Association of time to craniectomy with survival in patients with severe combat-related brain injury

OBJECTIVEIn combat and austere environments, evacuation to a location with neurosurgery capability is challenging. A planning target in terms of time to neurosurgery is paramount to inform prepositioning of neurosurgical and transport resources to support a population at risk. This study sought to examine the association of wait time to craniectomy with mortality in patients with severe combat-related brain injury who received decompressive craniectomy.METHODSPatients with combat-related brain injury sustained between 2005 and 2015 who underwent craniectomy at deployed surgical facilities were identified from the Department of Defense Trauma Registry and Joint Trauma System Role 2 Registry. Eligible patients survived transport to a hospital capable of diagnosing the need for craniectomy and performing surgery. Statistical analyses included unadjusted comparisons of postoperative mortality by elapsed time from injury to start of craniectomy, and Cox proportional hazards modeling adjusting for potential confounders. Time from injury to craniectomy was divided into quintiles, and explored in Cox models as a binary variable comparing early versus delayed craniectomy with cutoffs determined by the maximum value of each quintile (quintile 1 vs 2-5, quintiles 1-2 vs 3-5, etc.). Covariates included location of the facility at which the craniectomy was performed (limited-resource role 2 facility vs neurosurgically capable role 3 facility), use of head CT scan, US military status, age, head Abbreviated Injury Scale score, Injury Severity Score, and injury year. To reduce immortal time bias, time from injury to hospital arrival was included as a covariate, entry into the survival analysis cohort was defined as hospital arrival time, and early versus delayed craniectomy was modeled as a time-dependent covariate. Follow-up for survival ended at death, hospital discharge, or hospital day 16, whichever occurred first.RESULTSOf 486 patients identified as having undergone craniectomy, 213 (44%) had complete date/time values. Unadjusted postoperative mortality was 23% for quintile 1 (n = 43, time from injury to start of craniectomy 30-152 minutes); 7% for quintile 2 (n = 42, 154-210 minutes); 7% for quintile 3 (n = 43, 212-320 minutes); 19% for quintile 4 (n = 42, 325-639 minutes); and 14% for quintile 5 (n = 43, 665-3885 minutes). In Cox models adjusted for potential confounders and immortal time bias, postoperative mortality was significantly lower when time to craniectomy was within 5.33 hours of injury (quintiles 1-3) relative to longer delays (quintiles 4-5), with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.28, 95% CI 0.10-0.76 (p = 0.012).CONCLUSIONSPostoperative mortality was significantly lower when craniectomy was initiated within 5.33 hours of injury. Further research to optimize craniectomy timing and mitigate delays is needed. Functional outcomes should also be evaluated.

Effects of probiotics combined with early enteral nutrition on endothelin-1 and C-reactive protein levels and prognosis in patients with severe traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of probiotics combined with early enteral nutrition on levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1), C-reactive protein (CRP), and inflammatory factors, and on the prognosis of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

METHODS

We enrolled 76 adults with severe TBI. The patients were divided randomly into two equal groups administered enteral nutrition with and without probiotics, respectively. Demographic and clinical data including age, sex, Glasgow Coma Scale score, Sequential Organ Failure Score, Acute Physiology, Chronic Health Score, hospitalization, mortality, and infections were recorded.

RESULTS

Serum levels of inflammatory factors gradually decreased with increasing treatment time in both groups. However, ET-1 at 15 days, and interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and CRP at 7 and 15 days decreased significantly more in the combined treatment group. Hospitalization duration and pulmonary infection rates were also significantly reduced in the combined compared with the enteral nutrition alone group. GCS scores at 15 days were significantly lower in the combined compared with the enteral nutrition group.

CONCLUSION

Probiotics combined with early enteral nutrition could reduce serum levels of ET-1, CRP, and IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α, and could thus improve the recovery of patients with severe TBI.

[Diffusion kurtosis imaging in diffuse axonal injury]

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is one of the most severe traumatic brain injuries. The availability of neuroimaging biomarkers for monitoring expansion of traumatic brain injury in vivo is a topical issue.

