As the incidence of subdural hematoma is increasing, it is important to understand symptomatology and clinical variables associated with treatment outcomes and mortality in this population; patients with subdural hematoma were selected from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database between 2016 and 2020 using International Classification of Disease 10th Edition (ICD10) codes. Moderate-to-severe subdural hematoma patients were identified using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Multivariate regression was first used to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality and then beta coefficients were used to create a weighted mortality score. Of 29,915 patients admitted with moderate-to-severe subdural hematomas, 12,135 (40.6%) died within the same hospital admission. In a multivariate model of relevant demographic and clinical covariates, age greater than 70, diabetes mellitus, mechanical ventilation, hydrocephalus, and herniation were independent predictors of mortality (p < 0.001 for all). Age greater than 70, diabetes mellitus, mechanical ventilation, hydrocephalus, and herniation were assigned a “1” in a weighted mortality score. The ROC curve for our model showed an area under the curve of 0.64. Age greater than 70, diabetes mellitus, mechanical ventilation, hydrocephalus, and herniation were predictive of mortality. We created the first clinically relevant weighted mortality score that can be used to stratify risk, guide prognosis, and inform family discussions.

Chordomas are primary tumors of the skull base and vertebral column typically derived from the notochord. Treatment options consist of surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. This study reviews clinical trials focused on radiotherapy techniques, such as photon therapy and carbon ion radiotherapy, as well as the concomitant use of radia-tion sensitizers. We completed a literature review on all published clinical trials on the usage of photon, proton, and carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for chordoma in adults and all published literature on radiation sensitizers used for treatment in chordoma from 2000 to 2025. We reviewed all nine current clinical trials on radiotherapy for chordoma in adults. All clinical trials were able to achieve an overall survival rate above 50% at 3-year follow-up. Seven publications were found on the use of radiation sensitizers for chordomas, both in vitro and in vivo. The completed clinical trials evaluate the effectiveness of proton, photon, and CIRT for treatment of the skull base, spine, and sacral chordoma. Current trials continue these efforts and compare the different radiotherapies and determine appropriate doses. Research on radiation sensitizers for chordomas shows various therapies, ranging from hyperthermia to pharmaceutical options, that require further study.

Cardiomyopathy (CM) is a common cause of heart failure (HF), and those with HF have up to a 3-fold increased risk of stroke. This study aims to examine the incidence of intravascular thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy and the functional outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with CM and HF. International Classification of Diseases-10 codes were used to query the National Inpatient Sample database for patients with AIS and concurrent CM and HF from 2016 to 2019. Incidence of reperfusion therapy, medical complications, discharge disposition, length of hospital stay, and mortality between patients with and without CM and HF were compared using propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Of 2,939,160 patients identified with AIS, 80,915 (2.8%) had concomitant diagnoses of CM and HF. Patients in this population had more severe strokes (25.9% vs 19.6%, P < 0.001) and received endovascular thrombectomy at higher rates (8.8% vs 5.6%, P < 0.001) but equivalent rates of intravascular thrombolysis (3.0% vs 2.9%, P = 0.107). Additionally, CM/HF patients were more likely to experience inpatient death (6.6% vs 5.4%, P < 0.001). Despite this, those who survived were statistically more likely to have a favorable discharge disposition (45.7% vs 43.9%, P < 0.001). Although CM and HF patients are more likely to experience complications, prolonged length of stay, and inpatient death, those who survive have higher rates of favorable discharge disposition. These results suggest that stroke intervention is safe and efficacious in patients with CM and HF.