Neurocritical care
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Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been suggested as a treatment option for refractory status epilepticus (RSE) and super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE). ⋯ There are level-4 Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine evidence and low-level Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Education evidence that suggest ECT as a treatment option for RSE and SRSE. In light of the limitations of the existing evidence, clinicians should carefully consider individual patients' clinical contexts when deciding on the appropriateness of ECT as a treatment option. Further research, including prospective studies with controlled designs, is needed to elucidate the efficacy, safety, and optimal regime of ECT in the management of RSE and SRSE.
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Early mobilization has been shown to promote functional recovery and prevent complications in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). However, the efficacy of early mobilization in patients with aSAH remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between early mobilization and functional outcomes in patients with aSAH. ⋯ This multicenter retrospective study suggests that initiating walking training within 14 days of aSAH onset is associated with favorable outcomes.
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Multicenter Study
Mortality, Functional Status, and Quality of Life after 5 Years of Patients Admitted to Critical Care for Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.
The objective of this study was to assess long-term outcome in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage admitted to the intensive care unit. ⋯ In patients admitted to the intensive care unit with a diagnosis of nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage, hospital mortality up to 90 days after admission is very high. Between 90 days and 5 years after admission, mortality is not high. A large percentage of survivors presented a significant deficit in quality of life and functional status, although with progressive improvement over time. Five years after the hemorrhagic stroke, a survival of 30% was observed, with a good functional status seen in 20% of patients who had been admitted to the hospital.
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Neuromonitoring devices are often used in traumatic brain injury. The objective of this report is to raise awareness concerning variations in optimal cerebral perfusion pressure (CPPopt) determination using exploratory information provided by two neuromonitoring monitors that are part of research programs (Moberg CNS Monitor and RAUMED NeuroSmart LogO). ⋯ These wide variations recorded in the same patient are worrisome and reiterate the importance of understanding and standardizing the methodology and algorithms behind commercial neuromonitoring devices prior to incorporating them in clinical use.
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Observational Study
Should Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury with Significant Contusions be Treated with Different Neurointensive Care Targets?
Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) with large contusions make up a specific TBI subtype. Because of the risk of brain edema worsening, elevated cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) may be particularly dangerous. The pressure reactivity index (PRx) and optimal cerebral perfusion pressure (CPPopt) are new promising perfusion targets based on cerebral autoregulation, but they reflect the global brain state and may be less valid in patients with predominant focal lesions. In this study, we aimed to investigate if patients with TBI with significant contusions exhibited a different association between PRx, CPP, and CPPopt in relation to functional outcome compared to those with small/no contusions. ⋯ In patients with TBI with significant contusions, CPP within 60-70 mm Hg may improve outcome. PRx and CPPopt, which reflect global cerebral pressure autoregulation, may be useful in patients with TBI without significant focal brain lesions but seem less valid for those with large contusions. However, this was an observational, hypothesis-generating study; our findings need to be validated in prospective studies before translating them into clinical practice.