Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2013
Changing trends in the use of seizure prophylaxis after traumatic brain injury: A shift from phenytoin to levetiracetam.
Current guidelines for traumatic brain injury (TBI) recommend antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for 7 days after injury to decrease posttraumatic seizure risk. Phenytoin decreases seizure risk 73% vs placebo during this time. Levetiracetam (LEV) is an alternative; however, no published data validate comparable efficacy. Our objective was to evaluate seizure incidence 7 days after TBI in patients treated with phenytoin (PHT) vs LEV and to characterize practice of AED selection. ⋯ Only 2 patients experienced posttraumatic seizure after receiving AED, indicating low incidence. Most surviving to hospital discharge received AED prophylaxis greater than 7 days despite guideline recommendations. After approval of intravenous LEV, a trend favoring LEV was observed.
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2013
Relationship between plasma high-mobility group box-1 levels and clinical outcomes of ischemic stroke.
High-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) is regarded as a central mediator of inflammation and involved in many inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to investigate impact of plasma HMGB1 level on 1-year clinical outcomes of ischemic stroke. ⋯ Plasma HMGB1 level represents a novel biomarker for predicting 1-year clinical outcomes of ischemic stroke.
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2013
Association between age and use of intensive care among surgical Medicare beneficiaries.
The purpose of this study is to determine the role age plays in use of intensive care for patients who have major surgery. ⋯ The association between age and use of intensive care was procedure specific. Complication rates and in-hospital mortality increased with age for all 5 surgical procedures.
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of perioperative terlipressin infusion on systemic, hepatic, and renal hemodynamics during living donor liver transplantation.
End-stage liver disease is associated with marked hemodynamic disturbances that are further aggravated during liver transplantation. Terlipressin has been shown to be effective in the management of sepsis-induced hypotension and hepatorenal syndrome and recently has been tried as infusion during liver transplantation. This study assessed the effect of intraoperative and postoperative terlipressin infusion on systemic, hepatic, and renal hemodynamics during adult living donor liver transplantation. ⋯ Terlipressin infusion significantly decreased HARI, RARI, and portal vein flow and improved low systemic vascular resistance and mean arterial pressure. It helped to reduce intraoperative vasoactive support and might improve postoperative renal function.
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2013
ReviewAssessment and management of cerebral edema and intracranial hypertension in acute liver failure.
Acute liver failure is uncommon but not a rare complication of liver injury. It can happen after ingestion of acetaminophen and exposure to toxins and hepatitis viruses. The defining clinical symptoms are coagulopathy and encephalopathy occurring within days or weeks of the primary insult in patients without preexisting liver injury. ⋯ Intracranial pressure monitoring, transcranial Doppler, and jugular venous oximetry provide valuable information for monitoring ICP and guiding therapeutic measures in patients with encephalopathy grade III or IV. Osmotic therapy using hypertonic saline and mannitol, therapeutic hypothermia, and propofol sedation are shown to improve ICPs and stabilize the patient for liver transplantation. In this article, diagnosis and management of hepatic encephalopathy and cerebral edema in patients with acute liver failure are reviewed.