Neurocritical care
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Review Meta Analysis
Computed Tomography Angiography in the Diagnosis Of Brain Death: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Physiological instability and confounding factors may interfere with the clinical diagnosis of brain death. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) has been suggested as a potential ancillary test for confirmation of brain death, but its diagnostic accuracy remains unclear. ⋯ Many patients who progress to brain death by accepted clinical or radiographic criteria have persistent opacification of proximal intracranial vessels when CTA is performed. The specificity of CTA in the diagnosis of brain death has not been adequately assessed. Routine use of CTA as an ancillary test in the diagnosis of brain death is therefore not recommended until diagnostic criteria have undergone further refinement and prospective validation. Absence of opacification of the internal cerebral veins appears to be the most promising angiographic criterion.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Effect of Triple-H Prophylaxis on Global End-Diastolic Volume and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.
Although prophylactic triple-H therapy has been used in a number of institutions globally to prevent delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), limited evidence is available for the effectiveness of triple-H therapy on hemodynamic variables. Recent studies have suggested an association between low global end-diastolic volume index (GEDI), measured using a transpulmonary thermodilution method, and DCI onset. The current study aimed at assessing the effects of prophylactic triple-H therapy on GEDI. ⋯ Physician-directed prophylactic triple-H administration was not associated with improved clinical outcomes or quantitative hemodynamic indicators for intravascular volume. Further, GEDI-directed intervention studies are warranted to better define management algorithms for SAH patients with the aim of preventing DCI.
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Microdialysis is a powerful technique, which enables the chemistry of the extracellular space to be measured directly. Applying this technique to patients in neurointensive care has increased our understanding of the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury and spontaneous hemorrhage. In parallel, it is important to determine the place of microdialysis in assisting in the management of patients on an individual intention to treat basis. ⋯ The objective of this paper is to review the fundamental literature pertinent to the clinical application of microdialysis in neurointensive care and to give recommendations on how the technique can be applied to assist in patient management and contribute to outcome. A literature search detected 1,933 publications of which 55 were used for data abstraction and analysis. The role of microdialysis was evaluated in three conditions (traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and intracerebral hemorrhage) and recommendations focused on three fundamental areas (relationship to outcome, application of microdialysis to guide therapy, and the ability of microdialysis to predict secondary deterioration).
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To determine the optimal use and indications of electroencephalography (EEG) in critical care management of acute brain injury (ABI). An electronic literature search was conducted for articles in English describing electrophysiological monitoring in ABI from January 1990 to August 2013. A total of 165 studies were included. ⋯ Data obtained from both EEG and EP studies may help estimate prognosis in ABI patients, particularly following CA and traumatic brain injury. Data supporting these recommendations is sparse, and high quality studies are needed. EEG is used to monitor and detect seizures and ischemia in ICU patients and indications for EEG are clear for certain disease states, however, uncertainty remains on other applications.
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability worldwide. In large part critical care for TBI is focused on the identification and management of secondary brain injury. This requires effective neuromonitoring that traditionally has centered on intracranial pressure (ICP). ⋯ Increased ICP, particularly the pattern of the increase and ICP refractory to treatment is associated with increased mortality. Class I evidence is lacking on how monitoring and management of ICP influences outcome. However, a large body of observational data suggests that ICP management has the potential to influence outcome, particularly when care is targeted and individualized and supplemented with data from other monitors including the clinical examination and imaging.