Prognostic factors and outcomes in COVID-19 patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Mechanical ventilation (MV) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients is associated with high mortality and extensive resource utilization. The aim of this study was to investigate prognostic factors and outcomes associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of COVID-19 patients requiring invasive MV who were hospitalized between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021 in the intensive care units (ICUs) of three referral hospitals belonging to a single health system.

Association of hypoxic ischemic brain injury on early CT after out of hospital cardiac arrest with neurologic outcome.

Aim: This study aimed to describe the prevalence of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) on head CT (HCT) obtained within two hours of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) care in the Emergency Department following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and evaluate the association between early HIBI and neurologic outcome.

Methods: Retrospective single center observational study of post-OHCA patients between 2009 and 2017. Two cohorts were analyzed: those who underwent non-contrast HCT within two hours of ROSC and all others who survived to ICU admission.

Dual antiplatelet therapy does not improve outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage compared with aspirin monotherapy.

Background: The pathophysiology of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) may include platelet activation and microthrombi formation. Antiplatelet therapy may reduce the incidence of DCI and improve clinical outcomes after aSAH. This study compared outcomes among aSAH patients receiving aspirin monotherapy versus dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT).

Postcardiac arrest neurological prognostication with quantitative regional cerebral densitometry.

Purpose: To quantitatively assess the severity of anoxic-ischemic brain injury early after cardiac arrest (CA) using a novel automated method applied to head computed tomography (HCT).

Methods: Adult patients who were comatose and underwent HCT < 24 h after arrest were included in a retrospective analysis. Principal endpoint was unfavorable outcome (UO) defined as Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) of 3-5 at hospital discharge.

Interobserver Variability in the Recognition of Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury on Computed Tomography Soon After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Background: Cerebral edema and loss of gray-white matter differentiation on head computed tomography (CT) after cardiac arrest generally portend a poor prognosis. The interobserver variability in physician recognition of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) on early CT after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has not been studied.

Methods: In this survey study, participating physicians and a neuroradiologist reviewed 20 randomly selected head CTs obtained within 2 h of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and decided if HIBI was present.

Larger ACE 68 aspiration catheter increases first-pass efficacy of ADAPT technique.

Purpose: To report the efficacy of A Direct Aspiration first-Pass Thrombectomy (ADAPT) technique with larger-bore ACE aspiration catheters as first-line treatment for anterior circulation emergent large vessel occlusions (ELVOs), and assess for the presence of a first-pass effect with ADAPT.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 152 consecutive patients with anterior circulation ELVOs treated with the ADAPT technique as first-line treatment using ACE60, 64, or 68 at our institution. Baseline characteristics, procedural variables, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days were recorded.

Improved Outcomes With Integrated Intensivist Consultation for Cardiac Surgery Patients.

This study examined the impact of integrated intensivist consultation in the immediate postoperative period on outcomes for cardiac surgery patients. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 1711 adult cardiac surgery patients from a single quaternary care center in Minnesota. Outcomes were compared across 2 consecutive 2-year time periods reflecting an elective intensivist model (n = 801) and an integrated intensivist model (n = 910).

Clinical and angiographic outcomes in patients with intracranial aneurysms treated with the pipeline embolization device: intra-procedural technical difficulties, major morbidity, and neurological mortality decrease significantly with increased operator experience in device deployment and patient management.

Purpose: Flow diversion constitutes a pivotal advancement in endovascular intracranial aneurysm treatment, but requires development of a new skill set. The aim of this study is to determine whether outcomes after treatment with the Pipeline Embolization Device improve with experience.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with intracranial aneurysms treated with Pipeline at two centers over a 4.

A case of right middle cerebral artery 'tendonectomy' following mitral valve replacement surgery.

Following mechanical mitral valve replacement surgery, a 69-year-old woman had an ischemic stroke in the right middle cerebral artery territory. Mechanical thrombectomy showed the embolus to be a piece of chordae tendineae excised during the valve replacement surgery.

A case of right middle cerebral artery 'tendonectomy' following mitral valve replacement surgery.

