Hypothermie thérapeutique en traumatologie crânienne grave

Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is considered a standard of care in the post-resuscitation phase of cardiac arrest. In experimental models of traumatic brain injury (TBI), TH was found to have neuroprotective properties. However, TH failed to demonstrate beneficial effects on neurological outcome in patients with TBI. The absence of benefits of TH uniformly applied in TBI patients should not question the use of TH as a second-tier therapy to treat elevated intracranial pressure. The management of all the practical aspects of TH is a key factor to avoid side effects and to optimize the potential benefit of TH in the treatment of intracranial hypertension. Induction of TH can be achieved with external surface cooling or with intra-vascular devices. The therapeutic target should be set at a 35 °C using brain temperature as reference, and should be maintained at least during 48 hours and ideally over the entire period of elevated intracranial pressure. The control of the rewarming phase is crucial to avoid temperature overshooting and should not exceed 1 °C/day. Besides its use in the management of intracranial hypertension, therapeutic cooling is also essential to treat hyperthermia in brain-injured patients. In this review, we will discuss the benefit-risk balance and practical aspects of therapeutic temperature management in TBI patients.     

Update on prehospital emergency care of severe trauma patients

The prognosis of severe trauma patients is determined by the ability of a healthcare system to provide high intensity therapeutic treatment on the field and to transport patients as quickly as possible to the structure best suited to their condition. Direct admission to a specialized center (“trauma center”) reduces the mortality of the most severe trauma at 30 days and one year. Triage in a non-specialized hospital is a major risk of loss of chance and should be avoided whenever possible. Medical dispatching plays a major role in determining patient care. The establishment of a hospital care network is an important issue that is not formalized enough in France. The initial triage of severe trauma patients must be improved to avoid taking patients to hospitals that are not equipped to take care of them. For this purpose, the MGAP score can predict severity and help decide where to transport the patient. However, it does not help predict the need for urgent resuscitation procedures. Hemodynamic management is central to the care of hemorrhagic shock and severe head trauma. Transport helicopter with a physician on board has an important role to allow direct admission to a specialized center in geographical areas that are difficult to access.     

Utilisation d’un ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) dans un cas d’hypoxémie réfractaire associée à un traumatisme crânien grave

Traumatic brain injuries are fairly sensitive to hypoxia. For patient with associated lung and brain traumas, different means used to improve oxygen blood level are poorly described. We report the use of ECMO in a refractory hypoxemia occurred to a multitrauma young patient with neurological lesions.     

Surgical management of persistent post-traumatic trans-tentorial brain hernia

IntroductionTemporal engagement may persist after etiologic surgical treatment of acute subdural hematoma (ASH) without clinical improvement despite normalized intracranial pressure (ICP). The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of secondary direct temporal lobe disengagement (DTLD) after surgery for supratentorial ASH and to evaluate clinical outcome.Materials and methodsThis was a retrospective analysis of 4 patients undergoing secondary DTLD. Patient data were recorded at admission, pre- and postoperatively and at 6 months’ follow-up (FU): age, gender, Rotterdam score, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), neurological deficits, oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP), ICP, midline shift, complications and Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS-E).ResultsAt postoperative evaluation 48 h after DTLD, we observed a significant improvement in GCS score (initial 6 ± 3, preoperative 7 ± 3, postoperative 14 ± 1; P = 0.02), midline shift (initial 16 ± 3 mm, preoperative 13 ± 5 mm, postoperative 9 ± 2 mm; P = 0.049) and ONP (P = 0.01). In all cases, early postoperative imaging documented visualization of a patent ipsilateral peri-mesencephalic cistern. At 6-month FU, GOS-E showed 75% good recovery and 25% disability. Complete ONP recovery was observed in 75% of patients (P = 0.01). Neurological deficits were present at FU in 25% of patients. No surgery-related complications or mortality were recorded.ConclusionsIn traumatic brain injury, secondary DTLD may allow simple, effective and safe management of trans-tentorial uncal herniation, avoiding more challenging procedures. Clinical results are promising, as this technique seems to favorably influence neurological outcome in this selected subgroup of patients with persistent clinical and radiological signs of temporal engagement after etiological treatment with normal ICP values.     

Chirurgie périphérique chez le traumatisé crânien grave : précoce ou retardée ?

Head injuries are present in up to 65 % of multiple trauma patients with a frequent association with orthopaedic injuries. The concept of early surgical stabilization of long-bone fractures in patients with multiple injuries became firmly established in the 1980s. However, optimal timing of long bone fracture fixation in trauma patients with associated severe traumatic brain injury has been a lively topic. The available literature does not provide clear-cut guidance on the management of fractures in the presence of head injuries. The trend is toward a better outcome if the fractures are fixed early. In recent years, some studies reported a worse outcome, with secondary brain damage, resulting from hypotension, hypoxia and increased intraoperative fluid administration. This review summarises the current evidence available regarding the management of these patients in particular the recent concept of early temporary surgical stabilization in the era of “damage control orthopaedic surgery”.     

Post-irradiation neuromyotonia of the masseter muscle

INTRODUCTION: Neuromyotonia is a late and rare complication of radiation therapy, consisting of involuntary sustained muscle contractions with a delay in relaxation. OBSERVATION: We report the case of a 68-year-old man who developed neuromyotonia of the masseter muscle 6 years after irradiation for tonsil carcinoma. CONCLUSION: This observation underlines the importance of a correct diagnosis that can lead to an efficient treatment by carbamazepine.     

Intracranial haemorrhage associated with phaeochromocytoma

INTRODUCTION: Pheochromocytoma is rarely disclosed by intracranial hemorrhage. We report two cases. OBSERVATION: The first 26-year-old patient developed subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a ruptured aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery. The second patient, aged 44 years, had a temporal hematoma. Diagnosis was suggested in both patients by hypertension and elevated urinary catecholamines and confirmed by imaging and MIBG scintigraphy. Adrenal gland tumors, on both glands in the first patient and on the right gland in the second were successfully removed; cranial hypertension totally regressed. Von Hippel Lindau disease was diagnosed by molecular genetics in the first patient. Paroxysmal hypertension could explain the brain hemorrhage in the first patient and may have favored aneurysmal rupture in the second. CONCLUSION: The relationships between pheochromocytoma and cerebral aneurysm are discussed.