Neurocritical care
-
Despite application of the multimodal European Resuscitation Council and European Society of Intensive Care Medicine algorithm, neurological prognosis of patients who remain comatose after cardiac arrest remains uncertain in a large group of patients. In this study, we investigate the additional predictive value of visual and quantitative brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to electroencephalography (EEG) for outcome estimation of comatose patients after cardiac arrest. ⋯ Magnetic resonance imaging is complementary with EEG for the prediction of poor and good outcome of patients after cardiac arrest who are comatose at admission.
-
Heterogeneity is recognized as a major barrier in efforts to improve the care and outcomes of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Even within the narrower stratum of moderate and severe TBI, current management approaches do not capture the complexity of this condition characterized by manifold clinical, anatomical, and pathophysiologic features. One approach to heterogeneity may be to resolve undifferentiated TBI populations into endotypes, subclasses that are distinguished by shared biological characteristics. ⋯ In intensive care, endotypes are being investigated for syndromes such as sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. This review provides an overview of the endotype paradigm as well as some of its methods and use cases. A conceptual framework is proposed for endotype research in moderate and severe TBI, together with a scientific road map for endotype discovery and validation in this population.
-
Delayed cerebral ischemia increases mortality and morbidity after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Various techniques are applied to detect cerebral vasospasm and hypoperfusion. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound perfusion imaging (UPI) is able to detect cerebral hypoperfusion in acute ischemic stroke. This prospective study aimed to evaluate the use of UPI to enable detection of cerebral hypoperfusion after aSAH. ⋯ UPI is feasible to enable detection of cerebral tissue hypoperfusion after aSAH, and the left-right difference of TTP values is the most indicative result of this finding.
-
Hyperventilation resulting in hypocapnic alkalosis (HA) is frequently encountered in spontaneously breathing patients with acute cerebrovascular conditions. The underlying mechanisms of this respiratory response have not been fully elucidated. The present study describes, applying the physical-chemical approach, the acid-base characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and arterial plasma of spontaneously breathing patients with aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and compares these results with those of control patients. Moreover, it investigates the pathophysiologic mechanisms leading to HA in SAH. ⋯ Patients with SAH have a reduction of CSF SID due to an increased lactate concentration. The resulting localized acidifying effect is compensated by CSF hypocapnia, yielding normal CSF pH values and resulting in a higher incidence of arterial HA.
-
Observational Study
Predicting Clinical Outcomes 7-10 Years after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: Exploring the Prognostic Utility of the IMPACT Lab Model and Cerebrospinal Fluid UCH-L1 and MAP-2.
Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major contributor to disability and mortality in the industrialized world. Outcomes of severe TBI are profoundly heterogeneous, complicating outcome prognostication. Several prognostic models have been validated for acute prediction of 6-month global outcomes following TBI (e.g., morbidity/mortality). In this preliminary observational prognostic study, we assess the utility of the International Mission on Prognosis and Analysis of Clinical Trials in TBI (IMPACT) Lab model in predicting longer term global and cognitive outcomes (7-10 years post injury) and the extent to which cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers enhance outcome prediction. ⋯ Although preliminary, results suggest that existing prognostic models, including models with incorporation of CSF markers, may be applied to predict outcome of severe TBI years after injury. Continued research is needed examining early predictors of longer-term outcomes following TBI to identify potential targets for clinical trials that could impact long-ranging functional and cognitive outcomes.