PURPOSE

To evaluate novel neuroimaging biomarkers for monitoring brain injury using diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in patients with severe diffuse axonal injury.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

DKI data of 12 patients with severe DAI (11 patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of ≤ 8 and 1 patient with a GCS score of 9) and 8 healthy volunteers (control group) were compared. MRI examination was performed 5 to 19 days after injury; 7 of the 12 patients underwent repeated MRI examinations. We assessed the following parameters: mean, axial, and radial kurtosis (MK, AK, RK, respectively) and kurtosis anisotropy (KA) of the white and gray matter; fractional anisotropy (FA), axonal water fraction (AWF), axial and radial extra-axonal diffusion (AxEAD and RadEAD, respectively), and tortuosity (TORT) of the extra-axonal space) of the white matter. Regions of interest (ROIs) were set bilaterally in the centrum semiovale, genu and splenium of the corpus callosum, anterior and posterior limbs of the internal capsule, putamen, thalamus, midbrain, and pons.

RESULTS

A significant reduction in KA (p<0.05) in most of ROIs set on the white matter was revealed. AK was increased (p<0.05) not only in the white matter but also in the putamen and thalamus. A significant reduction in MK with time was observed when the first and second DKI data were compared. AWF was reduced in the centrum semiovale and peduncles. The TORT parameter was decreased (p<0.05) in the majority of ROIs in the white matter, with the most pronounced changes occurring in the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum.

CONCLUSION

DKI provides novel data about microstructural injury in DAI and improves our knowledge of brain trauma pathophysiology. DKI parameters should be considered as potential biomarkers of brain injury and potential predictors of the outcome.

Neurogenic Fever in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Treated with Propranolol: A Case Report

The causes of intractable fever in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients can be diverse. Neurogenic fever (NF) which is a rare entity can develop due to autonomic dysregulation in the absence of infection or any other cause of fever. It manifests as fever, tachycardia, paroxysmal hypertension, dilated pupils, tachypnea, and extensor posturing in cases of severe TBI, brain neoplasms or brain haemorrhage. We found propranolol to be effective in controlling many of the manifestations of neurogenic fever in our patients with severe TBI. Fever in severe TBI patients is not an uncommon phenomenon, but when intractable with negative fever workup, a central cause should be considered. Propranolol is deemed as one of the most efficacious drugs for managing NF due to dysautonomia. We want to apprise the readers about this entity and its treatment with beta-blockers.

Efficacy and safety of intrathecal meropenem and vancomycin in the treatment of postoperative intracranial infection in patients with severe traumatic brain injury

This study investigated the improvement and safety of intrathecal meropenem and vancomycin in the treatment of postoperative intracranial infection in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI). A retrospective analysis was performed on 86 patients with intracranial infections after cranial trauma operation in Tai'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and Affiliated Hospital of Taishan Medical University from May 2004 to June 2017. The patients were divided into the control group (43 patients) and the experimental group (43 patients) according to the treatment. Patients in the control group were intravenously infused with vancomycin hydrochloride (1.0 g, Q12H) and meropenem (2.0 g, Q8H). After lumbar cistern drainage was performed for the release of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), patients in the experimental group were slowly given vancomycin 20 mg. After the tube was flushed with 2 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride injection, the patients were slowly given meropenem 20 mg, bid. The clinical efficacy, cure time and treatment cost of patients in the two groups were observed. The adverse reactions and sequelae after 6 months of treatment were recorded. The response rate (RR) of patients in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The cure time of patients in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The treatment cost of patients in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions of patients, incidence of sequelae of patients in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Intrathecal meropenem and vancomycin is more effective than intravenous administration in the treatment of intracranial infection after craniotomy. It can significantly shorten the treatment time and reduce the treatment cost, with better safety.

Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) for craniocerebral wounds in severely injured patients: technical note of a damage control procedure

The management of a craniocerebral wound (CCW) remains challenging, particularly in a severely injured patient. Considering the complexity of the multilayer insult and damage control care in an unstable patient, every procedure performed should promptly benefit the patient. We report an illustrative case of a patient with a gunshot wound to the head that resulted in a CCW for which we applied vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy according to damage control principles. We describe the technical approach and discuss the indications, results and technique by considering the literature available. VAC can be used for CCWs, particularly for large defects in selected patients according to clinical and CT evaluations following immediate resuscitation. In severely injured and unstable patients, VAC aims to delay definitive reconstructive and time-consuming treatment. Interestingly, it appears to be a safe treatment based on the previously described-but not exclusively trauma-cases with no secondary cerebrospinal fluid leakage encountered.

