v. to inhalative sedation. METHODS: 25 patients were switched from i.v. to an indefinite period of inhaled sedation with sevoflurane. Mean arterial (MAP), intracranial (ICP), and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), middle cerebral artery mean flow velocity (MFV) and fractional tissue oxygen extraction (FTOE), systemic cardiopulmonary parameters, and administered drugs were assessed before and after the change (-6 to +12 h). RESULTS: In 8 patients, critically reduced MAP or ICP crisis led to premature termination of sevoflurane sedation. In the other 17 patients, after the first hour, mean ICP increased [2.4 (4.5) mm Hg; P=0.046], MAP decreased [7.8 (14.1) mm Hg; P=0.036] and thus CPP decreased also [-10.2 (15.1) mm Hg; P=0.014]. MFV and FTOE did not change. Over a 12 hour post switch observational period, [Formula: see text] increased slightly [0.3 (0.8) kPa; P=0.104], ICP did not change [0.2 (3.9) mm Hg; P=0.865], but MAP [-6 (6.9) mm Hg; P=0.002] and thus CPP decreased [-6 (8.5) mm Hg; P=0.010]. CONCLUSION: Sevoflurane led to sufficient sedation, but decreased MAP and CPP in a selected cerebrovascular neurocritical care population. In about a third of these patients, severe adverse reactions, including intolerable ICP increases, were observed.