Brain injury : [BI]
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Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2011
A prospective study of early versus late craniectomy after traumatic brain injury.
Decompressive craniectomy is an important method for managing traumatic brain injury (TBI). At present, controversies about this procedure exist, especially about the optimum operative time for patients with TBI. ⋯ Early decompressive craniectomy as a first-tier therapy for intracranial hypertension did not improve patient outcome when compared with "late" decompressive craniectomy for managing TBI.
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Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2011
Long-term outcome and health status in decompressive craniectomized patients with intractable intracranial pressure after severe brain injury.
Decompressive craniectomy (DC) in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a controversial therapeutic strategy. The long-term functional recovery and health status in a sample of decompressive craniectomized TBI are reported. ⋯ Craniectomized patients with TBI achieved good long-term outcome, although they experienced significant difficulties in health status.
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Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2011
Head injury in polytrauma-Is there an effect on outcome more than 10 years after the injury?
Head injuries are of great relevance for the prognosis of polytrauma patients during acute care. However, knowledge about the impact on the long-term outcome is sparse. Therefore, this study analysed the role of head injuries on the outcome of polytrauma patients more than 10 years after injury in a matched-pair analysis. ⋯ Matching pairs of equally injured polytrauma patients of same gender with and without head injury 10 years following trauma indicated significantly worse results in the GOS due to head injury.
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Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2011
Exploring the sources of 'missingness' in brain tissue monitoring datasets: an observational cohort study.
To investigate the frequency/category of missing electronic data in export files from patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ Sixty-two patients were studied; 60% of missing T(br) and ICP data events were attributed to electronic data acquisition 'faults'. Missing data rate ranged from 9-43% (median 25%). Cross-reference of missing data to clinical observation sheets and medical case notes shows that disconnection of sensors from monitors during critical events are common. Conclusions and implications for further research: Of concern for clinical management of patients with TBI is the detection of sudden changes in ICP or brain temperature; the parameters which forewarn of impending intracranial catastrophes. Missing data occurred at critical times of the patients stay in the ICU. This work should alert research clinicians of the need to scrutinize monitored physiological data to establish the percentage of missing values in order to obviate bias in the interpretation of results.