Neurocritical care
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Despite improvements in survival after illnesses requiring extracorporeal life support, cerebral injury continues to hinder successful outcomes. Cerebral autoregulation (CA) is an innate protective mechanism that maintains constant cerebral blood flow in the face of varying systemic blood pressure. However, it is impaired in certain disease states and, potentially, following initiation of extracorporeal circulatory support. ⋯ Next, we examine factors intrinsic to ECMO that may affect CA, such as cannulation, changes in pulsatility, the inflammatory and adaptive immune response, intracranial hemorrhage, and ischemic stroke, in addition to ECMO management factors, such as oxygenation, ventilation, flow rates, and blood pressure management. We highlight potential mechanisms that lead to disruption of CA in both pediatric and adult populations, the challenges of measuring CA in these patients, and potential associations with neurological outcome. Altogether, we discuss individualized CA monitoring as a potential target for improving neurological outcomes in extracorporeal life support.
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Cerebral vasospasm (CV) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) remains one of the leading causes of high mortality and poor outcomes. Understanding the risk factors associated with CV is pivotal to improving patients' outcomes. We conducted an extensive search for analytical observational studies that analyzed the correlation between various variables and the likelihood of CV development among adult patients with SAH (age ≥ 18 years). Five scholar databases were used, namely, PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. ⋯ Overall, this systemic review provides a comprehensive summary of the current data that evaluates the potential risk factors for the development of CV after SAH. However, because of data heterogeneity, certain factors require further validation in their correlation with CV development. Larger-scale observational and clinical trials are mandatory to extensively investigate the significant predictors of CV to lay the scientific foundation for improving outcomes in susceptible patients with SAH.
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Multicenter Study
Early Celecoxib Use in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage is Associated with Reduced Mortality.
Hemorrhagic strokes constitute 10-15% of all strokes and have the worst mortality and morbidity of all subtypes. Mortality and morbidity of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) are often secondary to the effects of inflammation, brain edema, and swelling. Studies have shown that celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitor, reduces perihematomal edema formation and inflammation. This study aimed to examine the impact of celecoxib on sICH outcomes. ⋯ There exists a growing interest in using COX-2 as a potential target strategy for neuroprotection in patients with sICH, with some evidence of a mortality benefit in small cohort studies. This study shows that early celecoxib use is associated with decreased mortality in patients with sICH.
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Comment Multicenter Study
Beneficial Effect of Pretreatment Hyperosmolality on Outcome in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: Evidence from a South Korean Multicenter Registry and Propensity Score Matching Analysis.
Hyperosmolar therapy has long been a cornerstone in managing increased intracranial pressure and improving outcomes in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). This therapy hinges on elevating serum osmolality, creating an osmotic gradient that draws excess water from the brain's cellular and interstitial compartments and effectively reducing cerebral edema. Given this information, we hypothesized that the serum hyperosmolality prior to any treatment could significantly impact the clinical outcomes of patients with severe TBI, potentially mitigating secondary cerebral edema after trauma. ⋯ The present study has uncovered a significant correlation between the pretreatment serum osmolality and the clinical outcomes of patients with severe TBI. These findings offer a novel perspective, indicating that a serum hyperosmolality prior to any treatment might potentially have a neuroprotective effect in patients with severe TBI.
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Health disparities continue to plague racial and ethnic underserved patients in the United States. Disparities extend to the most critically ill patients, including those experiencing neurologic injury and patients at the end of life. Achieving health equity in palliative care in the neurointensive care unit requires clinicians to acknowledge and address structural racism and the social determinants of health. This article highlights racial and ethnic disparities in neurocritical care and palliative care and offers recommendations for an anti-racist approach to palliative care in the neurointensive care unit for clinicians.