The Young Male Syndrome-An Analysis of Sex, Age, Risk Taking and Mortality in Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries

Higher risk taking is particularly characteristic for males between 15 and 35 years, the age when intrasexual competition is the strongest. This fitness-maximizing strategy, however, also has negative consequences; previous data revealed that males have a significantly higher tendency to die in accidents. This retrospective study aimed to assess whether age-related risk taking, often associated with the reproductive competition between males, and referred to as the Young Male Syndrome (YMS), may play a role in the high incidence of severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) in young males. Derived from the available evidence and the main assumptions of the YMS, we expected that men, especially when they are in the age when their reproductive potential peaks, are more likely to suffer sTBI from highly risky behaviors that also lead to higher mortality. It was also expected that alcohol intoxication makes the demographic pattern of sTBI even more similar to what previous research on the YMS implies. We analyzed demographic data of patients with sTBI (N = 365) registered in a clinical database. To this end, we built Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) to reveal which of the demographic characteristics are the best predictors for risky behaviors leading to sTBI and death as a consequence of the injury. The data suggest that younger people acquired sTBI from riskier behaviors compared to members of older age groups, irrespective of their sex. Moreover, being male and being alcohol intoxicated also contributed significantly to risk-taking behavior. Mortality rate after the injury, however, increased with the age of the patient and did not depend on the riskiness of the behavior. The results indicate that the demographic distribution of the specific patient population in our focus cannot be simply explained by the YMS. However, higher incidence rates of males among the patients are in line with the core assumptions of the YMS. These data indicate that epidemiological studies should also take into consideration evolutionary theories and highlight the importance of age and sex specific prevention strategies.

Effect of Pre-Hospital Intubation in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury on Outcome: A Prospective Cohort Study

Secondary injuries are associated with bad outcomes in the case of severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI). Patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) < 9 should undergo pre-hospital intubation (PHI). There is controversy about whether PHI is beneficial. The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of PHI in patients after sTBI. A multicenter, prospective cohort study was performed in Switzerland, including 832 adults with sTBI. Outcomes were death and impaired consciousness at 14 days. Associations between risk factors and outcomes were assessed with univariate and multivariate Cox models for survival, and univariate and multivariate regression models for impaired consciousness. Potential risk factors were age, GCS on scene, pupil reaction, Injury Severity Score (ISS), PHI, oxygen administration, and type of admission to trauma center. Age, GCS on scene < 9, abnormal pupil reaction and ISS ≥ 25 were associated with mortality. GCS < 9 and ISS ≥ 25 were correlated with impaired consciousness. PHI was overall not associated with short-term mortality and consciousness. However, there was a significative interaction with PHI and major trauma. PHI improves outcome from patients with sTBI and an ISS ≥ 25.

Participation seven years after severe childhood traumatic brain injury. Disabil Rehabil 2019;42:2402-2411. [PMID: 30950661 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2019.1594398]

Purpose: Participation in home, school and community activities is considered as the ultimate aim of rehabilitation. The aims of this study were to examine participation seven years post-severe childhood traumatic brain injury and factors associated with participation.Materials and methods: Participants were enrolled in the Traumatisme Grave de l'Enfant (Severe Childhood Injury) cohort study following severe accidental childhood traumatic brain injury. Participation seven years post-injury, was examined using parent- and self-report forms of the Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation among 37 patients [62% males, mean age 15.4 years (SD = 4.4), mean length of coma 6.68 days (SD = 4.96)] and 33 matched controls.Results: Parent reports indicated significantly lower participation among patients compared to controls, but the self-reports did not. In the traumatic brain injury group, parent-reported participation was variable, with 22% of the patients clearly showing greater restrictions than controls. Participation restrictions were significantly associated with injury severity, poor functional outcome one-year post-injury, executive and behavioral difficulties and higher fatigue levels seven years post-injury, but not with pre-injury nor family factors.Conclusions: Several years after severe childhood traumatic brain injury, participation appears to depend more on injury-related factors than on environmental factors. In self-reports assessments of participation, it could be difficult for children and adolescents to distinguish capacity from performance.Implications for rehabilitationParticipation outcomes were highly variable in a sample of patients who sustained severe childhood traumatic brain injury.Participation should be assessed systematically following severe traumatic brain injury, both initially but also in the long-term, ideally using a combination of self- and proxy-report measures.Among patients with severe injuries, the influence of initial brain injury severity markers on participation seems much stronger than that of social/family environment factors.Children's and adolescents' self-reported participation assessed with the Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation may be difficult to interpret.

Effect of progesterone administration on the prognosis of patients with severe traumatic brain injury: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to assess the neuroprotective effect of progesterone administration on severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) for different follow-up periods and administration route by completing a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

METHODS

A systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases and the Web of Science (from establishment of each to September 1, 2018) was performed to identify original RCTs that evaluated the associations between progesterone treatment and the prognosis of patients with severe TBI.

