BACKGROUND Prediction of extubation failure, particularly in neurocritical patients, is unique and controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify the risk factors for extubation failure in these patients. METHODS A literature search of databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) was performed up to August of 2013 to identify trials that...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to evaluate the associations between 30-day mortality and various radiological and clinical factors in patients with traumatic acute subdural hematoma (SDH). During the 11-year study period, young patients who underwent surgery for SDH were followed for 30 days. Patients who died due to other medical comorbidities or other organ problems were not included ...

BACKGROUND Allocating resources appropriately requires knowing whether obese patients use more resources during a hospital stay than nonobese patients. OBJECTIVES To determine if trauma patients with different body mass indexes differed in use of resources measured as a multifaceted outcome variable. METHODS A trauma registry was used for a retrospective study of adult patients admitted to ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is a major cause of death and disability, yet there is no convincing evidence of the benefit of any medical treatment and the role of surgery remains controversial. The international randomized Surgical Trial in Intracerebral Hemorrhage (STICH) provided an opportunity to assess the role of surgery within the centers taking part. METH...

OBJECTIVES Cerebral fat embolism (CFE) is a serious complication after fracture of long bones. The mortality rate of CFE may be high. However, recent progress in treatment may decrease the mortality. We studied the validity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect and grade severity of CFE in 11 patients with CFE. METHODS Glasgow Coma Scale score, PaO2, PaCO2 at the onset, and minimal he...

BACKGROUND Clinical pathways (CPs) have been shown to be beneficial in optimizing patient care and resource use. METHODS A multidisciplinary CP for the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury (Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3-7) was developed. Data from these patients (group I) were collected prospectively and compared with a retrospective database (group II). RESULTS There were a total of ...

BACKGROUND Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is believed to cause more profound trauma-induced coagulopathy than other injuries of comparable severity. This has not been reported in a large series of combat casualties in which penetrating injuries predominate. METHODS Among US combat casualties severely injured in Iraq and Afghanistan who received transfused blood products, isolated TBI patients (...

OBJECTIVE To study the prevalence of, and identify possible risk factors for, the development of post-traumatic epilepsy in a cohort of children with severe head injury treated in an inpatient rehabilitation unit. METHODS The hospital and community medical case notes of all children admitted prospectively to the unit and the records of the clinical EEG department over a seven year period were...

[Purpose] The aim of study was to evaluate the impact of physical therapy on the recovery of motor and mental status in patients who sustained a severe traumatic brain injury, according to coma duration in acute and post-acute rehabilitation. [Subjects and Methods] The study population comprised patients with levels of consciousness ranging from 3 to 8 according to Glasgow Coma Scale score. The...

BACKGROUND Prognostication for survivors of cardiac arrest is a frequent challenge to neurologists. Our aim was to determine whether the FOUR (Full Outline of UnResponsiveness) score is an accurate predictor of outcome in patients after cardiac arrest and to compare its performance to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). METHODS We prospectively identified patients surviving cardiac arrest from June...