Dataset Information

Protocolized Brain Oxygen Optimization in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Brain tissue hypoxia (P_btO₂ < 20 mmHg) is common after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and associated with poor outcome. Recent data suggest that brain oxygen optimization is feasible and reduces the time spent with P_btO₂ < 20 mmHg from 45 to 16% in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Here, we intended to quantify the brain tissue hypoxia burden despite implementation of a protocolized treatment approach in poor-grade SAH patients and to identify the simultaneous occurrence of pathologic values potentially amenable to treatment.

Methods

We present a bi-centric observational cohort study including 100 poor-grade SAH patients admitted to two tertiary care centers who underwent multimodal brain monitoring and were managed with a P_btO₂-targeted protocolized approach. P_btO₂ optimization (≥ 20 mmHg) included a stepwise neuro-intensive care approach, aiming to prevent low cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), and blood hemoglobin, and to keep normocapnia, normoxemia, and normothermia. Based on routine blood gas analysis, hemoglobin, PaCO_2, and PaO₂ data were matched to 2-h averaged data of continuous CPP, P_btO₂, core temperature, and to hourly cerebral microdialysis (CMD) samples over the first 11 days.

Results

Patients had a Glasgow Coma Scale of 3 (IQR 3-4) and were 58 years old (IQR 48-66). Overall incidence of brain tissue hypoxia was 25%, which was not different between both sites despite differences in the treatment approach. During brain tissue hypoxia, episodes of CPP < 70 mmHg (27%), PaCO₂ < 35 mmHg (19%), PaO₂ < 80 mmHg (14%), Hb < 9 g/dL (11%), metabolic crisis (CMD-lactate/pyruvate ratio > 40, and CMD-glucose < 0.7 mmol/L; 7%), and temperature > 38.3 °C (4%) were common.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that brain tissue hypoxia remains common despite implementation of a P_btO₂-targeted therapy in poor-grade SAH patients, suggesting room for further optimization.

SUBMITTER: Rass V

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6757026 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:OBJECTIVES:Impaired oxygen delivery due to reduced cerebral blood flow is the hallmark of delayed cerebral ischemia following subarachnoid hemorrhage. Since anemia reduces arterial oxygen content, it further threatens oxygen delivery increasing the risk of cerebral infarction. Thus, subarachnoid hemorrhage may constitute an important exception to current restrictive transfusion practices, wherein raising hemoglobin could reduce the risk of ischemia in a critically hypoperfused organ. In this physiologic proof-of-principle study, we determined whether transfusion could augment cerebral oxygen delivery, particularly in vulnerable brain regions, across a broad range of hemoglobin values. DESIGN:Prospective study measuring cerebral blood flow and oxygen extraction fraction using O-PET. Vulnerable brain regions were defined as those with baseline oxygen delivery less than 4.5?mL/100?g/min. SETTING:PET facility located within the Neurology/Neurosurgery ICU. PATIENTS:Fifty-two patients at risk for delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage with hemoglobin 7-13?g/dL. INTERVENTIONS:Transfusion of one unit of RBCs over 1 hour. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:Baseline hemoglobin was 9.7?g/dL (range, 6.9-12.9), and cerebral blood flow was 43?±?11?mL/100?g/min. After transfusion, hemoglobin rose from 9.6?±?1.4 to 10.8?±?1.4?g/dL (12%; p < 0.001) and oxygen delivery from 5.0 (interquartile range, 4.4-6.6) to 5.5?mL/100?g/min (interquartile range, 4.8-7.0) (10%; p = 0.001); the response was comparable across the range of hemoglobin values. In vulnerable brain regions, transfusion resulted in a greater (16%) rise in oxygen delivery associated with reduction in oxygen extraction fraction, independent of Hgb level (p = 0.002 vs normal regions). CONCLUSIONS:This study demonstrates that RBC transfusion improves cerebral oxygen delivery globally and particularly to vulnerable regions in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients at risk for delayed cerebral ischemia across a wide range of hemoglobin values and suggests that restrictive transfusion practices may not be appropriate in this population. Large prospective trials are necessary to determine if these physiologic benefits translate into clinical improvement and outweigh the risk of transfusion.