Neurocritical care
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Practice Guideline Meta Analysis
Guidelines for Seizure Prophylaxis in Adults Hospitalized with Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Clinical Practice Guideline for Health Care Professionals from the Neurocritical Care Society.
There is practice heterogeneity in the use, type, and duration of prophylactic antiseizure medications (ASMs) in patients with moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ Based on GRADE criteria, we suggest that ASM or no ASM may be used in patients hospitalized with moderate-severe TBI (weak recommendation, low quality of evidence). If used, we suggest LEV over PHT/fPHT (weak recommendation, very low quality of evidence) for a short duration (≤ 7 days, weak recommendation, low quality of evidence).
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The Uniform Law Commission paused work of the Drafting Committee to Revise the Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA) in September 2023. ⋯ Most commenting organizations support UDDA revision, but perspectives on the approach vary, so the Drafting Committee could not formulate revisions that would be agreeable to all stakeholders.
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The limited representation from developing countries in the original COME TOGETHER survey gave us an impetus to conduct this survey in the Indian subcontinent. ⋯ Differences from the global survey were noted regarding the following: traumatic brain injury being the most common etiology of coma in India, more frequent practice of sedation interruption, less frequent use of electroencephalography in India, rare use of pharmacological neurostimulants, and home being the most common discharge disposition in India.
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There are pathological conditions in which intracranial hypertension and patent basal cisterns in computed tomography coexist. These situations are not well recognized, which could lead to diagnostic errors and improper management. ⋯ Our study provides preliminary evidence that in selected patients who develop refractory intracranial hypertension with patent basal cisterns and no focal mass effect on computed tomography, controlled lumbar drainage appears to be a therapeutic option. In our study there were no deaths or complications. Prospective and larger studies are needed to confirm our results.
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Intrahospital transportation (IHT) of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common and may have adverse consequences, incurring inherent risks. The data on the frequency and severity of clinical complications linked with IHT are contradictory, and there is no agreement on whether it is safe or potentially challenging for neurocritical care unit patients. Continuous intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is essential in neurointensive care. The role of ICP monitoring and management of cerebral autoregulation impairments in IHT of patients with severe TBI is underinvestigated. The purpose of this nonrandomized retrospective single-center study was to assess the dynamics of ICP and an improved pressure reactivity index (iPRx) as a measure of autoregulation during IHT. ⋯ Both horizontal and vertical transportation causes a significant increase in ICP and iPRx in patients with severe TBI, potentially leading to the outcome worsening.