Current neurology and neuroscience reports
-
This review provides an updated summary of blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) to guide clinicians in its early diagnosis and prevention and treatment of stroke associated with such injury. ⋯ Untreated BCVI causes stroke in 10-40% of patients, but more than half will not present with stroke symptoms initially. Risk of stroke is highest in the first 7 days, with a peak in the first 24 h. Computed tomography (CT) angiography is currently the screening modality of choice, although digital subtraction angiography may still be required in some cases. Antithrombotic therapy is the mainstay of treatment and has proven safety in trauma patients. In carefully selected patients, endovascular intervention may also be beneficial. BCVI is a potentially preventable cause of stroke. A high index of suspicion is needed as emergent screening during initial evaluation can provide a window for stroke prevention. Screening all patients with injuries that would otherwise prompt CT scans of the neck or chest is recommended. Treatment is guided by grade of injury. Early treatment with antithrombotics has been shown to be both effective and safe.
-
A major goal in neurocritical care is to monitor for and prevent secondary brain injuries. However, injuries occurring at the cellular and molecular levels evade detection by conventional hemodynamic monitoring and the neurological exam. Cerebral microdialysis (CMD) is an invasive means of providing nearly continuous measurements of cerebral metabolism and is a promising tool that can detect signs of cellular distress before systemic manifestations of intracranial catastrophe. ⋯ In this review, we describe the technique of CMD and the common biomarkers used to monitor cerebral energy metabolism. We examine the published evidence on how CMD data reflect secondary injuries and improve understanding of the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. We also discuss some of the caveats of the technique, including how CMD probe position affect the sensitivity of capturing energy failures, and how abnormal levels of cerebral glucose and lactate can reflect different states of cerebral energy metabolism. In order to best incorporate cerebral metabolic monitoring into the management of neurocritical care patients, neurointensivists must be familiar with the nuances in the limitations as well as the interpretations of data obtained from cerebral microdialysis.
-
To discuss the diagnostic approach to patients with septic encephalopathy as well as the need for specific neuro-monitoring and the perspectives on future therapeutic approaches in this setting. ⋯ Most of data-concern experimental studies evaluating the pathophysiology of septic encephalopathy. A combination of neurodegenerative pathways with neurovascular injury is the cornerstone for the development of such complication and the long-term neurological sequelae among survivors. Septic encephalopathy is a common complication in septic patients. Clinical presentation may range from mild confusion and disorientation to convulsions and deep coma. The diagnosis of septic encephalopathy is made difficult by the lack of any specific clinical and non-clinical feature, in particular among sedated patients in whom neurological examination is unreliable. In spite of the high mortality rate associated with this condition, there is no prophylactic or targeted therapy to reduce or minimize brain damage in septic patients and clinical management is limited to the treatment of the underlying infection.