Brain tissue oxygen plus intracranial pressure monitoring versus isolated intracranial pressure monitoring in patients with traumatic brain injury: an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring plays a key role in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), however, cerebral hypoxia can occur without intracranial hypertension. Aiming to improve neuroprotection in these patients, a possible alternative is the association of Brain Tissue Oxygen Pressure (PbtO2) monitoring, used to detect PbtO2 tension. METHOD: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Central for RCTs comparing combined PbtO2 + ICP monitoring with ICP monitoring alone in patients with severe or moderate TBI. The outcomes analyzed were mortality at 6 months, favorable outcome (GOS ≥ 4 or GOSE ≥ 5) at 6 months, pulmonary events, cardiovascular events and sepsis rate. RESULTS: We included 4 RCTs in the analysis, totaling 505 patients. Combined PbtO2 + ICP monitoring was used in 241 (47.72%) patients. There was no significant difference between the groups in relation to favorable outcome at 6 months (RR 1.17; 95% CI 0.95-1.43; p = 0.134; I2 = 0%), mortality at 6 months (RR 0.82; 95% CI 0.57-1.18; p = 0.281; I2 = 34%), cardiovascular events (RR 1.75; 95% CI 0.86-3.52; p = 0.120; I2 = 0%) or sepsis (RR 0.75; 95% CI 0.25-2.22; p = 0.604; I2 = 0%). The risk of pulmonary events was significantly higher in the group with combined PbtO2 + ICP monitoring (RR 1.44; 95% CI 1.11-1.87; p = 0.006; I2 = 0%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that combined PbtO2 + ICP monitoring does not change outcomes such as mortality, functional recovery, cardiovascular events or sepsis. Furthermore, we found a higher risk of pulmonary events in patients undergoing combined monitoring.

Neurocritical care and neuromonitoring considerations in acute pediatric spinal cord injury.

Management of pediatric spinal cord injury (SCI) is an essential skill for all pediatric neurocritical care physicians. In this review, we focus on the evaluation and management of pediatric SCI, highlight a novel framework for the monitoring of such patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), and introduce advancements in critical care techniques in monitoring and management. The initial evaluation and characterization of SCI is crucial for improving outcomes as well as prognostication. While physical examination and imaging are the main stays of the work-up, we propose the use of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for challenging clinical scenarios. SSEPs allow for functional evaluation of the dorsal columns consisting of tracts associated with hand function, ambulation, and bladder function. Meanwhile, TMS has the potential for informing prognostication as well as response to rehabilitation. Spine stabilization, and in some cases surgical decompression, along with respiratory and hemodynamic management are essential. Emerging research suggests that targeted spinal cerebral perfusion pressure may provide potential benefits. This review aims to increase the pediatric neurocritical care physician's comfort with SCI while providing a novel algorithm for monitoring spinal cord function in the ICU.

Multimodal neuromonitoring in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Neuromonitoring is used to assess the central nervous system in the intensive care unit. The purpose of neuromonitoring is to detect neurologic deterioration and intervene to prevent irreversible nervous system dysfunction. Neuromonitoring starts with the standard neurologic examination, which may lag behind the pathophysiologic changes. Additional modalities including continuous electroencephalography (CEEG), multiple physiologic parameters, and structural neuroimaging may detect changes earlier. Multimodal neuromonitoring now refers to an integrated combination and display of non-invasive and invasive modalities, permitting tailored treatment for the individual patient. This chapter reviews the non-invasive and invasive modalities used in pediatric neurocritical care.

