Decompressive Craniectomy for Traumatic Intracranial Hypertension in Children.

OBJECTIVES: Decompressive craniectomy (DC) for control of refractory intracranial pressure (ICP) elevations remains a controversial procedure because of its invasiveness and lack of clearly defined indications, the absence of an established surgical technique, the variability of its outcomes, and the significant risk of complications. AIM: The purpose of this study was to identify factors for unfavorable outcomes after DC in children with a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: A longitudinal investigation of correlations was carried out in 64 children (mean age ± 4.8 years) with severe TBI and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 6 ± 2 on admission. The follow-up period was 6 months. RESULTS: There was good recovery (with a Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score of 4-5) in 45.3% of cases, severe disability in 31.0% of cases (with a GOS score of 3); and a GOS score of 1-2 in 23.4% of cases. Twelve patients (18.7%) died. Unfavorable prognostic signs were a GCS score < 5 (P = 0.0003); dilated, unreactive pupils (P < 0.05); and ICP >40 mmHg (P = 0.0003; P < 0.05). ICP characteristics appeared to be the most sensitive predictor of outcomes after secondary DC (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: DC may be effective in preventing dislocation syndrome but futile in cases of cerebral herniation. Outcomes after DC are determined by the severity of the primary and secondary brain injuries.

Secondary Cerebral Ischemia at Traumatic Brain Injury Is More Closely Related to Cerebrovascular Reactivity Impairment than to Intracranial Hypertension.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the development of secondary cerebral ischemia (SCI), intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) after traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: 89 patients with severe TBI with ICP monitoring were studied retrospectively. The mean age was 36.3 ± 4.8 years, 53 men, 36 women. The median Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) was 6.2 ± 0.7. The median Injury Severity Score was 38.2 ± 12.5. To specify the degree of impact of changes in ICP and CVR on the SCI progression in TBI patients, logistic regression was performed. Significant p-values were <0.05. RESULTS: The deterioration of CVR in combination with the severity of ICP has a significant impact on the increase in the prevalence rate of SCI. A logistic regression analysis for a model of SCI dependence on intracranial hypertension and CVR was performed. The results of the analysis showed that CVR was the most significant factor affecting SCI development in TBI. CONCLUSIONS: The development of SCI in severe TBI depends largely on CVR impairment and to a lesser extent on ICP level. Treatment for severe TBI patients with SCI progression should not be aimed solely at intracranial hypertension correction but also at CVR recovery.

Brain Biomarkers in Children After Mild and Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Brain biomarkers (protein S100b and neuron-specific enolase (NSE)), antibodies (aAb) to the NR2 subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NR2(NMDA)) and to the GluR1 subunit of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (GluR1(AMPA)) subtype of glutamate receptors (GluR), NR2 and AMPA peptides, nitrogen oxides (NOx; "nitrites and nitrates"), and 3-nitrotyrosine (NT) were measured in blood from 159 children after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), moderate traumatic brain injury (mdTBI), or severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) within 1-2 days and at intervals during the first 15 days after brain trauma. S100b and NSE levels on the first day were not a strict criterion for injury outcomes. Children with mTBI had the most significant elevations in antibodies to NR2(NMDA) and AMPA peptides, a slight increase in NOx, and, in 25% of cases, appearance of NT in the blood right after TBI. The lowest level of antibodies to NR2(NMDA) GluR detected shortly after the initial TBI was found in children with sTBI, with a negative outcome. The opposite characters of antibodies to NR2(NMDA) on the first day in children with mild and moderate versus severe TBI may be associated with an important mechanism aimed at protecting neurons from Glu excitotoxicity. We hypothesized that a slight increase in NOx after the onset of TBI rapidly activates the innate immune system and contributes to an increase in antibodies to NR2(NMDA). An increase in the AMPA peptide level in mTBI may be early signs of diffuse axonal injury.

Mean Square Deviation of ICP in Prognosis of Severe TBI Outcomes in Children.

OBJECTIVES: Prognostic value of intracranial pressure (ICP) is discussed in the recent literature. The aim of our study was to find the parameter that could be representative of ICP variations and might become a good predictor of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) outcomes in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 81 patients with severe TBI (2004-2014). INCLUSION CRITERIA: GCS ≤ 8, age > 3 years old, admission time to our clinic <24 h from the time of injury. Mean daily values of ICP were used as a predictor, Glasgow outcome scale value was used as a grouping variable. Outcomes were assessed 6 months after injury. RESULTS: Total mortality was 27%. We have entered the indicator "energy ICP" (E 2), which describes the dynamics of the process and energy. E 2 value in the group of survivors was <500 mmHg2; the probability of accurate forecasting was 91%. Sensitivity, 0.9; specificity; 0.94. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method is accessible and easy to perform. This method has high specificity in the prediction of severe traumatic brain injury outcome and can be a reliable tool for ICP control.

Prognosis of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Outcomes in Children.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine prognostic factors that can influence the outcome of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty-nine patients with severe TBI were included. Consciousness was evaluated using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Severity of concomitant injuries was evaluated using the Injury Severity Score (ISS). Computer tomography (CT) scanning was used on admission and later. Intracranial injuries were classified using the Marshall CT scale. Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring took place in 80 cases. Serum samples of 65 patients were tested for S-100ß protein and of 43 patients for neuron specific enolase (NSE). Outcomes were evaluated 6 months after trauma using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Statistical and mathematical analysis was conducted. The accuracy of our prognostic model was defined in another group of patients (n = 118). RESULTS: GCS, pupil size and photoreaction, ISS, hypotension and hypoxia are significant predictors of outcome of severe TBI in children. CT results complement the forecast significantly. The accuracy of surviving prognosis came to 76% (0.76) in case of S-100ß protein level ≤ 0.25 µg/l and NSE level < 19 µg/l. A mathematical model of outcome prognosis was based on discriminant function analysis. The model of prognosis was tested on the control group. The accuracy of prognosis was 86%. CONCLUSIONS: A personalised prognostic model makes it possible to predict the outcome of severe TBI in children on the first day after trauma.