RESULTS

Eight RCTs enrolling 2,251 patients with severe TBI were included. Within 3 months post-injury, patients with progesterone administration had a lower mortality (risk ratio [RR] =0.59; 95% CI [0.42-0.81], P=0.001) and better neurologic outcomes (RR =1.51; 95% CI [1.12-2.02], P=0.007) than those who received placebo. However, these differences did not persist at 6 months post-injury for mortality (RR =0.96; 95% CI [0.65-1.41], P=0.83) or neurologic outcomes (RR =1.09; 95% CI [0.93-1.27], P=0.31). The analysis stratified by administration route showed that beneficial effects were only observed in patients who received progesterone intramuscularly (RR =1.61, 95% CI [1.19-2.18], P=0.002); no benefit was observed with intravenous administration (RR =0.99, 95% CI [0.91-1.07], P=0.75).

CONCLUSION

Progesterone administration improved the clinical outcomes of severe TBI patients within 3 months but may not have significant long-term benefits 6 months post-injury.

The Role of Temporal Lobectomy as a Part of Surgical Resuscitation in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Background:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are serious morbidity and mortality risk for especially in the young population. Primary and secondary injury mechanisms may cause cerebral edema and intracranial hypertension. The target point of the TBI treatment is lowering the intracranial pressure medically or surgically if indicated.

Methods:

The files of the patients with severe brain injury admitted between January 2015 and December 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients who underwent decompression surgery due to severe brain injury ([The Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score] <8) and additional temporal lobectomy were included in the study group.

Results:

Ten patients were included in the study during the 3 years. All the patients were suffering from blunt severe TBI. Traumatic etiology was vehicle traffic accident in six cases, nonvehicle traffic accident in two cases, and falling from height in two cases. All the cases suffered from blunt trauma. The admission GCS of the patients was 4–7 (mean = 5.5). Right-sided decompression surgery and lobectomy were performed for seven patients and left-sided in three cases. The postoperational survival was 60%. All the survivors were functionally independent with mild cognitive disturbances.

Conclusion:

Temporal lobectomy might be added to the surgery to apply all the interventions available in combat with progressively increasing intracerebral pressure as a part of surgical resuscitation.

Differences in pathological changes between two rat models of severe traumatic brain injury

The rat high-impact free weight drop model mimics the diffuse axonal injury caused by severe traumatic brain injury in humans, while severe controlled cortical impact can produce a severe traumatic brain injury model using precise strike parameters. In this study, we compare the pathological mechanisms and pathological changes between two rat severe brain injury models to identify the similarities and differences. The severe controlled cortical impact model was produced by an electronic controlled cortical impact device, while the severe free weight drop model was produced by dropping a 500 g free weight from a height of 1.8 m through a plastic tube. Body temperature and mortality were recorded, and neurological deficits were assessed with the modified neurological severity score. Brain edema and blood-brain barrier damage were evaluated by assessing brain water content and Evans blue extravasation. In addition, a cytokine array kit was used to detect inflammatory cytokines. Neuronal apoptosis in the brain and brainstem was quantified by immunofluorescence staining. Both the severe controlled cortical impact and severe free weight drop models exhibited significant neurological impairments and body temperature fluctuations. More severe motor dysfunction was observed in the severe controlled cortical impact model, while more severe cognitive dysfunction was observed in the severe free weight drop model. Brain edema, inflammatory cytokine changes and cortical neuronal apoptosis were more substantial and blood-brain barrier damage was more focal in the severe controlled cortical impact group compared with the severe free weight drop group. The severe free weight drop model presented with more significant apoptosis in the brainstem and diffused blood-brain barrier damage, with higher mortality and lower repeatability compared with the severe controlled cortical impact group. Severe brainstem damage was not found in the severe controlled cortical impact model. These results indicate that the severe controlled cortical impact model is relatively more stable, more reproducible, and shows obvious cerebral pathological changes at an earlier stage. Therefore, the severe controlled cortical impact model is likely more suitable for studies on severe focal traumatic brain injury, while the severe free weight drop model may be more apt for studies on diffuse axonal injury. All experimental procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee of Animal Experiments of Tianjin Medical University, China (approval No. IRB2012-028-02) in February 2012.

