Wellness Perceptions in Persons After Traumatic Brain Injury and the Relationship to Functional Independence.

The incidence of cognitive impairment in TBI is high, depending on the severity. At the same time, psychopathological symptoms in the form of asthenia, increased anxiety and depression are encountered among patients with TBI. The work studied the relationship between cognitive and psychopathological symptoms in patients with TBI using neuropsychological testing on scales.

Download Full-text

Modulated Neuroprotection in Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11081044 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 1044

Author(s):

Cristina Daia ◽

Cristian Scheau ◽

Aura Spinu ◽

Ioana Andone ◽

Cristina Popescu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Glasgow Coma Scale ◽

Severe Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Functional Independence ◽

Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome ◽

Coma Scale ◽

Severe Tbi ◽

Neuroprotective Treatment ◽

Gcs Score

Background: We aimed to assess the effects of modulated neuroprotection with intermittent administration in patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: Retrospective analysis of 60 patients divided into two groups, with and without neuroprotective treatment with Actovegin, Cerebrolysin, pyritinol, L-phosphothreonine, L-glutamine, hydroxocobalamin, alpha-lipoic acid, carotene, DL-α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, thiamine, pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin, Q 10 coenzyme, and L-carnitine alongside standard treatment. Main outcome measures: Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) after TBI, Extended Glasgow Coma Scale (GOS E), Disability Rankin Scale (DRS), Functional Independence Measurement (FIM), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), all assessed at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after TBI. Results: Patients receiving neuroprotective treatment recovered more rapidly from UWS than controls (p = 0.007) passing through a state of minimal consciousness and gradually progressing until the final evaluation (p = 0.000), towards a high cognitive level MOCA = 22 ± 6 points, upper moderate disability GOS-E = 6 ± 1, DRS = 6 ± 4, and an assisted gait, FIM =101 ± 25. The improvement in cognitive and physical functioning was strongly correlated with lower UWS duration (−0.8532) and higher GCS score (0.9803). Conclusion: Modulated long-term neuroprotection may be the therapeutic key for patients to overcome UWS after severe TBI.

Download Full-text

Intracranial Pressure during External Ventricular Drainage Weaning Is an Outcome Predictor of Traumatic Brain Injury

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2020/8379134 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Jia-cheng Gu ◽

Hong Wu ◽

Xing-zhao Chen ◽

Jun-feng Feng ◽

Guo-yi Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Intracranial Pressure ◽

External Ventricular Drainage ◽

Unfavorable Outcome ◽

Ventricular Drainage ◽

Outcome Group ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean ◽

The Relationship

External ventricular drainage (EVD) is widely used in patients with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the EVD weaning trial protocol varies and insufficient studies focus on the intracranial pressure (ICP) during the weaning trial. We aimed to establish the relationship between ICP during an EVD weaning trial and the outcomes of TBI. We enrolled 37 patients with a TBI with an EVD from July 2018 to September 2019. Among them, 26 were allocated to the favorable outcome group and 11 to the unfavorable outcome group (death, post-traumatic hydrocephalus, persistent vegetative state, and severe disability). Groups were well matched for sex, pupil reactivity, admission Glasgow Coma Scale score, Marshall computed tomography score, modified Fisher score, intraventricular hemorrhage, EVD days, cerebrospinal fluid output before the weaning trial, and the complications. Before and during the weaning trial, we recorded the ICP at 1-hour intervals to calculate the mean ICP, delta ICP, and ICP burden, which was defined as the area under the ICP curve. There were significant between-group differences in the age, surgery types, and intensive care unit days (p=0.045, p=0.028, and p=0.004, respectively). During the weaning trial, 28 (75.7%) patients had an increased ICP. Although there was no significant difference in the mean ICP before and during the weaning trial, the delta ICP was higher in the unfavorable outcome group (p=0.001). Moreover, patients who experienced death and hydrocephalus had a higher ICP burden, which was above 20 mmHg (p=0.016). Receiver operating characteristic analyses demonstrated the predictive ability of these variables (area under the curve AUC=0.818 [p=0.002] for delta ICP and AUC=0.758 [p=0.038] for ICP burden>20 mmHg). ICP elevation is common during EVD weaning trials in patients with TBI. ICP-related parameters, including delta ICP and ICP burden, are significant outcome predictors. There is a need for larger prospective studies to further explore the relationship between ICP during EVD weaning trials and TBI outcomes.

Download Full-text

Self-awareness four years after severe traumatic brain injury: discordance between the patient’s and relative’s complaints. Results from the PariS-TBI study

Clinical Rehabilitation ◽

10.1177/0269215517734294 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (5) ◽

pp. 692-704 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Camille Chesnel ◽

Claire Jourdan ◽

Eleonore Bayen ◽

Idir Ghout ◽

Emmanuelle Darnoux ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Severe Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Significant Relationship ◽

Injury Severity ◽

Chronic Phase ◽

Functional Independence ◽

Severe Tbi

Objective: To evaluate the patient’s awareness of his or her difficulties in the chronic phase of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to determine the factors related to poor awareness. Design/Setting/Subjects: This study was part of a larger prospective inception cohort study of patients with severe TBI in the Parisian region (PariS-TBI study). Intervention/Main measures: Evaluation was carried out at four years and included the Brain Injury Complaint Questionnaire (BICoQ) completed by the patient and his or her relative as well as the evaluation of impairments, disability and quality of life. Results: A total of 90 patient-relative pairs were included. Lack of awareness was measured using the unawareness index that corresponded to the number of discordant results between the patient and relative in the direction of under evaluation of difficulties by the patient. The only significant relationship found with lack of awareness was the subjective burden perceived by the relative (Zarit Burden Inventory) ( r = 0.5; P < 0.00001). There was no significant relationship between lack of awareness and injury severity, pre-injury socio-demographic data, cognitive impairments, mood disorders, functional independence (Barthel index), global disability (Glasgow Outcome Scale), return to work at four years or quality of life (Quality Of Life after Brain Injury scale (QOLIBRI)). Conclusion: Lack of awareness four years post severe TBI was not related to the severity of the initial trauma, sociodemographic data, the severity of impairments, limitations of activity and participation, or the patient’s quality of life. However, poor awareness did significantly influence the weight of the burden perceived by the relative.

Download Full-text