Neurocritical care
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The relationship between serum lipid level and clinical outcome after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains controversial. We sought to evaluate the association of serum lipid levels with clinical outcomes in patients with ICH. ⋯ Low TG levels at hospital admission were an independent predictor for unfavorable long-term outcomes in patients with spontaneous ICH. The exact mechanisms of the association need further investigations.
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Surrogate decision makers for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are frequently asked to make difficult decisions on use of life-sustaining treatments. We explored ICH surrogate satisfaction with decision making and experience of decision regret using validated measures in a prospective multicenter study. ⋯ Considering the severity and abruptness of ICH, it is reassuring that surrogate satisfaction with decision making was generally high and regret was generally low. However, more work is needed to define the appropriate outcome measures and optimal methods of recruitment for studies of surrogate decision makers of ICH patients.
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Telemetric intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is a new method of measuring ICP which eliminates some of the shortcomings of previous methods. However, there are limited data on specific characteristics, including the advantages and disadvantages of this method. The main aim of this study was to demonstrate the indications, benefits, and complications of telemetric ICP monitoring. ⋯ The associated complication rate was 7.1%. Despite the increasing application of telemetric monitoring devices, studies to evaluate specific characteristics of this method have been infrequent and inadequate. Future research using a higher level of scientific methods is needed to evaluate advantage and disadvantages.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Teaching Important Basic EEG Patterns of Bedside Electroencephalography to Critical Care Staffs: A Prospective Multicenter Study.
Continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) is commonly recommended for neurocritical care patients. Routine implementation of such monitoring requires the specific training of professionals. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of a training program on initiation of the basic interpretation of cEEG for critical care staff in a prospective multicenter study. ⋯ A training strategy for the basic interpretation of EEG in ICUs, consisting of a face-to-face EEG course supplemented with reinforcement of knowledge by e-learning, was associated with significant resignation and an effectiveness of training allowing 71% of learners to accurately recognize important basic EEG patterns encountered in critically ill patients.
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Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is an extracorporeal process in which a large volume of whole blood is taken from the patient's vein. Plasma is then separated from the other cellular components of the blood and discarded while the remaining blood components may then be returned to the patient. Replacement fluids such as albumin or fresh-frozen plasma may or may not be used. ⋯ It is important to note that not only does TPE removes pathologic elements from the plasma, but may also remove drugs, which may be an intended or unintended consequence. The objective of the current review is to provide an up-to-date summary of the available evidence pertaining to drug removal via TPE and provide relevant clinical suggestions where applicable. This review also aims to provide an easy-to-follow clinical tool in order to determine the possibility of a drug removal via TPE given the procedure-specific and pharmacokinetic drug properties.