Articles: brain-injuries.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Aug 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialResuscitation with hypertonic saline-dextran reduces serum biomarker levels and correlates with outcome in severe traumatic brain injury patients.
In the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), the choice of fluid and osmotherapy is important. There are practical and theoretical advantages to the use of hypertonic saline. S100B, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and myelin-basic protein (MBP) are commonly assessed biomarkers of brain injury with potential utility as diagnostic and prognostic indicators of outcome after TBI, but they have not previously been studied in the context of fluid resuscitation. ⋯ HSD-resuscitated patients with favorable outcomes exhibited the lowest serum S100B and NSE concentrations, while maximal levels were found in NS-treated patients with unfavorable outcomes. The lowest biomarker levels were seen in survivors resuscitated with HSD, while maximal levels were in NS-resuscitated patients with fatal outcome. Pre-hospital resuscitation with HSD is associated with a reduction in serum S100B, NSE, and MBP concentrations, which are correlated with better outcome after severe TBI.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Aug 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialProstacyclin treatment in severe traumatic brain injury: a microdialysis and outcome study.
Prostacyclin (PGI(2)) is a potent vasodilator, inhibitor of leukocyte adhesion, and platelet aggregation. In trauma the balance between PGI(2) and thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)) is shifted towards TXA(2). Externally provided PGI(2) would, from a theoretical and experimental point of view, improve the microcirculation in injured brain tissue. This study is a prospective consecutive double-blinded randomized study on the effect of PGI(2) versus placebo in severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI). All patients with sTBI were eligible. ⋯ verified sTBI, Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) at intubation and sedation of
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of mechanical chest percussion on intracranial pressure: a pilot study.
Treatment of brain injury is often focused on minimizing intracranial pressure, which, when elevated, can lead to secondary brain injury. Chest percussion is a common practice used to treat and prevent pneumonia. Conflicting and limited anecdotal evidence indicates that physical stimulation increases intracranial pressure and should be avoided in patients at risk of intracranial hypertension. ⋯ Mechanical chest percussion may be a safe intervention for nurses to use on neurologically injured patients who are at risk for intracranial hypertension.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Jun 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialDiscrete cerebral hypothermia in the management of traumatic brain injury: a randomized controlled trial.
Hypothermia has been extensively evaluated in the management of traumatic brain injury (TBI), but no consensus as to its effectiveness has yet been reached. Explanatory hypotheses include a possible confounding effect of the neuroprotective benefits by adverse systemic effects. To minimize the systemic effects, the authors evaluated a selective cerebral cooling system, the CoolSystem Discrete Cerebral Hypothermia System (a "cooling cap"), in the management of TBI. ⋯ The cooling cap was not effective in establishing a statistically significant cranial-bladder temperature gradient or in reaching the target intracranial temperature in the majority of patients. No significant difference was achieved in mortality or morbidity between the 2 groups. As the technology currently stands, the Discrete Cerebral Hypothermia System cooling cap is not beneficial for the management of TBI. Further refinement of the equipment available for the delivery of selective cranial cooling will be needed before any definite conclusions regarding the efficacy of discrete cerebral hypothermia can be reached.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Intensive insulin therapy on infection rate, days in NICU, in-hospital mortality and neurological outcome in severe traumatic brain injury patients: a randomized controlled trial.
Evaluate the impact of an intensive insulin therapy and conventional glucose control protocol during staying in neurological intensive care unit (NICU) on infection rate, days in NICU, in-hospital mortality and long-term neurological outcome in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. ⋯ Mortality rates at 6 months follow-up are not affected by intensive glucose control in patients with severe TBI. Intensive insulin therapy decreases infection rate and days in NICU and improves the neurological outcome at 6 months follow-up, while has no obvious influence on in-hospital mortality of severe TBI patients.