Functional Outcomes and Health-Related Quality of Life After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Review

Throughout recovery, patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) show physical and functional improvement, but continue to have cognitive and psychosocial problems. The aim of this article was to review the literature regarding the functional and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes in severe TBI. There were 15 articles reviewed, 13 of them were quantitative studies and two were narrative review. Most of the articles showed an improvement occurs rapidly at 6 months post-injury. There were several factors that influence the outcome after TBI, most of it was the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on admission, age, educational level, duration of posttraumatic amnesia (PTA), and length of stay (LOS) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Thus, health care workers should help the survivors of severe TBI in the recovery process to ensure the latter can attain maximum function and quality of life.

Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Requiring Surgical Decompression in the Young Adult: Factors Influencing Morbidity and Mortality - A Retrospective Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among young adults. The clinical outcome may also be difficult to predict. We aim to identify the factors predictive of favorable and unfavorable clinical outcomes for youthful patients with severe TBI who have the option of surgical craniotomy or surgical craniectomy.

METHODS

A retrospective review at a single Level II trauma center was conducted, identifying patients aged 18 to 30 years with isolated severe TBI with a mass-occupying lesion requiring emergent (< 6 hours from time of arrival) surgical decompression. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on arrival, type of surgery performed, mechanism of injury, length of hospital stay, Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS), mortality, and radiographic findings were recorded. A favorable outcome was a GOS of four or five at 30 days post operation, while an unfavorable outcome was GOS of 1 to 3.

RESULTS

Fifty patients were included in the final analysis. Closed head injuries (skull and dura intact), effacement of basal cisterns, disproportional midline shift (MLS), and GCS 3-5 on arrival all correlated with statistically significant higher rate of mortality and poor 30-day functional outcome. All mortalities (6/50 patients) were positive for each of these findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Closed head injuries, the presenting GCS 3-5, the presence of MLS disproportional to the space occupying lesion (SOL), and effacement of basal cisterns on the initial computed tomography of the head all correlated with unfavorable 30-day outcome. Future prospective studies investigating a larger cohort may provide further insight into patients suffering from severe TBI.

Complement cascade on severe traumatic brain injury patients at the chronic unconscious stage: implication for pathogenesis

BACKGROUND

Patients who awake from severely traumatic brain injury (TBI) may remain unconscious for many years. Although behavioral assessment and functional imaging are currently used as diagnostic tools, the molecular basis underlying chronic condition has yet to be explored.

METHOD

Plasma samples were obtained at 3 time points (1, 3 and 6 months) from 18 patients with chronic disorders of consciousness who survived severe TBI, and 6 healthy volunteers. A coupled isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based proteomics approach was used to screen differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between patients and controls. Potential molecular mechanisms were further discussed through bioinformatics analyses.

RESULT

In total, 300 plasma proteins <1% false discovery rates were identified and 32 proteins were consistently altered between patients and controls. Biological pathway analysis revealed that the DEPs were predominantly involved in complement cascade.

CONCLUSIONS

This study discussed potential mechanisms of complement cascade underlying chronic stage in severe TBI.

Cranioplasty After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: Effects of Trauma and Patient Recovery on Cranioplasty Outcome

Background

In patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) treated with decompressive craniectomy (DC), factors affecting the success of later cranioplasty are poorly known.

Objective

We sought to investigate if injury- and treatment-related factors, and state of recovery could predict the risk of major complications in cranioplasty requiring implant removal, and how these complications affect the outcome.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of 40 patients with DC following sTBI and subsequent cranioplasty was studied. Non-injury-related factors were compared with a reference population of 115 patients with DC due to other conditions.

Results

Outcome assessed 1 day before cranioplasty did not predict major complications leading to implant removal. Successful cranioplasty was associated with better outcome, whereas a major complication attenuates patient recovery: in patients with favorable outcome assessed 1 year after cranioplasty, major complication rate was 7%, while in patients with unfavorable outcome the rate was 42% (p = 0.003). Of patients with traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (tSAH) on admission imaging 30% developed a major complication, while none of patients without tSAH had a major complication (p = 0.014). Other imaging findings, age, admission Glasgow Coma Scale, extracranial injuries, length of stay at intensive care unit, cranioplasty materials, and timing of cranioplasty were not associated with major complications.

Conclusion

A successful cranioplasty after sTBI and DC predicts favorable outcome 1 year after cranioplasty, while stage of recovery before cranioplasty does not predict cranioplasty success or failure. tSAH on admission imaging is a major risk factor for a major complication leading to implant removal.

Initiating Nutritional Support Before 72 Hours Is Associated With Favorable Outcome After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Children: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized, Controlled Trial of Therapeutic Hypothermia

OBJECTIVES

To understand the relationship between the timing of initiation of nutritional support in children with severe traumatic brain injury and outcomes.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of a randomized, controlled trial of therapeutic hypothermia (Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury Consortium: Hypothermia, also known as "the Cool Kids Trial" (NCT 00222742).

