Monitoring of intracranial pressure in patients with severe traumatic brain injury: an Austrian prospective multicenter study

OBJECTIVE: The goals of this study were to elucidate reasons why patients did or did not receive intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring and to describe factors influencing hospital mortality after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). DESIGN: Prospective multicenter cohort study. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: 88,274 patients consecutively admitted to 32 medical, surgical and mixed Austrian ICUs between 1998 and 2004. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: 1,856 patients (2.1% of all ICU admissions) exhibited severe TBI (GCS < 9); of these, 1,031 (56%) had ICP monitoring. The "worst" and the "best" cases were both less likely to receive ICP monitoring. Younger patients, female patients, and patients with isolated TBI were more likely to receive ICP monitoring. Compared with large centers ICP was monitored more frequently [odds ratio (OR) 3.09, CI 2.42-3.94] in medium-sized centers. The 20% of patients with the highest likelihood to receive ICP monitoring were monitored in 91% of cases, and had the lowest hospital mortality (31%, OR 0.78, CI 0.37-1.64). Multivariate analysis revealed that severity of illness, TBI severity, isolated TBI, and the number of cases treated per year were associated with hospital outcome. Compared with the large centers, ORs for hospital mortality were 1.85 (CI 1.42-2.40) for patients from medium-sized centers and 1.91 (CI 1.24-2.93) for patients from small centers. CONCLUSIONS: ICP monitoring may possibly have some beneficial effects, but this needs further evaluation. Patients with severe TBI should be admitted to experienced centers with high patient volumes since this might improve hospital mortality rates.     

Serum S-100B protein monitoring in patients with severe traumatic brain injury

Objective S-100B protein is a promising marker of injury severity and outcome after head injury. We examined the relationship between serum S-100B concentrations and injury severity, clinical course, survival, and treatment efficacy after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design and setting Prospective observational study in a neurosurgical intensive care unit. Patients and participants 102 adult patients with severe TBI, admitted between June 2001 and November 2003 (30 months). Interventions Serum S-100B levels were measured by immunoluminometric technique on admission and every 24 h thereafter for a maximum of 7 days. Measurements and results Initial S-100B levels were significantly related to pupillary status, computed tomography severity1, and 1-month survival. Cox's proportional hazard regression analysis showed that initial S-100B was an independent predictor of 1-month survival, in the presence of dilated pupils, and with increased age. Subjects with initial levels above 1 μg/l had a nearly threefold increased probability of death within 1 month. Serum S-100B alteration indicated neurological improvement or deterioration. Finally, surgical treatment reduced S-100B levels. Conclusions Serum S-100B protein reflects injury severity and improves prediction of outcome after severe TBI. S-100B may also have a role in assessing the efficacy of treatment after severe TBI.     

重型颅脑损伤患者血浆S-100B蛋白测定的临床意义

目的　探讨血浆 S 10 0 B蛋白作为一种生物学指标在重型颅脑损伤诊断及预后判断中的应用价值。方法　重型颅脑损伤患者 6 6例 ,伤后早期 (2～ 6 h)抽取血浆标本 ,并从伤后 2 4 h起连续 3～ 7d检测血浆 S 10 0 B蛋白含量 ,将其结果与患者伤后 6个月格拉斯哥预后评分 (GOS)进行比较。结果　 6 6例患者中死亡 2 5例 ,致残 2 2例 ,良好 19例。死亡组 S 10 0 B平均 2 .6 0 μg/ L,明显高于存活组 (0 .5 5 μg/ L,P<0 .0 0 1) ;死亡组中有 14例 S 10 0 B峰值超过 2 .0 0 μg/ L,而存活组中只有 4例峰值超过 2 .0 0 μg/ L(P<0 .0 0 5 )。结论　血浆 S 10 0 B蛋白在重型颅脑损伤的诊断及预后判断中具有可靠的应用价值。     

Efficacy and safety of erythropoietin in patients with traumatic brain injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of erythropoietin (EPO) on mortality and neurological outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).Materials and methodsElectronic databases of studies published up to January 5, 2017 were searched to retrieve relevant investigations comparing the outcomes of EPO-treated patients and untreated patients following TBI. We calculated the relative risk (RR) of mortality, neurologic outcomes, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) using meta-analysis.ResultsSix randomized controlled clinical trials met the eligibility criteria. In total, 1041 patients were included among the studies. EPO was found to significantly reduce the occurrence of mortality (RR 0.68 [95% CI 0.50–0.95]; P = 0.02), but did not significantly reduce poor functional outcome (RR 1.22 [95% CI 0.82–1.81]; P = 0.33). There were no significant differences in the occurrence of complications, such as DVT, between the treatment groups (RR ?0.02 [95% CI ?0.06–0.02]; P = 0.81).ConclusionsResults of the present meta-analysis suggest that the use of EPO may prevent death following TBI without causing adverse events, such as deep vein thrombosis. However, the role of EPO in improving neurological outcome(s) remains unclear. Further well-designed, randomized controlled trials using modified protocols and involving specific patient populations are required to clarify this issue, and to verify the findings.