Seminars in neurology
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Pediatric neurocritical care is a growing subspecialty of pediatric intensive care that focuses on the management of acute neurological diseases in children. A brief history of the field of pediatric neurocritical care is provided. Neuromonitoring strategies for children are reviewed. Management of major categories of acute childhood central neurologic diseases are reviewed, including treatment of diseases associated with intracranial hypertension, seizures and status epilepticus, stroke, central nervous system infection and inflammation, and hypoxic-ischemic injury.
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Seminars in neurology · Dec 2016
ReviewGetting Rid of Weakness in the ICU: An Updated Approach to the Acute Management of Myasthenia Gravis and Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
After prompt diagnosis, severe myasthenia gravis and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) usually require management in the intensive care unit. In the myasthenic patient, recognition of precipitating factors is paramount, and frequent monitoring of bulbar, upper airway, and/or respiratory muscle strength is needed to identify impending myasthenic crisis. Noninvasive ventilation can be attempted prior to intubation and mechanical ventilation in the setting of respiratory failure. ⋯ In GBS, hemodynamic and respiratory monitoring are essential; however, respiratory failure can develop rapidly and intubation with mechanical ventilation is often required and can be prolonged. Guillain-Barré syndrome can also be complicated by dysautonomia necessitating specific therapies. Prompt recognition and initiation of immunotherapy including intravenous immunoglobulin or plasmapheresis, together with supportive care including treatment of underlying infections and physical therapy, can improve outcomes in both myasthenic crisis and GBS.
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Seminars in neurology · Dec 2016
ReviewCritical Care of Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injuries: Preventing Secondary Injury.
The incidence of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) has not changed much over the years due to an aging population suffering falls, yet advances have been made in quality of life and survival time. In addition to initial medical and surgical stabilization, modern intensive care unit (ICU) care throughout the critical early period following SCI is essential to avoid continued secondary injury to the spinal cord. Cervical SCI patients are particularly prone and sensitive to periods of cardiovascular instability and respiratory failure directly resulting from their injuries. Preclinical and class III clinical data suggest improved outcomes by maintaining the mean arterial pressure > 85 mm Hg and avoiding hypoxemia at least for 7 days following cervical SCI, and this level of monitoring and support should occur in the ICU.
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The evidence linking delirium to poor outcomes after critical illness is compelling, including higher mortality, prolonged mechanical ventilation, longer length of intensive care unit stay, and long-term cognitive impairments. The attitude toward delirium in the neurologic community is shifting away from viewing it as an unmodifiable, inevitable consequence of severe illness to treating it is as a neurologic emergency, akin to seizures or encephalitis. Delirium, like other manifestations of critical illness encephalopathy, is an organ dysfunction syndrome. ⋯ There is scant evidence for directed pharmacological treatment of delirium, but multicomponent care bundles that address the management of pain, agitation, sedation, and delirium are effective at reducing the burden of delirium in the general intensive care unit population. The management of delirium in the neurologic intensive care environment is mostly extrapolated from studies on general medical critical illness and noncritically ill neurologic patients. Further investigation into the unique risks and management needs of critically ill neurologic and neurosurgical patients is needed to reduce the burden of delirium in that population.