A bstract Stroke ranks the fourth leading disease causing adult mortality and disability. D-dimer (D-D) is the ultimate product of plasmin-mediated degradation of fibrin-rich thrombi. D-D is a simple readily accessible biomarker employed within the diagnostic algorithms for the exclusion of venous thromboembolism. The correlation between D-D infarct size in MRI brain, APACHE II score, and the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score in critically ill acute stroke patients has not been fully investigated before. Objective We aimed to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of elevated plasma D-D in critically ill patients admitted with acute cerebrovascular accidents. As far as we know, we are the first to investigate the correlation between plasma D-D levels and the ischemic lesion size in MRI brain and also APACHE II score and NIHSS in critically ill acute ischemic cerebrovascular patients. Setting and participants A prospective, observational cohort study inside the Critical Care Medicine Department. Thirty patients with AIS were enrolled additionally to 1 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Interventions We employed particle-enhanced, immunoturbidimetric assay to detect plasma D-D concentrations. D-D levels D0 and D1 were measured upon admission and 24 hours later, respectively. We reviewed the patient' s health records; additionally, demographic, clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging information was abstracted. Results D-D concentrations were significantly higher in acute stroke patients compared to healthy controls. ROC curve analysis showed that elevated D-D level more than 310 ng/mL can predict infarct lesion size >1.5 cm in diffusion-weighted MRI brain with sensitivity and specificity (100 and 83%, respectively) and also admission D-D (D0) at cutoff concentration 350 ng/mL and D1 at cutoff value 370 ng/mL are predictors of complicated course with sensitivity and specificity (100 and 84.6%, respectively). There was no significant difference between D0 and D1 D-D levels ( p -value >0.05). Conclusion The plasma D-D biomarker can be a simple readily available test reliable predictor of infarct lesion size >1.5 cm in DW-MRI and outcome in union with the common practice instrumental tests. How to cite this article Abbas NI, Sayed O, Samir S, Abeed N. D-dimer Level is Correlated with Prognosis, Infarct Size, and NIHSS in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(2):193–198.

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Background: A female hydrocele is an extremely rare complication of a patent processus vaginalis. A cyst of the canal of Nuck should be considered in females presented with a non-reducible groin mass. Case presentation: A 38-year-old female presented to the clinic with a nontender palpable mass in the right inguinal region. On physical examination, a soft-consistency, mobile mass of about 6 cm in size was seen in the right inguinal region. The cyst was seen to be originating from the external ring. Surgical exploration was carried out by an incision in the right inguinal area and the cyst was dissected from the round ligament. The defect was repaired with prolene mesh after high ligation. Histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of a cyst of the canal of Nuck. Discussion: The canal of Nuck extends through the inguinal canal alongside the round ligament and is considered the female analogue of the processus vaginalis in males. A cyst of the canal of Nuck is a rare occurrence and can be classified into three types based on its communication with the peritoneal cavity. The mainstay of treatment of cyst of the canal of Nuck is surgical excision. Ligation of the processus vaginalis after excision is believed to prevent a recurrence. Conclusion: A swelling in the inguinal region in females should raise the suspicion of a cyst of the canal of Nuck and be considered in the differential diagnosis.