Factors influencing weaning from mechanical ventilation in neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation patients.

Background: Studies analyzing risk factors of weaning failure in neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation (NNER) patients are rare.

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify clinical factors influencing the weaning of NNER patients.

Design: An observational, retrospective data analysis of a German multicenter study was performed.

Outcome of neurological early rehabilitation patients carrying multi-drug resistant bacteria: results from a German multi-center study.

Background: Colonization or infection with multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria is considered detrimental to the outcome of neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation patients.

Methods: In a German multi-center study, 754 neurological early rehabilitation patients were enrolled and and reviewed in respect to MDR status, length of stay (LOS) and the following outcome variables: Barthel Index (BI), Early Rehabilitation Index (ERI), Glasgow Outcome Score Extended (GOSE), Coma Remission Scale (CRS), Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC).

Results: The mean age of the study population was 68.

Criterion validity and sensitivity to change of the Early Rehabilitation Index (ERI): results from a German multi-center study.

Background: Evaluation of functional status is difficult in neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation patients. The Early Rehabilitation Index (ERI) was introduced in Germany over 20 years ago, but since then validation studies are lacking. The ERI (range -325 to 0 points) includes highly relevant items including the necessity of intermittent mechanical ventilation or tracheostomy.

[Course of rehabilitation in early neurological/neurosurgical rehabilitation. Results of a 2014 multi-center evaluation in Germany].

Background: In Germany, neurological-neurosurgical early rehabilitation is well established in the treatment of severe neurological diseases. To develop quality standards, knowledge of the current rehabilitation course is required.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the course of rehabilitation from patients in an early neurological/neurosurgical rehabilitation program in 16 centers from 10 German states.

A randomized and controlled study comparing immunoadsorption and plasma exchange in myasthenic crisis.

Myasthenic crisis is the most serious life-threatening event in Myasthenia gravis patients, affecting up to 27% within the first two years after onset of disease. Extracorporeal removal of circulating autoantibodies against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChRAb) by methods of therapeutic apheresis, e.g.