Optimización del manejo del paciente neuroquirúrgico en Medicina Intensiva / Optimization of the neurosurgical patient in Intensive Care

Los pacientes con patología neuroquirúrgica requieren frecuentemente el ingreso en unidades de cuidados intensivos tanto para su manejo en el postoperatorio inmediato como para el control de las complicaciones que puedan presentar. La patología neuroquirúrgica es amplia y requiere profilaxis, tratamiento y monitorización específica. El tratamiento del paciente neuroquirúrgico se basa en asegurar una correcta perfusión tisular cerebral, es decir, mantener un flujo sanguíneo suficiente para aportar energía al parénquima cerebral. Con el objetivo de optimizar el tratamiento y el manejo de estos pacientes, en los últimos años se han desarrollado y perfeccionado diferentes sistemas para monitorizar variables como la presión intracraneal, la actividad eléctrica cerebral (electroencefalografía), el flujo cerebral, la oxigenación del parénquima (presión tisular de oxígeno) o el metabolismo locorregional (microdiálisis). Esta revisión sintetiza el manejo general del paciente neuroquirúrgico así como el de las principales complicaciones que puede desarrollar durante el postoperatorio. Asimismo, se propone un algoritmo de actuación para facilitar la decisión de los profesionales responsables que incluye la neuromonitorización multimodal

Neurosurgical patients frequently require admission to intensive care units, either for postoperative management or for treating complications. Most neurosurgical diseases require specific monitoring and prophylaxis. The basic principle of neurosurgical patient management is to ensure correct brain tissue perfusion, i.e., maintaining a sufficient blood flow to supply energy and oxygen to the brain parenchyma. In the last few years, several systems have been developed and improved for monitoring variables such as intracranial pressure, cerebral electrical activity (electroencephalography), cerebral blood flow, parenchymal oxygenation (tissue oxygen pressure) or locoregional metabolism (microdialysis). The present study provides an overview of the general management of neurosurgical patients and the main complications that may occur during the postoperative period. An interventional algorithm is also proposed to facilitate physician decisions, with the inclusion of multimodal neuromonitoring

Documento práctico del manejo de la hiponatremia en pacientes críticos / Practical document on the management of hyponatremia in critically ill patients

La hiponatremia es el trastorno electrolítico más prevalente en las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos. Se asocia a un aumento de la morbilidad, mortalidad y estancia hospitalaria. La mayoría de los estudios publicados hasta el momento son observacionales, retrospectivos y no incluyen pacientes críticos, lo que dificulta la extracción de conclusiones sólidas. Además, debido a la escasa evidencia científica de calidad, incluso las recomendaciones realizadas por distintas sociedades científicas recientemente publicadas difieren en aspectos importantes como son el diagnóstico o el tratamiento de la hiponatremia. Los mecanismos etiopatogénicos en los pacientes críticos suelen ser complejos. Sin embargo, hay que profundizar en ellos para llegar al diagnóstico más probable y a la pauta de tratamiento más adecuada. Todo ello, ha motivado la realización de esta revisión práctica sobre aspectos útiles en el abordaje de la hiponatremia en las Unidades de Cuidados intensivos, con el objetivo de homogeneizar el manejo de esta entidad y disponer de un algoritmo diagnóstico a nivel nacional

Hyponatremia is the most prevalent electrolyte disorder in Intensive Care Units. It is associated with an increase in morbidity, mortality and hospital stay. The majority of the published studies are observational, retrospective and do not include critical patients; hence it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Moreover, the lack of clinical evidence has led to important dissimilarities in the recommendations coming from different scientific societies. Finally, etiopathogenic mechanisms leading to hyponatremia in the critical care patient are complex and often combined, and an intensive analysis is clearly needed. A study was therefore made to review all clinical aspects about hyponatremia management in the critical care setting. The aim was to develop a Spanish nationwide algorithm to standardize hyponatremia diagnosis and treatment in the critical care patient

Optimization of the neurosurgical patient in Intensive Care. / Optimización del manejo del paciente neuroquirúrgico en Medicina Intensiva.

Neurosurgical patients frequently require admission to intensive care units, either for postoperative management or for treating complications. Most neurosurgical diseases require specific monitoring and prophylaxis. The basic principle of neurosurgical patient management is to ensure correct brain tissue perfusion, i.e., maintaining a sufficient blood flow to supply energy and oxygen to the brain parenchyma. In the last few years, several systems have been developed and improved for monitoring variables such as intracranial pressure, cerebral electrical activity (electroencephalography), cerebral blood flow, parenchymal oxygenation (tissue oxygen pressure) or locoregional metabolism (microdialysis). The present study provides an overview of the general management of neurosurgical patients and the main complications that may occur during the postoperative period. An interventional algorithm is also proposed to facilitate physician decisions, with the inclusion of multimodal neuromonitoring.

Practical document on the management of hyponatremia in critically ill patients. / Documento práctico del manejo de la hiponatremia en pacientes críticos.

Hyponatremia is the most prevalent electrolyte disorder in Intensive Care Units. It is associated with an increase in morbidity, mortality and hospital stay. The majority of the published studies are observational, retrospective and do not include critical patients; hence it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Moreover, the lack of clinical evidence has led to important dissimilarities in the recommendations coming from different scientific societies. Finally, etiopathogenic mechanisms leading to hyponatremia in the critical care patient are complex and often combined, and an intensive analysis is clearly needed. A study was therefore made to review all clinical aspects about hyponatremia management in the critical care setting. The aim was to develop a Spanish nationwide algorithm to standardize hyponatremia diagnosis and treatment in the critical care patient.