Neurocritical care
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Emerging evidence suggests that biofluid-based biomarkers have diagnostic and prognostic potential in traumatic brain injuries (TBI). However, owing to the lack of a conceptual framework or comprehensive review, it is difficult to visualize the breadth of materials that might be available. We conducted a systematic scoping review to map and categorize the evidence regarding biofluid-based biochemical markers of TBI. ⋯ However, there was no single definitive biomarker with accurate characteristics. The present categorization would be a road map to investigate the biomarkers of the brain injury cascade separately and detect the most representative biomarker of each category. Also, this comprehensive categorization could provide a guiding framework to design combined panels of multiple biomarkers.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Predictors of Surrogate Decision Makers Selecting Life-Sustaining Therapy for Severe Acute Brain Injury Patients: An Analysis of US Population Survey Data.
Patients with a severe acute brain injury admitted to the intensive care unit often have a poor neurological prognosis. In these situations, a clinician is responsible for conducting a goals-of-care conversation with the patient's surrogate decision makers. The diversity in thought and background of surrogate decision makers can present challenges during these conversations. For this reason, our study aimed to identify predictive characteristics of US surrogate decision makers' favoring life-sustaining treatment (LST) over comfort measures only for patients with severe acute brain injury. ⋯ Several demographic and decisional characteristics of US surrogate decision makers predict LST selection for patients with severe brain injury with varying degrees of poor prognosis. Surrogates concerned about the cost of medical care may nevertheless be inclined to select LST, albeit with high levels of decisional uncertainty, for patients projected to have severe disabilities.