Annales françaises d'anesthèsie et de rèanimation
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The main purpose of neurointensive care is to fight against cerebral ischaemia. Ischaemia is the cell energy failure following inadequacy between supply of glucose and oxygen and demand. Ischemia monitoring starts with a global approach, especially with cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) determined by mean arterial pressure and intracranial pressure (ICP). ⋯ PtiO(2)-guided management could lead to a continuous optimization of arterial oxygen transport for an optimal cerebral tissue oxygenation. Finally, PtiO(2) has probably a global prognostic value because studies showed that hypoxic values for a long period of time lead to an unfavourable neurologic outcome. In conclusion, PtiO(2) provides additional information for regional monitoring of cerebral ischaemia and deserves more intensive use to better understand it and probably improve neurointensive care management.
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Pupil size reflects the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. Due to technological advances, accurate and repeated pupil size measurements are possible using infrared, video-recorded pupillometers. Two pupil size reflexes are assessed: the pupillary reflex dilation during noxious stimulation, and the pupil light reflex when the pupil is exposed to the light. ⋯ This might be of particular interest in optimizing the management of opioids in anaesthetized patients and in assessing pain levels in the intensive care unit. The pupil light reflex measurement is part of the routine monitoring for severely head-injured patients. The impact of pupillometry in this condition remains to be determined.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jun 2012
Review[Near infrared spectroscopy monitoring in the neurointensive care].
Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can noninvasively measure cerebral saturation in oxygen, that permits to estimate brain oxygenation and metabolism. This technique could be incorporated into a multimodal monitoring for severely brain-injured patients. This review presents the principles of NIRS, its limits, the main results from clinical studies and its perspectives. More clinical studies are needed before recommending the routine use of NIRS in the ICU.
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The clinical importance of cardiovascular consequences resulting from cerebral injury has long been recognized. However, interactions between the brain and the cardiovascular system remain poorly defined and their importance for the management of patients suffering from acute brain injury is largely underestimated. This should have profound consequences on treatment strategies during anaesthesia and intensive cares of these patients, taking into account not only brain perfusion, but also cardiovascular optimisation. This report summarizes the main data available regarding the cardiovascular consequences of brain death, traumatic brain injury, stroke and epilepsy.
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Ann Fr Anesth Reanim · Jun 2012
Review[Pituitary insufficiency after traumatic brain injury: consequences? Screening?].
Traumatic brain injury has been considered for long as a rare cause of hypopituitarism. Recent studies have already shown a prevalence of 30% of pituitary dysfunction following moderate or severe head injury that may persist into the chronic phase of recovery, hypogonadism and GH deficiency being the most common hormonal deficiencies. ⋯ However, there are limited data available regarding the impact of hypopituitarism, and the indications of hormonal replacement (especially GH replacement and hypogonadism treatment) still remain to be defined. The screening strategy for TBI - induced hypopituitarism has recently been revised.