Neurological Pupillary Index and Disposition at Hospital Discharge following ICU Admission for Acute Brain Injury.

We examined the associations between the Neurological Pupillary Index (NPi) and disposition at hospital discharge in patients admitted to the neurocritical care unit with acute brain injury (ABI) due to acute ischemic stroke (AIS), spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The primary outcome was discharge disposition (home/acute rehabilitation vs. death/hospice/skilled nursing facility).

Benchmarking Hospital Practices and Policies on Intrahospital Neurocritical Care Transport: The Safe-Neuro-Transport Study.

An electronic survey was administered to multidisciplinary neurocritical care providers at 365 hospitals in 32 countries to describe intrahospital transport (IHT) practices of neurocritically ill patients at their institutions. The reported IHT practices were stratified by World Bank country income level. Variability between high-income (HIC) and low/middle-income (LMIC) groups, as well as variability between hospitals within countries, were expressed as counts/percentages and intracluster correlation coefficients (ICCs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).

Administration of 3% Sodium Chloride Through Peripheral Intravenous Access: Development and Implementation of a Protocol for Clinical Practice.

Background: Patients with traumatic brain injury, cerebral edema, and severe hyponatremia require rapid augmentation of serum sodium levels. Three percent sodium chloride is commonly used to normalize or augment serum sodium level, yet there are limited data available concerning the most appropriate route of administration. Traditionally, 3% sodium chloride is administered through a central venous catheter (CVC) due to the attributed theoretical risk of phlebitis and extravasation injuries when hyperosmolar solution is administered peripherally.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic's Effect on Critical Care Resources and Health-Care Providers: A Global Survey.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has severely affected ICUs and critical care health-care providers (HCPs) worldwide.

Research Question: How do regional differences and perceived lack of ICU resources affect critical care resource use and the well-being of HCPs?

Study Design And Methods: Between April 23 and May 7, 2020, we electronically administered a 41-question survey to interdisciplinary HCPs caring for patients critically ill with COVID-19. The survey was distributed via critical care societies, research networks, personal contacts, and social media portals.

Health-care Professionals' Perceptions of Critical Care Resource Availability and Factors Associated With Mental Well-being During Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Results from a US Survey.

Background: Assessing the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on intensive care unit (ICU) providers' perceptions of resource availability and evaluating the factors associated with emotional distress/burnout can inform interventions to promote provider well-being.

Methods: Between 23 April and 7 May 2020, we electronically administered a survey to physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists (RTs), and advanced practice providers (APPs) caring for COVID-19 patients in the United States. We conducted a multivariate regression to assess associations between concerns, a reported lack of resources, and 3 outcomes: a primary outcome of emotional distress/burnout and 2 secondary outcomes of (1) fear that the hospital is unable to keep providers safe; and (2) concern about transmitting COVID-19 to their families/communities.

Risks of Routinely Clamping External Ventricular Drains for Intrahospital Transport in Neurocritically Ill Cerebrovascular Patients.

Background: Current guidelines recommend routine clamping of external ventricular drains (EVD) for intrahospital transport (IHT). The aim of this project was to describe intracranial hemodynamic complications associated with routine EVD clamping for IHT in neurocritically ill cerebrovascular patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of cerebrovascular adult patients with indwelling EVD admitted to the neurocritical care unit (NICU) during the months of September to December 2015 at a tertiary care center.

Sleep and Mechanical Ventilation in Critical Care.

Sleep disturbances in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients are common. Although many factors may potentially contribute to sleep loss in critical care, issues around mechanical ventilation are among the more complex. Sleep deprivation has systemic effects that may prolong the need for mechanical ventilation and length of stay in critical care and result in worse outcomes.

Chapter 5 cerebral perfusion pressure and intracranial pressure in traumatic brain injury.

Nearly 300,000 children and adults are hospitalized annually with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and monitored for many vital signs, including intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). Nurses use these monitored values to infer the risk of secondary brain injury. The purpose of this chapter is to review nursing research on the monitoring of ICP and CPP in TBI.

Recommendations for the Critical Care Management of Devastating Brain Injury: Prognostication, Psychosocial, and Ethical Management : A Position Statement for Healthcare Professionals from the Neurocritical Care Society.

Devastating brain injuries (DBIs) profoundly damage cerebral function and frequently cause death. DBI survivors admitted to critical care will suffer both intracranial and extracranial effects from their brain injury. The indicators of quality care in DBI are not completely defined, and despite best efforts many patients will not survive, although others may have better outcomes than originally anticipated.

Fever management practices of neuroscience nurses: what has changed?

Current evidence shows that fever and hyperthermia are especially detrimental to patients with neurologic injury, leading to higher rates of mortality, greater disability, and longer lengths of stay. Although clinical practice guidelines exist for ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and traumatic brain injury, they lack specificity in their recommendations for fever management, making it difficult to formulate appropriate protocols for care. Using survey methods, the aims of this study were to (a) describe how nursing practices for fever management in this population have changed over the last several years, (b) assess if institutional protocols and nursing judgment follow published national guidelines for fever management in neuroscience patients, and (c) explore whether nurse or institutional characteristics influence decision making.

Clinical practice guideline series update: care of the pediatric patient with a brain tumor.

The purpose of this first edition of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses' Clinical Practice Guideline is to summarize what is currently known about brain tumors in children and to provide the reader with nursing-specific recommendations based on supporting evidence from nursing and other disciplines. "Care of the Pediatric Patient With a Brain Tumor" includes information on epidemiology, classification of brain tumors, risk factors, genetics, pathophysiology, clinical features, tumor types, diagnostic testing, acute management, surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, psychosocial and educational needs of the patient and family, and long-term effects of the brain tumor or management of the brain tumor. Aspects of care unique to the pediatric patient are emphasized.

Clinical practice guideline series update: care of the adult patient with a brain tumor.

An estimated 66,240 people in the United States are currently living with brain tumors. Most of these individuals are adults. The purpose of this first edition American Association of Neuroscience Nurses' Clinical Practice Guideline is to summarize what is currently known about brain tumors in adults and to provide the reader with nursing-specific recommendations based on supporting evidence from nursing and other disciplines.

Clinical practice guideline series update.

Approximately 20 per 100,000 people in the United States are currently living with myasthenia gravis (MG). MG is a chronic condition that occurs in all genders, ethnicities, and ages. The result of a defect at the neuromuscular junction, MG is characterized by fluctuating muscle weakness and fatigue.

Controversies in the management of adults with severe traumatic brain injury.

Despite progress in the management of adults with severe traumatic brain injury, several controversies persist. Among the unresolved issues of greatest concern to neurocritical care clinicians and scientists are the following: (1) the best use of technological advances and the data obtained from multimodality monitoring; (2) the use of mannitol and hypertonic saline in the management of increased intracranial pressure; (3) the use of decompressive craniectomy and barbiturate coma in refractory increased intracranial pressure; (4) therapeutic hypothermia as a neuroprotectant; (5) anemia and the role of blood transfusion; and (6) venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in severe traumatic brain injury. Each of these strategies for managing severe traumatic brain injury, including the postulated mechanism(s) of action and beneficial effects of each intervention, adverse effects, the state of the science, and critical care nursing implications, is discussed.