Neurocritical care
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Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) plays a vital role in mediating apoptosis in the brain following cardiac arrest (CA). Studies have shown that therapeutic hypothermia (TH) provides neuroprotection through anti-apoptosis; however, the effects of temperature variability in TH on the brain remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the different effects of temperature variability through extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on apoptosis and ERS in the brain following CA. ⋯ TH can reduce neuronal apoptosis by ERS, while temperature variability does not attenuate this beneficial effect.
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To compare the assessment of cerebral autoregulation by cerebrovascular reactivity indices based on intracranial pressure (Pressure Reactivity Index, PRx) and on transcranial Doppler (Mean Velocity Index, Mx) during controlled variations of arterial blood pressure in severe brain injury. Primary outcome was the agreement between both cerebrovascular reactivity indices measured by the Bland-and-Altman method. Secondary outcomes were the association of cerebrovascular reactivity indices with arterial blood pressure variation, and the comparison of optimal cerebral perfusion pressures determined by both indices. ⋯ Cerebral vasoreactivity indices calculated with intracranial pressure or transcranial Doppler show only moderate agreement. Both indices nonetheless suggest substantially higher optimal cerebral perfusion pressure than those currently provided by international guidelines.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Variability in Serum Sodium Concentration and Prognostic Significance in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Multicenter Observational Study.
Dysnatremia is common in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients and may contribute to mortality. However, serum sodium variability has not been studied in TBI patients. We hypothesized that such variability would be independently associated with mortality. ⋯ Our study demonstrates that daily serum sodium variability is an independent predictor of 28-day mortality in severe TBI patients. Further prospective investigations are necessary to confirm the significance of sodium variability in larger cohorts of TBI patients and test whether attenuating such variability confers outcome benefits to such patients.
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The World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) scale is widely accepted for predicting outcomes for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients. However, it is difficult to definitely predict outcomes for the most poor grade, WFNS grade 5. The present study aimed to investigate the prognostic ability of a novel classification using computed tomography perfusion (CTP) findings, called the cortical blood flow insufficiency (CBFI) scores. ⋯ High CBFI scores could predict unfavorable and catastrophic outcomes for aneurysmal SAH patients and DCI occurrence.
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To investigate the rates, predictors, and outcomes of prolonged mechanical ventilation (≥ 96 h) following endovascular treatment (EVT) of ischemic stroke. ⋯ Among a nationally representative sample of hospitalizations, nearly one-in-six patients had prolonged mechanical ventilation after EVT. Heart failure and diabetes were significantly associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation following EVT. Prolonged ventilation was associated with significant increase in in-hospital mortality and morbidity.