Neurocritical care
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Case Reports
Anesthetic management of the pregnant patient for endovascular coiling of an unruptured intracranial aneurysm.
Diagnosis of an intracranial aneurysm during pregnancy is a rare event requiring multidisciplinary care for successful management. The knowledge base for the anesthesiologist involves principles of both obstetric and neuroanesthesia, as well as critical care. This article reports such a case and discusses the relevant pathophysiology, along with details of the perioperative management by the anesthesiology team.
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To determine the impact of physiologic doses of hydrocortisone on neurologic outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ Adrenal insufficiency is frequent after TBI, and hydrocortisone replacement therapy seems to be associated with a favorable neurologic outcome.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Recombinant activated factor VII for acute intracerebral hemorrhage: US phase IIA trial.
Ultra-early hemostatic therapy may improve outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) by preventing rebleeding and hematoma expansion. We conducted this trial to evaluate the safety of activated recombinant factor VII (rFVIIa; NovoSeven) for preventing early hematoma growth in acute ICH. ⋯ Ultra-early rFVIIa treatment for ICH was associated with a reasonable safety profile in this preliminary study across a wide range of dosages. Further research is warranted to investigate the safety and potential efficacy of rFVIIa for minimizing ICH growth.
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Blood coagulation and hemostasis issues are important aspects of patient care in acute neurosurgical patients. Coagulopathy often complicates the already difficult management of cerebrovascular and intracranial hemorrhagic disease and injuries, adding to the already high associated morbidity and mortality. Common causes of coagulopathy, as well as its management in acute neurosurgical settings, are outlined in this review. Awareness of how to promptly evaluate and effectively treat coagulopathic processes is instrumental to the success of the neurosurgeon in managing acute intracranial pathologies.