Use of T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the optic nerve sheath to detect raised intracranial pressure.

Introduction: The dural sheath surrounding the optic nerve communicates with the subarachnoid space, and distends when intracranial pressure is elevated. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often performed in patients at risk for raised intracranial pressure (ICP) and can be used to measure precisely the diameter of optic nerve and its sheath. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD), as measured using MRI, and ICP.

Magnetic resonance imaging changes in the pituitary gland following acute traumatic brain injury.

Objective: The objective was to study the anatomical changes in the pituitary gland following acute moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design: Retrospective, observational, case-control study.

Setting: Neurosciences Critical Care Unit of a university hospital.

Hyperglycemia and brain tissue pH after traumatic brain injury.

Objective: Hyperglycemia occurring after head injury is associated with poor neurological outcome. We tested the hypothesis that blood glucose levels are associated with brain tissue pH (pH(b)) and that the correction of hyperglycemia would result in an improvement in pH(b).

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database.

Extracellular Brain pH and Outcome following Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

The ability to measure brain tissue chemistry has led to valuable information regarding pathophysiological changes in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Over the last few years, the focus has been on monitoring changes in brain tissue oxygen to determine thresholds of ischemia that affect outcome. However, the variability of this measurement suggests that it may not be a robust method.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dopamine and norepinephrine in critically ill head-injured patients.

Objective: To explore the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dopamine and norepinephrine.

Design: Prospective, controlled, trial.

Setting: Neurosciences critical care unit.

Effect of hyperventilation on cerebral blood flow in traumatic head injury: clinical relevance and monitoring correlates.

Objective: To investigate the effect of hyperventilation on cerebral blood flow in traumatic brain injury.

Design: A prospective interventional study.

Setting: A specialist neurocritical care unit.

Research collaboration.

Collaborative interdisciplinary research can contribute to bridging the gap between research and practice. This paper by Leslie Gelling and Dot Chatfield considers the nature of collaborative research, describes three models of collaboration and suggests some potential benefits of successful research collaboration to individuals, groups, organisations and consumers.