Intracranial Pressure Monitoring for Acute Brain Injured Patients: When, How, What Should We Monitor.

While there is no level I recommendation for intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring, it is typically indicated for patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 3-8 (class II). Even for moderate TBI patients with GCS 9-12, ICP monitoring should be considered for risk of increased ICP. The impact of ICP monitoring on patient outcomes is still not well-established, but recent studies reported a reduction of early mortality (class III) in TBI patients. There is no standard protocol for the application of ICP monitoring. In cases where cerebrospinal fluid drainage is required, an external ventricular drain is commonly used. In other cases, parenchymal ICP monitoring devices are generally employed. Subdural or non-invasive forms are not suitable for ICP monitoring. The mean value of ICP is the parameter recommended for observation in many guidelines. In TBI, values above 22 mmHg are associated with increased mortality. However, recent studies proposed various parameters including cumulative time with ICP above 20 mmHg (pressure-time dose), pressure reactivity index, ICP waveform characteristics (pulse amplitude of ICP, mean ICP wave amplitude), and the compensatory reserve of the brain (reserve-amplitude-pressure), which are useful in predicting patient outcomes and guiding treatment. Further research is required for validation of these parameters compared to simple ICP monitoring.

Nutrition Therapy for Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Narrative Review.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global health and socio-economic problem, resulting in significant disability and mortality. Malnutrition is common in TBI patients and is associated with increased vulnerability to infection, higher morbidity and mortality rates, as well as longer stays in the intensive care unit and hospital. Following TBI, various pathophysiological mechanisms, such as hypermetabolism and hypercatabolism, affect patient outcomes. It is crucial to provide adequate nutrition therapy to prevent secondary brain damage and promote optimal recovery. This review includes a literature review and discusses the challenges encountered in clinical practice regarding nutrition in TBI patients. The focus is on determining energy requirements, timing and methods of nutrition delivery, promoting enteral tolerance, providing enteral nutrition to patients receiving vasopressors, and implementing trophic enteral nutrition. Enhancing our understanding of the current evidence regarding appropriate nutrition practices will contribute to improving overall outcomes for TBI patients.