Neurocritical care
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Letter Meta Analysis
Intravenous Nimodipine Versus Enteral Nimodipine: The Meta-analysis Paradox.
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Continuous monitoring of cerebral oxygenation is one of the diagnostic tools used in patients with brain injury. Direct and invasive measurement of cerebral oxygenation with a partial brain oxygen pressure (PbtO2) probe is promising but invasive. Noninvasive assessment of regional transcranial oxygen saturation using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) may be feasible. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interchangeability between PbtO2 and NIRS over time in patients with nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. ⋯ PbtO2 and NIRS measurements were not correlated. There is no evidence that NIRS could be a substitute for PbtO2 monitoring in patients with nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage.
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Observational Study
Application of a TEG-Platelet Mapping Algorithm to Guide Reversal of Antiplatelet Agents in Adults with Mild-to-Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury: An Observational Pilot Study.
Traumatic intracranial hemorrhages expand in one third of cases, and antiplatelet medications may exacerbate hematoma expansion. However, the reversal of an antiplatelet effect with platelet transfusion has been associated with harm. We sought to determine whether a thromboelastography platelet mapping (TEG-PM)-guided algorithm could limit platelet transfusion in patients with hemorrhagic traumatic brain injury (TBI) prescribed antiplatelet medications without a resultant clinically significant increase in hemorrhage volume, late hemostatic treatments, or delayed operative intervention. ⋯ Among patients with hemorrhagic TBI prescribed preinjury antiplatelet therapy, our study suggests that the use of a TEG-PM algorithm may reduce platelet transfusions without a concurrent increase in clinically significant hematoma expansion. Further study is required to prove a causative relationship.
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Brain oxygenation improvement is a sought-after goal in neurocritical care patients. Previously, we have shown that cerebral blood flow improvement by cardiac-gated intracranial pressure (ICP) modulation using an intracranial pulsating balloon is feasible in a swine model. We sought to explore specific ICP modulation protocols to assess the feasibility of influencing brain oxygenation. ⋯ Intracranial cardiac-gated balloon pump activation can influence cerebral oxygenation and raise PbtO2 above threshold values. This study supports the concept of late-diastolic pressure rise, coupled with early-systolic pressure drop, as a potential effector of flow augmentation leading to improve brain tissue oxygenation. Further studies are warranted to assess the translational potential of using an intracranial cardiac-gated balloon pump device to improve brain tissue oxygenation.