Neurocritical care
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This review explores low-cost neurocritical care interventions for resource-limited settings, including economical devices, innovative care models, and disease-specific strategies. Devices like inexpensive ventilators, wearable technology, smartphone-based ultrasound, brain4care, transcranial Doppler, and smartphone pupillometry offer effective diagnostic and monitoring capabilities. Initiatives such as intermediate care units, minimally equipped stroke units, and tele-neurocritical care have demonstrated benefits by reducing hospital stays, preventing complications, and improving clinical and economic outcomes. The review emphasizes locally applicable tailored approaches for diagnosing and managing conditions such as traumatic brain injury, neuroinfections, status epilepticus, autoimmune neurological disorders, and acute stroke as viable and affordable solutions.
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of health loss and disabilities globally, burdening health care systems. Mild TBI is a common cause of emergency department visits. Computed tomography (CT) scans are the mainstay for acute TBI imaging. ⋯ These findings indicate that S100B analysis could minimize the need for unnecessary CT scans in individuals with mild TBI. The test's diagnostic accuracy improves when the S100B analysis is done within 3 h of the injury. However, further research is warranted to validate its superiority to other biomarkers before considering it the standard routine for managing mild TBI.
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Intrathecal nicardipine (ITN) is an investigational therapy for cerebral vasospasm (CVS) and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The objective of this scoping review was to characterize the current state of the literature and map the current available evidence, examine research methodology, clarify key concepts and definitions in the literature, report procedural characteristics, identify and analyze knowledge gaps, and serve as a precursor for future systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials. An electronic search for studies on ITN for the treatment of CVS and DCI in patients with aSAH was conducted in accordance with published standards. ⋯ Study designs, drug administration, dosing regimens, drug concentrations, pharmacokinetics, patient selection, duration of therapy, outcome measures, adverse event monitoring, and definitions of CVS and DCI used are synthesized and discussed. Despite advances in the care of patients with aSAH, CVS and DCI remain leading causes of morbidity and mortality, and ITN represents a potential therapy to help prevent and treat this disease process. With one published randomized controlled trial on one method of administration, one trial underway on a second method of administration, and numerous heterogeneous and primarily retrospective studies published to date, future study with an emphasis on homogenizing study design and outcomes measured is needed to better understand this potential therapy.
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Head elevation is recommended as a tier zero measure to decrease high intracranial pressure (ICP) in neurocritical patients. However, its quantitative effects on cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), jugular bulb oxygen saturation (SjvO2), brain tissue partial pressure of oxygen (PbtO2), and arteriovenous difference of oxygen (AVDO2) are uncertain. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of head elevation on ICP, CPP, SjvO2, PbtO2, and AVDO2 among patients with acute brain injury. ⋯ Increasing degrees of head elevation were associated, in general, with a lower ICP, whereas CPP and brain oxygenation parameters remained unchanged. The severe traumatic brain injury subanalysis found similar results.
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Review Meta Analysis
Safety and Outcome of Admission to Step-Down Level of Care in Patients with Low-Risk Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most devastating type of stroke, and it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Patients with a spontaneous ICH are routinely admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). However, an ICU is a valuable and limited resource, and not all patients may require this level of care. ⋯ Risk of bias was low to moderate for each outcome. The available literature suggests that a select subgroup of patients with ICH may be safely admitted to the SU without affecting short-term outcome, potentially saving in-hospital resources and reducing length of stay. Further studies are needed to identify specific and reliable characteristics of this subgroup of patients.