Neurocritical care
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Multicenter Study
Neurological Pupil Index and Delayed Cerebral Ischemia after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Multicentric Study.
Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) occurs in around 30% of patients suffering from nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and is associated with poor neurological outcome. Whether the Neurological Pupil index (NPi) derived from the automated pupillometry could help to diagnose the occurrence of DCI remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of NPi with the occurrence of DCI in patients with SAH. ⋯ In this study, NPi measured three times a day and derived from the automated pupillometry had a limited value for the diagnosis of DCI in patients with SAH.
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Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is a medical emergency that necessitates direct transfer to a tertiary referral center specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. The initial hours after aneurysmal rupture are critical for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, both in terms of rebleeding and combating the effect of early brain injury. ⋯ Early brain injury after aneurysmal rupture has an important effect on final clinical outcome. Proper cerebral perfusion is pivotal in these initial hours after aneurysmal rupture but threatened by complications such as neurogenic pulmonary edema and cardiac stunning, or by acute hydrocephalus, which may necessitate early drainage of cerebrospinal fluid.
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Aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a type of hemorrhagic stroke that, despite improvement through therapeutic interventions, remains a devastating cerebrovascular disorder that has a high mortality rate and causes long-term disability. Cerebral inflammation after SAH is promoted through microglial accumulation and phagocytosis. Furthermore, proinflammatory cytokine release and neuronal cell death play key roles in the development of brain injury. The termination of these inflammation processes and restoration of tissue homeostasis are of utmost importance regarding the possible chronicity of cerebral inflammation and the improvement of the clinical outcome for affected patients post SAH. Thus, we evaluated the inflammatory resolution phase post SAH and considered indications for potential tertiary brain damage in cases of incomplete resolution. ⋯ By the herein presented molecular and histological data we provide an important indication for an incomplete resolution of inflammation within the brain parenchyma after SAH. Inflammatory resolution and the return to tissue homeostasis represent an important contribution to the disease's pathology influencing the impact on brain damage and outcome after SAH. Therefore, we consider a novel complementary or even superior therapeutic approach that should be carefully rethought in the management of cerebral inflammation after SAH. An acceleration of the resolution phase at the cellular and molecular levels could be a potential aim in this context.
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Observational Study
Blood Pressure Changes in Association with Nimodipine Therapy in Patients with Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.
Nimodipine is recommended to prevent delayed cerebral ischemia in patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Here, we studied hemodynamic side effects of different nimodipine formulations (per os [PO] and intravenous [IV]) in patients with SAH undergoing continuous blood pressure monitoring. ⋯ Significant drops in SBP occur in one third of patients after the start of IV nimodipine and after every tenth PO intake. Early recognition and counteracting with vasopressors or fluids seems necessary to prevent hypotensive episodes.
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Review Meta Analysis
Rapid Versus Gradual Weaning of External Ventricular Drain: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis.
The insertion of an external ventricular drain (EVD) is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures. Whether the weaning method (gradual or rapid) influences the ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) insertion rate has not been conclusively established. The aim of this study is to provide a systematic literature review and conduct a meta-analysis of studies comparing gradual with rapid EVD weaning regarding VPS insertion rate. ⋯ VPS insertion rate was 28.1% and 32.1% in patients with gradual and rapid EVD weaning, respectively (relative risk 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.49-1.46, p = 0.56). Further, the EVDAI rate was comparable between the groups (gradual group 11.2%, rapid group 11.5%, relative risk 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.24-1.89, p = 0.45), whereas length of stay in the ICU and hospital were significantly shorter in the rapid weaning group (2.7 and 3.6 days, respectively; p < 0.01). Rapid EVD weaning seems comparable to gradual EVD weaning concerning VPS insertion rates and EVDAI, whereas hospital and ICU length of stay is significantly reduced.