[Spinal cord electrical stimulation with neurophysiological monitoring for treatment of high-risk diabetic foot].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a single-session implantation of spinal cord electrical stimulation with neurophysiological monitoring a spinal cord electrical stimulator under general anesthesia with neurophysiological monitoring for the treatment of high-risk diabetic foot. METHODS: The clinical data of seven patients with high-risk diabetic foot who underwent spinal cord electrical stimulation in neurosurgery ward nine of Tianjin Huanhu Hospital from May 2022 to May 2023 were collected. The operation was performed under general anesthesia with the "C" arm X ray machine guidance and neurophysiological monitoring. The arterial diameter and peak flow rate of lower extremity, lower extremity skin temperature (calf skin temperature, foot skin temperature), visual analog scale (VAS), continuous distance of movement, blood glucose level and toe wound were compared between patients before and after surgery. RESULTS: A total of seven patients with high-risk diabetic foot were included. The diameters and peak flow rates of femoral artery, popliteal artery, anterior tibial artery, posterior tibial artery and dorsal foot artery in both lower limbs were significantly improved after surgery. All patients had different degrees of lower limb pain before operation. After operation, VAS score decreased significantly (1.1±0.9 vs. 6.8±3.4), the pain was significantly relieved, and the calf skin temperature and foot skin temperature were significantly higher than those before surgery [calf skin temperature (centigrade): 33.3±0.9 vs. 30.9±0.7, foot skin temperature (centigrade): 31.4±0.8 vs. 29.1±0.6], fasting blood glucose and postprandial blood glucose were significantly lower than those before surgery [fasting blood glucose (mmol/L): 7.6±1.4 vs. 10.5±1.2, postprandial blood glucose (mmol/L): 9.3±2.3 vs. 13.5±1.1], the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.01). The lower limb movement of all seven patients was significantly improved after surgery, including one patient who needed wheelchair travel before surgery, and one patient who had intermittent claudication before surgery. Among them, one patient needed wheelchair travel and one patient had intermittent claudication before surgery. All patients could walk normally at 2 weeks after operation. Among the seven patients, two patients had the diabetic foot wound ulceration before surgery, which could not heal for a long time. One month after surgery, blood flow around the foot wound recovered and the healing was accelerated. The wound was dry and crusted around the wound, and the wound healed well. CONCLUSIONS: For diabetic high-risk foot patients who are intolerant to diabetic peripheral neuralgia and local anesthesia spinal cord electrical stimulation test, one-time implantation of spinal cord electrical stimulator under general anesthesia under neurophysiological monitoring can effectively alleviate peripheral neuralgia and other diabetic foot related symptoms, improve lower limb blood supply, and reduce the risk of toe amputation. Clinical practice has proved the effectiveness of this technique, especially for the early treatment of diabetic high-risk foot patients.

Optimizing EEG monitoring in critically ill children at risk for electroencephalographic seizures.

OBJECTIVE: Strategies are needed to optimally deploy continuous EEG monitoring (CEEG) for electroencephalographic seizure (ES) identification and management due to resource limitations. We aimed to construct an efficient multi-stage prediction model guiding CEEG utilization to identify ES in critically ill children using clinical and EEG covariates. METHODS: The largest prospective single-center cohort of 1399 consecutive children undergoing CEEG was analyzed. A four-stage model was developed and trained to predict whether a subject required additional CEEG at the conclusion of each stage given their risk of ES. Logistic regression, elastic net, random forest, and CatBoost served as candidate methods for each stage and were evaluated using cross validation. An optimal multi-stage model consisting of the top-performing stage-specific models was constructed. RESULTS: When evaluated on a test set, the optimal multi-stage model achieved a cumulative specificity of 0.197 and cumulative F1 score of 0.326 while maintaining a high minimum cumulative sensitivity of 0.938. Overall, 11 % of test subjects with ES were removed from the model due to a predicted low risk of ES (falsely negative subjects). CEEG utilization would be reduced by 32 % and 47 % compared to performing 24 and 48 h of CEEG in all test subjects, respectively. We developed a web application called EEGLE (EEG Length Estimator) that enables straightforward implementation of the model. CONCLUSIONS: Application of the optimal multi-stage ES prediction model could either reduce CEEG utilization for patients at lower risk of ES or promote CEEG resource reallocation to patients at higher risk for ES.

Multimodal monitoring in patients with acute brain injury - A survey from critical care providers.

BACKGROUND: Multimodal neuromonitoring (MMM) aims to improve outcome after acute brain injury, and thus admission in specialized Neurocritical Care Units with potential access to MMM is necessary. Various invasive and noninvasive modalities have been developed, however there is no strong evidence to support monitor combinations nor is there a known standardized approach. The goal of this study is to identify the most used invasive and non-invasive neuromonitoring modalities in daily practice as well as ubiquitousness of MMM standardization. METHODS: In order to investigate current availability and protocolized implementation of MMM among neurocritical care units in US and non-US intensive care units, we designed a cross-sectional survey consisting of a self-administered online questionnaire of 20 closed-ended questions disseminated by the Neurocritical Care Society. RESULTS: Twenty-one critical care practitioners responded to our survey with a 76% completion rate. The most commonly utilized non-invasive neuromonitoring modalities were continuous electroencephalography followed by transcranial doppler. The most common invasive modalities were external ventricular drain followed by parenchymal intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring. MMM is most utilized in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and there were no differences regarding established institutional protocol, 24-h cEEG availability and invasive monitor placement between teaching and non-teaching hospitals. MMM is considered standard of care in 28% of responders' hospitals, whereas in 26.7% it is deemed experimental and only done as part of clinical trials. Only 26.7% hospitals use a computerized data integration system. CONCLUSION: Our survey revealed overall limited use of MMM with no established institutional protocols among institutions. Ongoing research and further standardization of MMM will clarify its benefit to patients suffering from severe brain injury.