SETTINGS

Fifteen clinical sites in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

SUBJECTS

Inclusion criteria included 1) age less than 18 years, 2) postresuscitation Glasgow Coma Scale less than or equal to 8, 3) Glasgow Coma Scale motor score less than 6, and 4) available to be randomized within 6 hours after injury. Exclusion criteria included normal head CT, Glasgow Coma Scale equals to 3, hypotension for greater than 10 minutes (< fifth percentile for age), uncorrectable coagulopathy, hypoxia (arterial oxygen saturation < 90% for > 30 min), pregnancy, penetrating injury, and unavailability of a parent or guardian to consent at centers without emergency waiver of consent.

INTERVENTIONS

Therapeutic hypothermia (32-33°C for 48 hr) followed by slow rewarming for the primary study. For this analysis, the only intervention was the extraction of data regarding nutritional support from the existing database.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Timing of initiation of nutritional support was determined and patients stratified into four groups (group 1-no nutritional support over first 7 d; group 2-nutritional support initiated < 48 hr after injury; group 3-nutritional support initiated 48 to < 72 hr after injury; group 4-nutritional support initiated 72-168 hr after injury). Outcomes were also stratified (mortality and Glasgow Outcomes Scale-Extended for Pediatrics; 1-4, 5-7, 8) at 6 and 12 months. Mixed-effects models were performed to define the relationship between nutrition and outcome. Children (n = 90, 77 randomized, 13 run-in) were enrolled (mean Glasgow Coma Scale = 5.8); the mortality rate was 13.3%. 57.8% of subjects received hypothermia Initiation of nutrition before 72 hours was associated with survival (p = 0.01), favorable 6 months Glasgow Outcomes Scale-Extended for Pediatrics (p = 0.03), and favorable 12 months Glasgow Outcomes Scale-Extended for Pediatrics (p = 0.04). Specifically, groups 2 and 3 had favorable outcomes versus group 1.

CONCLUSIONS

Initiation of nutritional support before 72 hours after traumatic brain injury was associated with decreased mortality and favorable outcome in this secondary analysis. Although this provides a rationale to initiate nutritional support early after traumatic brain injury, definitive studies that control for important covariates (severity of injury, clinical site, calories delivered, parenteral/enteral routes, and other factors) are needed to provide definitive evidence on the optimization of the timing of nutritional support after severe traumatic brain injury in children.

The effectiveness of clinical pathway-directed care on hospitalisation-related outcomes in patients with severe traumatic brain injury: A quasi-experimental study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To compare the effectiveness of clinical pathway-directed care to usual care on hospitalisation-related outcomes in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI).

BACKGROUND

Severe traumatic brain injury is a major cause of disability and mortality in young adults. Clinical pathways endeavour to bring evidence and clinical practice closer together to foster the delivery of best practice and to improve patient outcomes.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental study.

METHODS

The study was conducted in a trauma intensive care unit of a large teaching hospital in Egypt. Patients aged 18-60 years with a diagnosis of STBI, a Glasgow Coma Scale score between 3-8 and a nonpenetrating head injury were consecutively assigned to 15 days of care. The outcomes assessed were complications related to hospitalisation, clinical variances, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, ICU readmission rate and patient/family satisfaction.

RESULTS

Sixty participants completed the study (30 in each arm). Apart from age, there were no significant differences between groups in baseline characteristics. The clinical pathway group demonstrated statistically significantly fewer cases of hospitalisation-related complications on day 15, and a significantly shorter length of ICU stay, lower ICU readmission rate and a high level of patient/family satisfaction when compared with the usual care group. The effect of the intervention on fever, pressure ulceration, hyperglycaemia and readmission to the ICU was no longer statistically significant after controlling for age.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the current study suggest that the implementation of a clinical pathway for patients with severe TBI may be helpful in improving the patient experience as well as some hospitalisation-related outcomes.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The provision of clinical pathway-directed care in a trauma ICU may offer benefits to the patient, family and institution beyond that provided by usual care.

