Clinical neurology and neurosurgery
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Mar 2016
Cost-effectiveness analysis of CTA and LP for evaluation of suspected SAH after negative non-contrast CT.
Diagnostic workup of patients presenting with thunderclap headache and negative initial head CT remains a challenge, with most commonly employed strategies being lumbar puncture (LP) and CT angiography (CTA). The objective of this study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of these options. ⋯ LP should remain the preferred strategy for evaluation of SAH in patients presenting with thunderclap headache and negative non-contrast head CT. CTA is not an effective replacement, from either a utility or cost perspective.
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Clin Neurol Neurosurg · Mar 2016
TBI prognosis calculator: A mobile application to estimate mortality and morbidity following traumatic brain injury.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a significant public health problem and a leading cause of worldwide mortality and morbidity. Although effective evidence-based guidelines are available to help with management, the first question clinicians and family face is whether or not it is appropriate to intervene at all. To facilitate prognostic assessment and family counseling, we developed mobile application integrating validated TBI prognostic models. ⋯ Prompt and accurate prognosis estimation in TBI is promising. Mobile applications have the potential to enable easier and quicker point-of-care access to validated models, providing additional information to improve management and family counseling. We anticipate that clinicians will find "TBI Prognosis Calculator" useful as an adjunct in their prognostic assessment and family counseling.