Using Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter for Intracranial Pressure (ICP) Monitoring in Traumatic Brain Injury: A Scoping Review.

INTRODUCTION: Neuromonitoring represents a cornerstone in the comprehensive management of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), allowing for early detection of complications such as increased intracranial pressure (ICP) [1]. This has led to a search for noninvasive modalities that are reliable and deployable at bedside. Among these, ultrasonographic optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measurement is a strong contender, estimating ICP by quantifying the distension of the optic nerve at higher ICP values. Thus, this scoping review seeks to describe the existing evidence for the use of ONSD in estimating ICP in adult TBI patients as compared to gold-standard invasive methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews, with a main search of PubMed and EMBASE. The search was limited to studies of adult patients with TBI published in any language between 2012 and 2022. Sixteen studies were included for analysis, with all studies conducted in high-income countries. RESULTS: All of the studies reviewed measured ONSD using the same probe frequency. In most studies, the marker position for ONSD measurement was initially 3 mm behind the globe, retina, or papilla. A few studies utilized additional parameters such as the ONSD/ETD (eyeball transverse diameter) ratio or ODE (optic disc elevation), which also exhibit high sensitivity and reliability. CONCLUSION: Overall, ONSD exhibits great test accuracy and has a strong, almost linear correlation with invasive methods. Thus, ONSD should be considered one of the most effective noninvasive techniques for ICP estimation in TBI patients.

Guidelines for Qualifications of Neurodiagnostic Personnel: A Joint Position Statement of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine, the American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring, and ASET The Neurodiagnostic Society.

The Guidelines for Qualifications of Neurodiagnostic Personnel (QNP) document has been created through the collaboration of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS), the American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring (ASNM), the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM), and ASET The Neurodiagnostic Society (ASET). The quality of patient care is optimized when neurophysiological procedures are performed and interpreted by appropriately trained and qualified practitioners at every level. These societies recognize that neurodiagnostics is a large field with practitioners who have entered the field through a variety of training paths. This document suggests job titles, associated job responsibilities, and the recommended levels of education, certification, experience, and ongoing education appropriate for each job. This is important because of the growth and development of standardized training programs, board certifications, and continuing education in recent years. This document matches training, education, and credentials to the various tasks required for performing and interpreting neurodiagnostic procedures. This document does not intend to restrict the practice of those already working in neurodiagnostics. It represents recommendations of these societies with the understanding that federal, state, and local regulations, as well as individual hospital bylaws, supersede these recommendations. Because neurodiagnostics is a growing and dynamic field, the authors fully intend this document to change over time.

The unexpected paradox of geriatric traumatic brain injury outcomes: Uncovering racial and ethnic disparities.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare disparities have always challenged surgical care in the US. We aimed to assess the influence of disparities on cerebral monitor placement and outcomes of geriatric TBI patients. METHODS: Analysis of 2017-2019 ACS-TQIP. Included severe TBI patients ≥65 years. Patients who died within 24 h were excluded. Outcomes included mortality, cerebral monitors use, complications, and discharge disposition. RESULTS: We included 208,495 patients (White = 175,941; Black = 12,194) (Hispanic = 195,769; Non-Hispanic = 12,258). On multivariable regression, White race was associated with higher mortality (aOR = 1.26; p < 0.001) and SNF/rehab discharge (aOR = 1.11; p < 0.001) and less likely to be discharged home (aOR = 0.90; p < 0.001) or to undergo cerebral monitoring (aOR = 0.77; p < 0.001) compared to Black. Non-Hispanics had higher mortality (aOR = 1.15; p = 0.013), complications (aOR = 1.26; p < 0.001), and SNF/Rehab discharge (aOR = 1.43; p < 0.001) and less likely to be discharged home (aOR = 0.69; p < 0.001) or to undergo cerebral monitoring (aOR = 0.84; p = 0.018) compared to Hispanics. Uninsured Hispanics had the lowest odds of SNF/rehab discharge (aOR = 0.18; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the significant racial and ethnic disparities in the outcomes of geriatric TBI patients. Further studies are needed to address the reason behind these disparities and identify potentially modifiable risk factors in the geriatric trauma population.

Guidelines for Qualifications of Neurodiagnostic Personnel: A Joint Position Statement of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine, the American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring, and ASET - The Neurodiagnostic Society.