Effects of sequential nutritional support on nutritional status and expression of regulatory T lymphocyte in patients with early severe traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of sequential nutritional support on nutritional status and immune regulation in patients with early severe traumatic brain injury (STBI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 62 patients diagnosed with STBI enrolled from Chaoyang Hospital (Beijing, China) from February 2015 to October 2016 were divided into two groups. The observational group (n=34) was given sequential nutritional support and the control group (n=28) was given the standard formula of whole protein enteral preparations. The energy supply for the two groups was 30 kcal/kg/d and protein 1.6 g/kg/d, respectively. The albumin (ALB), total protein (TP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), and regulatory T cells before and after nutritional treatment were measured in both groups.

RESULTS

At the 14th day, the levels of ALB (41.7±4.2 g/L) and TP (70.6±4.9 g/L) were significantly higher than those in the control group (33.5±2.3 g/L and 62.3±3.9 g/L) (P<0.05). The levels of Hs-CRP and NSE were significantly lower in the observational group (0.96±0.82 mg/L and 11.96±7.82 ng/L) than in the control group (1.17±0.74 mg/L and 19.17±6.74 ng/L) (P<0.05). The GCS score in the observational group (11.5±2.9) was significantly higher than that in the control group (8.1±1.7) (P<0.05). The percentage of Tregs in the peripheral CD4⁺ lymphocytes was significantly lower in the observational group than in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The effect of sequential nutritional support is better than conventional nutritional support in patients with STBI. The findings call for early identification of malnutrition and individual nutritional support.

Relationship of calcitonin gene-related peptide with disease progression and prognosis of patients with severe traumatic brain injury

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has been implicated in multiple functions across many bioprocesses; however, whether CGRP is associated with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains poorly understood. In this study, 96 adult patients with TBI (enrolled from September 2015 to December 2016) were divided into a mild/moderate TBI group (36 males and 25 females, aged 38 ± 13 years) and severe TBI group (22 males and 13 females, aged 38 ± 11 years) according to Glasgow Coma Scale scores. In addition, 25 healthy individuals were selected as controls (15 males and 10 females, aged 39 ± 13 years). Radioimmunoassay was used to detect serum levels of CGRP and endothelin-1 at admission and at 12, 24, 48, 72 hours, and 7 days after admission. CGRP levels were remarkably lower, but endothelin-1 levels were obviously higher in the severe TBI group compared with mild/moderate TBI and control groups. Levels of CGRP were remarkably lower, but endothelin-1 levels were obviously higher in deceased patients compared with patients who survived. Survival analysis and logistic regression showed that both CGRP and endothelin-1 levels were associated with patient mortality, with each serving as an independent risk factor for 6-month mortality of severe TBI patients. Moreover, TBI patients with lower serum CGRP levels had a higher risk of death. Thus, our retrospective analysis demonstrates the potential utility of CGRP as a new biomarker, monitoring method, and therapeutic target for TBI.

Temporal Profile of Microtubule-Associated Protein 2: A Novel Indicator of Diffuse Brain Injury Severity and Early Mortality after Brain Trauma

This study compared cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) from adult patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) with uninjured controls over 10 days, and examined the relationship between MAP-2 concentrations and acute clinical and radiologic measures of injury severity along with mortality at 2 weeks and over 6 months. This prospective study, conducted at two Level 1 trauma centers, enrolled adults with severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score ≤8) requiring a ventriculostomy, as well as controls. Ventricular CSF was sampled from each patient at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168, 192, 216, and 240 h following TBI and analyzed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for MAP-2 (ng/mL). Injury severity was assessed by the GCS score, Marshall Classification on computed tomography (CT), Rotterdam CT score, and mortality. There were 151 patients enrolled-130 TBI and 21 control patients. MAP-2 was detectable within 6 h of injury and was significantly elevated compared with controls (p < 0.001) at each time-point. MAP-2 was highest within 72 h of injury and decreased gradually over 10 days. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for deciphering TBI versus controls at the earliest time-point CSF was obtained was 0.96 (95% CI 0.93-0.99) and for the maximal 24-h level was 0.98 (95% CI 0.97-1.00). The area under the curve for initial MAP-2 levels predicting 2-week mortality was 0.80 at 6 h, 0.81 at 12 h, 0.75 at 18 h, 0.75 at 24 h, and 0.80 at 48 h. Those with Diffuse Injury III-IV had much higher initial (p = 0.033) and maximal (p = 0.003) MAP-2 levels than those with Diffuse Injury I-II. There was a graded increase in the overall levels and peaks of MAP-2 as the degree of diffuse injury increased within the first 120 h post-injury. These data suggest that early levels of MAP-2 reflect severity of diffuse brain injury and predict 2-week mortality in TBI patients. These findings have implications for counseling families and improving clinical decision making early after injury and guiding multidisciplinary care. Further studies are needed to validate these findings in a larger sample.

