Opioid-related xylazine toxicity manifesting as myonecrosis, rhabdomyolysis, multifocal ischemic cerebral infarcts, and cerebral edema.

This article provides a report of a case of organ dysfunction, myonecrosis, rhabdomyolysis, multifocal ischemic cerebral infarcts, and cerebral edema after a patient's use of xylazine and fentanyl. Within the US opioid epidemic, xylazine is emerging as a troubling national sub-story. The prevalence of xylazine within illicitly manufactured opioids and the proportion of opioid-involved overdose deaths with detected xylazine are rising dramatically, the latter increasing 276% between 2019 and 2022.

Variability in Diagnosis and Treatment of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Neurocritical Care Patients.

Background: Clinical approach to ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in the neurocritical care unit (NCCU) varies widely among physicians despite training and validated criteria.

Methods: Prospective observational study of all mechanically ventilated patients with suspected VAP over 18 months in an academic NCCU. Patients meeting VAP criteria by a surveillance program (SurvVAP) were compared to treated patients who did not meet surveillance criteria (ClinVAPonly).

Brain code and coma recovery: aggressive management of cerebral herniation.

Cerebral herniation occurs due to lateral or vertical shifts in brain tissue as a complication of an intra- or extra-axial nervous system pathology. Midline shift of midline brain structures has been independently associated with poor outcome in a variety of neurologic injuries. Herniation may present as a subacute phenomenon constituting mild and progressive alteration of consciousness or as a hyperacute scenario wherein there is rapid decompensation of intracranial compliance.

Early prognostication in acute brain damage: where is the evidence?

Purpose Of Review: Early prognostication in acute brain damage remains a challenge in the realm of critical care. There remains controversy over the most optimal methods that can be utilized to predict outcome. The utility of recently reported prognostic biomarkers and clinical methods will be reviewed.

The prevention and regression of atherosclerotic plaques: emerging treatments.

Occlusive vascular diseases, such as sudden coronary syndromes, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease, are a huge burden on the health care systems of developed and developing countries. Tremendous advances have been made over the last few decades in the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerotic diseases. Intravascular ultrasound has been able to provide detailed information of plaque anatomy and has been used in several studies to assess outcomes.