Neurocritical care
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Previous studies suggest that case mortality of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) has decreased during the last decades, but most studies have been unable to assess case severities among individual patients. We aimed to assess changes in severity-adjusted aSAH mortality in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). ⋯ Between 2003 and 2019, patients with aSAH admitted to ICUs became older and the proportion of less severe cases increased. Unadjusted mortality decreased but age and case severity adjusted-mortality remained unchanged.
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Brain death (BD), the irreversible cessation of function in the whole brain, is a well-known condition in most countries. The criteria and practical guidelines for brain death determination (BDD) in China were issued by the Brain Injury Evaluation Quality Control Center (BQCC) of the National Health and Family Planning Commission in 2013. Thereafter, we proposed a plan called the three-step quality control plan (three-step QCP) to ensure the safety and consistency of the clinical judgments regarding BD. By retrospectively reviewing this plan, we aimed to identify problems during its implementation and to provide suggestions for future work on quality control for BDD. ⋯ The three-step QCP is of significant utility for ensuring accuracy and appropriateness in BDD. Simultaneously, this study provides important evidence for advancing quality control for BDD in the next stage.
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Anticoagulant use prior to trauma has been associated with increased incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) progression, and mortality. Prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs) are commonly used as off-label treatments for factor Xa inhibitor-associated life-threatening hemorrhage. At this time, there is no consensus regarding appropriate indication, target dose, or outcomes of PCC administration in patients presenting with traumatic ICH. This study seeks to evaluate the impact of reversal with PCC on hemorrhage progression and outcomes in patients with TBI on preinjury factor Xa inhibitors. ⋯ This study demonstrated that PCC used for the treatment of factor Xa inhibitor-associated ICH related to mild TBI did not significantly impact the incidence or degree of hemorrhage progression, and PCC treatment did not result in increased thromboembolic events.
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Patients with traumatic brain injury associated with intracranial hemorrhage are commonly admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU); however, the need for ICU care for patients with isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (tSAH) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between the ICU admission practices and outcomes in patients with isolated tSAH. ⋯ There was no significant association between the ICU admission practices and outcomes in patients with isolated tSAH, whereas higher ICU admission rates were associated with significantly higher hospitalization costs. Our results provide an opportunity for improved health care allocation in the management of patients with isolated tSAH.