Neurocritical care
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This summary of the last session of the First Neurocritical Care Research Conference reviews the discussions about research priorities in neurocritical care. The first presentation reviewed current projects funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the National Institutes of Health and potential models to follow including an independent Neurocritical Care Network or the creation of such a network with the goal of collaborating with already existing ones. ⋯ Finally, utility of clinical registries was discussed emphasizing their importance as hypothesis generators. During the group discussion, interests in comparative effectiveness research, the use of physiological endpoints from monitoring and alternate trial design were expressed.
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Comparative Study
The occurrence of pneumonia diagnosis among neurosurgical patients: the definition matters.
Diagnosis of pneumonia in the hospital setting is a challenge due to the absence of a generally accepted pneumonia definition. ⋯ There was great variability in the presence of pneumonia among neurosurgical patients, depending on the criteria used. Our results support the idea that a more exact method for pneumonia diagnosis should be implemented to obtain more reliable results in this important infection of hospitalized patients, which is also used for benchmarking purposes. Furthermore, it seems important to treat all clinically suspected pneumonia cases whether or not the surveillance criteria are fulfilled.
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The most widely used and most studied coma score to date is the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), which is used worldwide to assess level of consciousness and predict outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Our aim was to determine whether the Full Outline of UnResponsiveness (FOUR) score is an accurate predictor of outcome in TBI patients and to compare its performance to GCS. ⋯ The FOUR score is an accurate predictor of outcome in TBI patients. It has some advantages over GCS, such as all components of FOUR score but not GCS can be rated in intubated patients.
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Autonomic dysfunction after stroke is common and relates to unfavorable outcome. The pathophysiology of autonomic impairment after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is unknown. This study examined the relationship between intraventricular hemorrhage extension (IVH) and autonomic dysregulation after ICH. ⋯ Hematoma extension to the third and fourth ventricle seems to cause profound autonomic dysregulation, possibly contributing to poor outcome. Patients with IVH in this location should be monitored vigorously to prevent and treat complications of autonomic failure.
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Neurocritical care is a new subspecialty field in medicine that intersects with many of the neuroscience and critical care specialties, and continues to evolve in its scope of practice and practitioners. The objective of this study was to assess the perceived need for and roles of neurocritical care intensivists and neurointensive care units among physicians involved with intensive care and the neurosciences. ⋯ Broad level of support exists among the survey respondents (mostly neurologists and intensivists) for the establishment of neurological critical care units. Since neurology remains the predominant career path from which to draw neurointensivists, there may be a role for more comprehensive neurointensive care training within neurology residencies or an alternative training track for interested residents.