Pupillary dilation velocity is reduced in intensive care unit patients with septic shock.

BACKGROUND: Septic shock is common in the intensive care unit (ICU). The pathophysiology is poorly understood but prolonged sympathetic activation leading to autonomic dysfunction may be involved. Pupillary light response (PLR) is a fast, inexpensive, noninvasive way to measure autonomic nervous system function. The aim of the study was to observe dilation velocity of the PLR (PLRdil.vel. ) in patients with and without septic shock and explore whether other factors influenced the possible association. We hypothesized that the presence of septic shock in intensive care patients is associated with changes in sympathetic autonomic tone, which can be observed as changes in PLRdil.vel. METHODS: In this prospective observational cohort study, we included 91 adult patients acutely admitted to a mixed ICU. The patients were followed for the development of septic shock until ICU discharge. PLRdil.vel. was measured with a portable pupillometer two times a day. We used linear mixed models to analyze for an association between PLRdil.vel and septic shock along with several covariables. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients were enrolled and of these, 35 were in septic shock. Septic shock was associated with a slowed PLRdil.vel of 0.3 mm/s (95% confidence intervals [CI -0.4; -0.2]). CONCLUSIONS: Septic shock may be associated with changes in sympathetic autonomic tone which is supported by the findings from this study that septic shock was associated with a slower dilation velocity in the pupillary light reflex. Further studies should examine if the pupillary dilation velocity may serve as surrogate marker for changes in sympathetic autonomic nervous system activity in intensive care patients in septic shock. If so, future interventional studies should test if use of the pupillary dilation velocity may be used for earlier detection of septic shock, which could mean earlier institution of treatment measures for this condition.

Facial skin temperature in acute stroke patients with delirium - A pilot study.

Facial skin temperature depends strongly on blood flow in small blood vessels in the skin. These are regulated by the sympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system. Delirium may pathophysiologically be associated to changes in the sympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system. In this observational study, we evaluated the influence of various exogenous and endogenous covariables on the regional facial temperatures in acute stroke patients with and without delirium. Facial thermography (FT) was performed using an infrared digital camera. Screening for delirium was done using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). Sixty-four patients were enrolled. Eight patients developed delirium. Sex and body temperature were positively associated to facial skin temperature, and so was ambient temperature but to an overall lesser magnitude. Stroke severity, diabetes, infection, facial palsy, facial sensory deficit, and physical activity did not influence facial skin temperature. Overall, there was no association between facial temperature and the occurrence of delirium except in one facial region, the medial palpebral commissure.

Changes in autonomic tone during delirium in acute stroke patients assessed by pupillometry and skin conductance.

Delirium is a common complication in acute ischemic stroke, possibly caused by alterations in the regulation of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system. We investigated whether such an association could be demonstrated with two easy-to-use measurement techniques: Measurement of palmar skin conductance level (SCL) and pupillometry measuring the dilation velocity in the pupillary light reflex (PLRdil.vel.). The cohort study included 64 patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke. During the study period (median 4.1 days, interquartile range 2.1 days) patients were assessed for delirium once daily as well as with measurements of SCL and PLRdil.vel up to twice daily. SCL and PLRdil.vel. during delirium were lower than without delirium present. For SCL the unadjusted difference was -40.8% (95% CI (-55.1 to -22.0), P value <.001) and for PLRdil.vel the unadjusted difference was -0.22 mm/s (95% CI (-0.42 to -0.01), P value = .041). The results demonstrate changes in sympathetic autonomic nervous system regulation during delirium in acute stroke patients.

Sex differences in independence in activities of daily living early in stroke rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Current stroke research suggests that there are differences between females and males regarding incidence, stroke risk factors, stroke severity, outcome, and mortality. The few studies that have investigated sex differences in rehabilitation 8-12 months poststroke found that males are more independent, compared to females. OBJECTIVES: To investigate if there is a difference in the improvement of independence in activities of daily living (ADL) between females and males in the acute phase (first 2 weeks) of stroke rehabilitation in a Danish population. METHODS: A prospective cohort study enrolling patients admitted to the hospital's rehabilitation ward with a stroke diagnosis from January 1, 2016, to March 17, 2017. Baseline and follow-up data regarding the primary outcome, Barthel-100 index, were analyzed using an adjusted linear mixed model. RESULTS: The study included 206 patients (83 females). Females were older at admission and more males lived with a partner. No differences in stroke severity or any of the risk factors were found. There were no differences between female and male scores at baseline. In the adjusted linear mixed model, quantifying the difference between follow-up and baseline Barthel-100 score, females increased their Barthel-100 score by 20.8 points (95% confidence interval (CI) 15.4-26.3) and males with 29.0 points (95% CI 24.6-33.4). CONCLUSION: In a homogeneous sample of stroke survivors undergoing specialized 24-h stroke rehabilitation for 11-14 days, females were more dependent in ADL than males.

Delirium Assessment in Acute Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Incidence, Assessment Tools, and Assessment Frequencies.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic literature review was to examine whether different assessment methods contribute to the variance in delirium incidence detected in populations of patients with acute stroke. Specifically, the aim was to address the influence of (1) choice of assessment tool, (2) frequency of assessment, and (3) type of health professional doing the assessment. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO and included pro- and retrospective cohort studies assessing delirium during hospitalization of adult acute stroke patients. RESULTS: In 30 articles, 24 unique populations were identified and included in the review. Delirium incidence ranged from 1.4% to 75.6% in total and a chi-square test showed a significant heterogeneity across studies (χ2 = 536.5, df = 23, P < .0001). No studies had an assessment for delirium before a patient entered the study. No specific patterns regarding the influence of tool, assessment frequency or health professional were discernible. DISCUSSION: Subgroups analyses were not conducted due to the heterogeneity across studies. Studies comparing delirium assessment tools directly with each other are needed. CONCLUSIONS: Delirium is a common complication in acute stroke. No firm conclusions about a possible correlation of choice of tool, assessment frequency, and delirium incidence could be made due to the great heterogeneity of the study populations. Only 1 study compared 2 tools directly with each other. Further studies comparing delirium assessment tools directly with each other are needed.