Following mechanical mitral valve replacement surgery, a 69-year-old woman had an ischemic stroke in the right middle cerebral artery territory. Mechanical thrombectomy showed the embolus to be a piece of chordae tendineae excised during the valve replacement surgery.

Efficacy of a two-test protocol for achieving a therapeutic response to clopidogrel prior to elective endovascular intracranial aneurysm treatment and an 'induced' postoperative hyper-response.

Introduction: Variable response to clopidogrel can impact perioperative risk in elective endovascular intracranial aneurysm treatment. The present study aims to determine the efficacy of a two-test protocol in reaching in-range preoperative P2Y12 reaction units (PRU) of 60-240 and the rate of postoperative conversion to hyper-response.

Methods: A 17-day two-test protocol (with tests on days 10 and 17) for patients starting clopidogrel in anticipation of elective endovascular intracranial aneurysm treatment was introduced in February 2013 at our institution.

Comparison of clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic strokes treated with mechanical thrombectomy using either Solumbra or ADAPT techniques.

Purpose: To compare rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) and good clinical outcome at 90 days in patients with ischemic strokes from anterior circulation emergent large vessel occlusions (ELVO) treated with mechanical thrombectomy using either Solumbra or A Direct Aspiration first-Pass Thrombectomy (ADAPT) techniques.

Methods: We compared clinical characteristics, procedural variables, and clinical outcomes in patients with anterior circulation ELVOs treated with mechanical thrombectomy using either a Solumbra or ADAPT technique at our institution over a 38-month period. SICH was defined using the SITS-MOST criteria.

Awakening and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in cardiac arrest survivors treated with therapeutic hypothermia*.

Objectives: To characterize the prevalence of withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, as well as the time to awakening, short-term neurologic outcomes, and cause of death in comatose survivors of out-of-hospital resuscitated cardiopulmonary arrests treated with therapeutic hypothermia.

Design: Single center, prospective observational cohort study of consecutive patients with out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrests.

Setting: Academic tertiary care hospital and level one trauma center in Minneapolis, MN.

Comparison of culture techniques at different stages of brucellosis.

The lysis centrifugation technique is preferred for culturing Brucella spp. at all stages of brucellosis because it yields 25% more positive results and on average provides results 10 days earlier than the Ruiz-Castaneda method. This lysis method is inexpensive and easier to use and may be used in laboratories with limited expertise or equipment if all safety precautions are taken.

Brucellosis in household members of Brucella patients residing in a large urban setting in Peru.

During home visits and using a point-of-care test for brucellosis, we screened the household members of adult patients found to have brucellosis by investigation at the Hospital Nacional Daniel Alcides Carrión in Callao, Peru. A total of 206 household members of 43 patients were screened, and 15 (7.3%) household members in 10 (23.

Human brucellosis.

Human brucellosis still presents scientists and clinicians with several challenges, such as the understanding of pathogenic mechanisms of Brucella spp, the identification of markers for disease severity, progression, and treatment response, and the development of improved treatment regimens. Molecular studies have shed new light on the pathogenesis of Brucella spp, and new technologies have permitted the development of diagnostic tools that will be useful in developing countries, where brucellosis is still a very common but often neglected disease. However, further studies are needed to establish optimum treatment regimens and local and international control programmes.

Persistence and relapse in brucellosis and need for improved treatment.

Treatment failure and relapse are major problems in the management of brucellosis. In developing countries, treatment with the oral combination doxycycline/rifampicin is preferred because of its convenience. However, its efficacy is lower than that of the doxycycline/streptomycin regimen and is likely further reduced when compliance is poor.

Evaluation of brucellosis by PCR and persistence after treatment in patients returning to the hospital for follow-up.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to confirm the diagnosis of brucellosis and to study its clearance in response to the standard treatment regimen with doxycycline and rifampin at hospitals in Callao and Lima, Peru. The PCR confirmed the diagnosis in 23 (91.7%) patients with brucellosis including 12 culture-confirmed cases.