Balanced Fluid Versus Saline-Based Fluid in Post-operative Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Patients: Acid-Base and Electrolytes Assessment

Background

Normal saline (NS) is a common fluid of choice in neurosurgery and neuro-intensive care unit (ICU), but it does not contain other electrolytes and has the potential to cause hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis with prolonged infusion. These problems may be reduced with the availability of balanced fluid (BF), which becomes a more physiological isotonic solution with the presence of complete electrolyte content. This study aimed to compare the changes in electrolytes and acid-base between NS and BF (Sterofundin® ISO) therapy for post-operative severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients in neuro-ICU.

Methods

Sixty-six severe TBI patients who required emergency craniotomy or craniectomy and were planned for post-operative ventilation were randomised into NS (n = 33) and BF therapy groups (n = 33). The calculation of maintenance fluid given was based on the Holliday-Segar method. The electrolytes and acid-base parameters were assessed at an 8 h interval for 24 h. The data were analysed using repeated measures ANOVA.

Results

The NS group showed a significant lower base excess (-3.20 versus -1.35, P = 0.049), lower bicarbonate level (22.03 versus 23.48 mmol/L, P = 0.031), and more hyperchloremia (115.12 versus 111.74 mmol/L, P < 0.001) and hypokalemia (3.36 versus 3.70 mmol/L, P < 0.001) than the BF group at 24 h of therapy. The BF group showed a significantly higher level of calcium (1.97 versus 1.79 mmol/L, P = 0.003) and magnesium (0.94 versus 0.80 mmol/L, P < 0.001) than the NS group at 24 h of fluid therapy. No significant differences were found in pH, pCO₂, lactate, and sodium level.

Conclusion

BF therapy showed better effects in maintaining higher electrolyte parameters and reducing the trend toward hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis than the NS therapy during prolonged fluid therapy for postoperative TBI patients.

Nursing Management of Adults with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Narrative Review

Effective nursing management strategies for adults with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) are still a remarkable issue and a difficult task for neurologists, neurosurgeons, and neuronurses. A list of justified indications and scientific rationale for nursing management of these patients are continuously evolving. The objectives of the study are to analyze the pertinently available research and clinical studies that demonstrate the nursing management strategies for adults with STBI and to synthesize the available evidence based on the review. A comprehensive literature search was made in following databases such as Google Scholar, Cochrane, J-Gate, ProQuest, and ScienceDirect for retrieving the related studies. In the included studies, data were extracted and evaluated according to the objective. Narrative analysis was adopted to write this review. Patients with STBI have poor prognosis and require quality care for maximizing patients' survival. With a thorough knowledge and discernment of care of such patients, nurses can improve these patients' neurological outcomes.

A Method of Managing Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in the Absence of Intracranial Pressure Monitoring: The Imaging and Clinical Examination Protocol

The imaging and clinical examination (ICE) algorithm used in the Benchmark Evidence from South American Trials: Treatment of Intracranial Pressure (BEST TRIP) randomized controlled trial is the only prospectively investigated clinical protocol for traumatic brain injury management without intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring. As the default literature standard, it warrants careful evaluation. We present the ICE protocol in detail and analyze the demographics, outcome, treatment intensity, frequency of intervention usage, and related adverse events in the ICE-protocol cohort. The 167 ICE protocol patients were young (median 29 years) with a median Glasgow Coma Scale motor score of 4 but with anisocoria or abnormal pupillary reactivity in 40%. This protocol produced outcomes not significantly different from those randomized to the monitor-based protocol (favorable 6-month extended Glasgow Outcome Score in 39%; 41% mortality rate). Agents commonly employed to treat suspected intracranial hypertension included low-/moderate-dose hypertonic saline (72%) and mannitol (57%), mild hyperventilation (adjusted partial pressure of carbon dioxide 30-35 mm Hg in 73%), and pressors to maintain cerebral perfusion (62%). High-dose hyperosmotics or barbiturates were uncommonly used. Adverse event incidence was low and comparable to the BEST TRIP monitored group. Although this protocol should produce similar/acceptable results under circumstances comparable to those in the trial, influences such as longer pre-hospital times and non-specialist transport personnel, plus an intensive care unit model of aggressive physician-intensive care by small groups of neurotrauma-focused intensivists, which differs from most high-resource models, support caution in expecting the same results in dissimilar settings. Finally, this protocol's ICP-titration approach to suspected intracranial hypertension (vs. crisis management for monitored ICP) warrants further study.