• Sheena B Caldwell, Daniel Smith, and F Colin Wilson.
• Regional Acquired Brain Injury Unit (RABIU), Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust , Belfast , UK.
• Brain Inj. 2014 Jan 1;28(3):370-3.

ObjectiveTo review the nutritional requirements of all new inpatient brain injury admissions presenting with Paroxysmal Sympathetic Hyperactivity (PSH) in the rehabilitation setting.MethodsRABIU is a 25-bed Regional facility in Northern Ireland which opened in 2006. All records of patients with a single episode non-progressive acquired brain injury admitted to RABIU from 2006 until the present were reviewed for evidence of PSH. Dietetic assessment and management was examined and recorded.ResultsFour patients with persisting paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity were identified. All patients displayed dystonia and posturing and had clinically important percentage weight loss. All had nutrition and/or hydration requirements markedly above their estimated requirement for slow weight gain, despite adjustment for brain injury. All four had posture-related complications of their dystonia and nutrition.ConclusionCareful monitoring of nutrition, hydration and mineral supplementation is paramount in patients presenting with paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity after brain injury. It is argued that morbidity may be reduced by aggressive and expert nutrition management.

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