Neurocritical care
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We aim to investigate whether therapeutic-induced normothermia (TIN) ≤ 37.5 °C, by means of intravascular cooling devices is more efficacious than standard medical therapy (MED) in alleviating metabolic crisis (MC) acutely following traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ Therapeutic normothermia, using intravascular cooling, results in a reduction in the burden of MC. This differential effect occurs despite equivalent control of ICP in both TIN and MED treatments. These results demonstrate proof of concept of normothermia, when applied in a controlled manner, being neuroprotective.
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Observational Study
Non-convulsive Status Epilepticus and Non-convulsive Seizures in Neurological ICU Patients.
Non-convulsive seizures (NCS) or non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) has been reported in 8-20 % of critically ill patient populations, and delayed diagnosis and treatment of NCSE may lead to increased mortality. This study seeks to better understand the risk factors, characteristics, and outcome of NCS/NCSE in the neurological ICU. ⋯ Specific clinical features along with history and imaging findings may be used to identify patients at high risk of NCSE/NCS in the neurological ICU.
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Therapeutic strategies that cause an alteration in patient temperature, such as controlled normothermia (CN), therapeutic hypothermia (TH), and pentobarbital infusion (PI), are often used to manage complications caused by acute brain injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of vancomycin in patients with acute brain injury undergoing temperature modulation. ⋯ Patients who underwent TH/PI did not exhibit PK alterations when compared to predicted PK parameters based on population data, while patients who underwent CN experienced PK alterations favoring an increased elimination of vancomycin.
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Hypertonic saline therapy is often used in critically ill subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients for indications ranging from control of intracranial hypertension to managing symptomatic hyponatremia. The risk factors for developing acute kidney injury (AKI) in this patient population are not well defined. ⋯ The maximum daily sodium is a significant risk factor for developing AKI in patients with SAH.
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Kidney hyperfiltration with augmented renal clearance is frequently observed in patients with traumatic brain injury. The aim of this study is to report preliminary findings about the relationship between brain autoregulation impairment, estimated kidney glomerular filtration rate and outcome in critically ill patients after severe traumatic brain injury. ⋯ Better cerebral autoregulation evaluated with cerebrovascular PRx is significantly correlated with augmented renal clearance in TBI patients and associates with better outcome.