Neurocritical care
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Review Meta Analysis
Evidence for Mannitol as an Effective Agent Against Intracranial Hypertension: An Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis.
Mannitol is currently used to reduce intracranial pressure (ICP), but the evidence supporting its usefulness has been questioned. We aim to meta-analyze the effectiveness of mannitol in reducing ICP in adult patients with cerebral injuries and its dependency on baseline ICP values, comparing findings from individual patient data (IPD) and aggregated data (AD) meta-analysis performed on the same studies. We searched the Medline database, with no time limitation, through March 1, 2019. ⋯ The AD meta-analysis, based on data collected between 30 and 60 min from mannitol administration not accounting for multiple time-point measurements, overestimated ICP reduction (10 mmHg), while meta-regression provided similar results (0.66 mmHg decrease for each unitary increase of initial ICP). Mannitol is effective in reducing pathological ICP, proportionally to the degree of intracranial hypertension. IPD meta-analysis provided a more precise quantification of ICP variation than the AD approach.
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Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is among the most dreaded complications following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Despite advances in neurocritical care, DCI remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, prolonged intensive care unit and hospital stay, and high healthcare costs. Large artery vasospasm has classically been thought to lead to DCI. However, recent failure of clinical trials targeting vasospasm to improve outcomes has underscored the disconnect between large artery vasospasm and DCI. Therefore, interest has shifted onto other potential mechanisms such as microvascular dysfunction and spreading depolarizations. Animal models can be instrumental in dissecting pathophysiology, but clinical relevance can be difficult to establish. ⋯ To facilitate translation, clinically relevant animal models that reproduce the pathophysiology and cardinal features of DCI after SAH are urgently needed.
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Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is among the most dreaded complications following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Despite advances in neurocritical care, DCI remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, prolonged intensive care unit and hospital stay, and high healthcare costs. Large artery vasospasm has classically been thought to lead to DCI. However, recent failure of clinical trials targeting vasospasm to improve outcomes has underscored the disconnect between large artery vasospasm and DCI. Therefore, interest has shifted onto other potential mechanisms such as microvascular dysfunction and spreading depolarizations. Animal models can be instrumental in dissecting pathophysiology, but clinical relevance can be difficult to establish. ⋯ To facilitate translation, clinically relevant animal models that reproduce the pathophysiology and cardinal features of DCI after SAH are urgently needed.
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Review Meta Analysis
Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Traumatic Brain Injury: A Meta-analysis.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most severe complications in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is considered a risk factor for poor outcomes. However, the incidence of VAP among patients with TBI reported in studies varies widely. What is more, the risk factors and outcomes of VAP are controversial. ⋯ However, VAP was not associated with an increased risk of mortality (OR 1.28; 95% CI 0.74-2.21). VAP is common in patients with TBI. It is affected by a series of factors and has a poor prognosis.
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Meta Analysis
Imaging for Neuroprognostication After Cardiac Arrest: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Predicting neurological outcome in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest relies on clinical findings, radiological and neurophysiological test results. To evaluate the predictive accuracy of brain computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for prognostication of neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest. ⋯ Decreased grey to white matter ratio on CT and DWI or DWI and FLAIR on MRI are useful adjuncts for predicting poor early neurological outcome after cardiac arrest.