Improvement of quality of life (QOL) between 1 and 3-4 years after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in ICU patients.

Background: Evaluation of changes in quality of life (QOL) in ICU patients several years after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is not well documented.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in all patients with TBI admitted between 2004 and 2008 to the ICU of Regional Hospital of Malaga (Spain). Functional status was evaluated by Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) and QOL by PAECC (Project for the Epidemiologic Analysis of Critical Care patients) questionnaire between 0 (normal QOL) to 29 points (worst QOL).

Catecholamines and Paroxysmal Sympathetic Hyperactivity after Traumatic Brain Injury.

Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) affects a significant minority of people in the intensive care unit after severe traumatic brain injury. Systematic research has yet to elucidate or quantify the extent of the role of the catecholamines or adrenocortical and thyroid axis hormonal influences in the condition. Data were prospectively collected on 80 consecutive patients, 18 of whom developed clinical signs of PSH (22.

Relationship between quality-of-life after 1-year follow-up and severity of traumatic brain injury assessed by computerized tomography.

Purpose: This paper studies the relationship between computed tomography (CT) scan on admission, according to Marshall's tomographic classification, and quality-of-life (QoL) after 1 year in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: This study used validated scales including the Glasgow Outcome Scale and the PAECC (Project for the Epidemiologic Analysis of Critical Care Patients) QoL questionnaire.

Results: We enrolled 531 patients.

Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity after traumatic brain injury: clinical and prognostic implications.

A proportion of patients surviving severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) have symptoms suggestive of excessive sympathetic discharge, here termed paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH). The goals of this study were: (1) to describe the clinical associations and radiological findings of PSH, its incidence, and features in subjects with severe TBI in the intensive care unit (ICU); (2) to investigate the potential role of increased intracranial pressure in the pathogenesis of PSH; and (3) to determine the prognostic influence of PSH during the ICU stay, on discharge from the ICU, and at 12 months post-injury. A prospective cohort study was undertaken of all ICU admissions with severe TBI older than 14 years over an 18-month period.

Prognostic influence and computed tomography findings in dysautonomic crises after traumatic brain injury.

Background: Dysautonomic crises represent a relatively unknown complication in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Few studies have been undertaken of their pathophysiology and prognostic repercussions. We studied the prevalence of dysautonomic crises after TBI, their radiologic substrate, influence on the clinical course in the intensive care unit (ICU), and effect on neurologic recovery.

[Extreme thrombocytopenia following abciximab therapy].

Antagonists of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor block the binding of fibrinogen and Von Willebrand factor to the platelet receptor. This effect can lead to bleeding and thrombocytopenia. We analyzed the incidence and clinical repercussions of severe thrombocytopenia (< 20 000 /microl) secondary to abciximab treatment in a prospective study of 375 patients (74% men) who underwent percutaneous coronary revascularization and received abciximab at our hospital.