Increased blood coagulation is associated with poor neurological outcome in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background And Purpose: Patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) have demonstrated increased blood coagulation which is thought to contribute to delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) and to a worse outcome. Therefore, we sought to determine whether this increased blood coagulation, detectable with rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM), was associated with DCI and neurological outcome.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study of 60 consecutive adult aSAH patients.

Alcohol use in the prehospital setting: a diagnostic challenge in patients treated by a physician staffed mobile intensive care unit.

Background: Alcohol use among emergency patients has been studied earlier, but the data regarding alcohol use especially among critically ill and injured patients treated in the prehospital setting is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of alcohol use and the characteristics of cases attended by a physician staffed mobile intensive care unit (MICU).

Findings: During a 2 month period, exhaled air alcohol concentration-measured as a part of routine patient examination in all adolescent and adult patients treated by the MICU-was recorded.