The Guidelines for Qualifications of Neurodiagnostic Personnel (QNP) document has been created through the collaboration of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS), the American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring (ASNM), the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM), and ASET - The Neurodiagnostic Society (ASET). The quality of patient care is optimized when neurophysiological procedures are performed and interpreted by appropriately trained and qualified practitioners at every level. These Societies recognize that Neurodiagnostics is a large field with practitioners who have entered the field through a variety of training paths. This document suggests job titles, associated job responsibilities, and the recommended levels of education, certification, experience, and ongoing education appropriate for each job. This is important because of the growth and development of standardized training programs, board certifications, and continuing education in recent years. This document matches training, education, and credentials to the various tasks required for performing and interpreting Neurodiagnostic procedures. This document does not intend to restrict the practice of those already working in Neurodiagnostics. It represents recommendations of these Societies with the understanding that federal, state, and local regulations, as well as individual hospital bylaws, supersede these recommendations. As Neurodiagnostics is a growing and dynamic field, we fully intend this document to change over time.

Guidelines for Qualifications of Neurodiagnostic Personnel: A Joint Position Statement of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine, the American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring, and ASET-The Neurodiagnostic Society.

SUMMARY: The Guidelines for Qualifications of Neurodiagnostic Personnel (QNP) document has been created through the collaboration of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS), the American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring (ASNM), the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM), and ASET-The Neurodiagnostic Society (ASET). The quality of patient care is optimized when neurophysiological procedures are performed and interpreted by appropriately trained and qualified practitioners at every level. These societies recognize that neurodiagnostics is a large field with practitioners who have entered the field through a variety of training paths. This document suggests job titles, associated job responsibilities, and the recommended levels of education, certification, experience, and ongoing education appropriate for each job. This is important because of the growth and development of standardized training programs, board certifications, and continuing education in recent years. This document matches training, education, and credentials to the various tasks required for performing and interpreting neurodiagnostic procedures. This document does not intend to restrict the practice of those already working in neurodiagnostics. It represents recommendations of these societies with the understanding that federal, state, and local regulations, as well as individual hospital bylaws, supersede these recommendations. Because neurodiagnostics is a growing and dynamic field, the authors fully intend this document to change over time.

Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis: Utility of electroencephalography.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate associations between neurocognitive impairment and electroencephalography (EEG) data in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). METHODS: patients aged between 18 and 65 years, diagnosed with MS accordingly to the McDonald 2017 criteria and who were in remission for at least one month were included. Cognitive functions were evaluated by validated neuropsychological tests for Tunisian population. Electroencephalography data of each patient were analysed, Grand Total EEG (GTE) score was calculated and we evaluated their statistical links with cognitive impairment. RESULTS: Thirty five patients were included. Slower background activity was associated with presence of: reduced information processing speed (IPS) (p = 0,03), verbal memory impairment (p = 0,04) and executive dysfunction (p = 0,016). The score 3 of GTE (reactivity of background activity) was associated with reduced IPS (p = 0,007) and executive dysfunction (p = 0,014). We found a positive correlation between background activity and Tunisian Verbal Test (TVLT) (ρ =0,46 ; p = 0,005) and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) (ρ =0,35 ; p = 0,03). Sensitivity of GTE score was 68,4% for executive dysfunction (cut-off=2,5) and 66,7% for reduced IPS (cut-off=2,5). CONCLUSIONS: Our results have shown utility of EEG in detecting cortical involvement and its correlation with cognitive impairment in MS patients. SIGNIFICANCE: EEG could be a tool for monitoring cortical involvement during MS and predict cognitive impairment.

Mild Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: Can Neurophysiological Monitoring Predict Unfavorable Neurological Outcome? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is the second cause of neonatal deaths and one of the main conditions responsible for long-term neurological disability. Contrary to past belief, children with mild HIE can also experience long-term neurological sequelae. The aim of this systematic review is to determine the predictive value of long-term neurological outcome of (electroencephalogram) EEG/amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) in children who complained mild HIE. STUDY DESIGN: From a first search on PubMed, Google Scholar, and clinicalTrials.gov databases, only five articles were considered suitable for this study review. A statistical meta-analysis with the evaluation of odds ratio was performed on three of these studies. RESULTS: No correlation was found between the characteristics of the electrical activity of the brain obtained through EEG/aEEG in infants with mild HIE and subsequent neurological involvement. CONCLUSION: EEG/aEEG monitoring in infants with mild HIE cannot be considered a useful tool in predicting their neurodevelopmental outcome, and its use for this purpose is reported as barely reliable. KEY POINTS: · HIE is responsible for long-term neurological outcome, even in newborns with mild HIE.. · No correlation was found between EEG/aEEG trace in infants with mild HIE and neurological sequelae.. · Neurophysiological monitoring, in mild HIE, cannot predic neurodevelopmental outcome..