Neurologist
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Brain death criteria have been based on 3 cardinal features throughout history: coma, brainstem areflexia, and apnea, and thus have undergone little change. In 1995, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) detailed these criteria in a step-by-step fashion that included meeting prerequisites, performing the clinical examination, performing ancillary testing, and documentation. ⋯ Ultimately, their data supported the utility of the 1995 criteria and warned against the use of new technologies before proper validation. This review briefly tells the story of brain death criteria, making mention of the steps outlined by the AAN in 1995 and discussing the recent evidence released by the Quality Standards Subcommittee in the new 2010 Practice Parameter Update.
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Therapeutic hypothermia is now commonly used to improve neurologic outcomes in eligible patients after cardiac arrest. The physiologic effects of cooling and pharmacologic effects of sedatives and neuromuscular blocking agents can affect the clinical exam and neurophysiologic findings. This can lead to uncertainty in neurologic prognostication. In this article, we review data on assessing prognosis in patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia. ⋯ The American Academy of Neurology practice parameters for assessing prognosis after cardiac arrest may not be accurate for patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Application of these guidelines may lead to overly pessimistic prognostication and premature withdrawal of care. If uncertainty exists regarding the prognosis in a given patient after cardiac arrest, additional time should be allowed to pass, as patients may ultimately recover with good neurologic outcome.
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Review Case Reports
Risk of development of medication overuse headache with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy for migraine: a critically appraised topic.
The development of medication overuse headache (MOH) is associated with frequent use of analgesics, especially opiates, for treatment of primary headache disorders, particularly migraine. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to treat migraine. ⋯ Acute NSAID therapy is associated with progression to MOH in migraineurs with a high baseline migraine frequency but may be protective in patients with low baseline headache frequency. However, a causal role for NSAIDs in progression from episodic to chronic headache has not been established.
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vertigo is a common complaint in medicine. The most common causes of vertigo are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular neuritis, Meniere's syndrome, and vascular disorders. Vertigo of vascular origin is usually limited to migraine, transient ischemic attacks, and ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. Vascular causes lead to various central or peripheral vestibular syndromes with vertigo. This study provides an overview of epidemiology and clinical syndromes of vascular vertigo. ⋯ migraine, cerebrovascular disorders especially involving the vertebrobasilar territory, cardiocirculatory diseases, neurovascular compression of the eighth nerve, and vasculitis are vascular causes of vertigo syndromes.
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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is gaining recognition as a cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk factor. Sleep apnea is now implicated in the etiopathogenesis of stroke, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. ⋯ Neurologists should familiarize themselves with the symptoms and signs of OSA and the pathophysiology of the association between untreated OSA and cardiovascular disease, including stroke. OSA should be ruled out in patients with cardiovascular disease and be regarded as an important modifiable risk factor. Knowledge of this association is of prime public health importance and can result in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. This study will also help neurologists in providing patient education and treatment.