Opioid Prescribing in Patients Undergoing Neck Dissections With Short Hospitalizations

2020 ◽  
pp. 019459982095798
Author(s):  
Grace L. Banik ◽  
Kristen L. Kraimer ◽  
Maisie L. Shindo
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Neck Dissection ◽  
Opioid Prescription ◽  
Multidisciplinary Collaboration ◽  
Opioid Prescribing ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Preoperative Counseling ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Objective To evaluate postoperative opioid prescribing in patients undergoing neck dissections with short hospitalizations. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary academic hospital. Methods The study population included patients who underwent lateral neck dissections with or without an associated head and neck procedure and required hospitalization for ≤3 days from 2012 to 2019. Interventions to decrease opioid utilization, including preoperative counseling, multimodality pain management, and multidisciplinary collaboration, were implemented in September 2016. Patients were divided into 2 groups: preintervention (group 1) and postintervention (group 2). The mean quantity of opioids prescribed during hospitalization, at discharge, and in refills was calculated in morphine milligram equivalents (MME). Results A total of 407 patients were included in the analysis: 223 patients in group 1 and 184 patients in group 2 (42.3% female, 89.4% white; average age, 55.2 years [95% CI, 53.6-56.9]). The mean opioid quantity prescribed in unilateral neck dissection alone decreased from 353.9 MME (95% CI, 266.7-441.2) in group 1 to 113.3 MME (95% CI, 87.8-138.7) in group 2 ( P < .001; effect size, 1.0). Statistically significant decreases in mean opioid quantity prescribed were also observed in unilateral neck dissection in combination with thyroidectomy, parotidectomy, glossectomy, or tonsillectomy. The percentage of patients requiring opioid prescription refills was not statistically different between the groups. Conclusion This study demonstrates that the quantity of opioids prescribed in patients undergoing neck dissections and associated head and neck procedures with short hospitalizations can be reduced to as low as 100 to 125 MME with preoperative counseling, multimodality pain management, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

scholarly journals Salivary Flow Analysis of Head and Neck Irradiated Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-46
Author(s):  
Vitória Teixeira Baldo ◽  
Gabriela Schmidt de Freitas ◽  
Karine Lima Kido de Carvalho ◽  
Elâine Patrícia Alves de Araújo Gomes ◽  
Luiz Evaristo Ricci Volpato
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Salivary Flow ◽  
Microsoft Excel ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

AbstractThis study aimed to analyze the salivary flow of irradiated patients for the head and neck cancer treatment after the conclusion of their treatment, and to compare it to the salivary flow of a group of non-irradiated patients. The salivary flow measurement was performed using the stimulated saliva analysis technique by masticatory action. The data collected were organized in planning using the Microsoft Excel program and then analyzed through the program IBM SPSS 20.0. The independent T-test was used to compare the median values between the groups that had normal distribution. 54 patients were evaluated, 18 from Group 1, of irradiated patients with an average time of ending radiotherapy of 11 months; and 36 patients from Group 2, with non-cancerous and non-irradiated patients. The mean salivary flow of Group 1 patients was 0.39 (± 0.85) and 100% of the patients expelled less than 3.5mL of saliva after stimulation for five minutes. Among the patients from Group 2, the mean salivary flow was 3.22 (± 2.65), and 77.78% of the patients had a salivary stimulation of less than 3.5 mL. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.004). Through the methodology used, a high prevalence of hyposalivation was observed in patients irradiated in head and neck for cancer treatment even after months of the treatment conclusion and among patients without cancer and not submitted to radiotherapy. However, a deficiency in saliva production was statistically higher among patients irradiated in the head and neck. Keywords: Neoplasms. Radiotherapy. Saliva. Xerostomia. ResumoEste estudo teve como objetivo analisar o fluxo salivar de pacientes irradiados no tratamento do câncer de cabeça e pescoço após a conclusão de seu tratamento, e compará-lo com o fluxo salivar de um grupo de pacientes não irradiados. A medição do fluxo salivar foi realizada utilizando a técnica de análise de saliva estimulada por ação masticatória. Os dados coletados foram organizados no planejamento utilizando o programa Microsoft Excel e, em seguida, analisados através do programa IBM SPSS 20.0. O teste T independente foi utilizado para comparar os valores medianos entre os grupos que apresentaram distribuição normal. Foram avaliados 54 pacientes, 18 do Grupo 1, de pacientes irradiados com tempo médio de término da radioterapia de 11 meses; e 36 pacientes do Grupo 2, com pacientes não cancerosos e não irradiados. O fluxo salivar médio dos pacientes do Grupo 1 foi de 0,39 (± 0,85) e 100% dos pacientes expeliram menos de 3,5 mL de saliva após estimulação por cinco minutos. Entre os pacientes do Grupo 2, o fluxo salivar médio foi de 3,22 (± 2,65), e 77,78% dos pacientes apresentaram estimulação salivar inferior a 3,5 mL. Essa diferença foi estatisticamente significante (p = 0,004). Por meio da metodologia utilizada, observou-se alta prevalência de hiposalivação em pacientes irradiados na cabeça e pescoço para tratamento de câncer mesmo após meses da conclusão do tratamento e entre pacientes sem câncer e não submetidos à radioterapia. No entanto, a deficiência na produção de saliva foi estatisticamente maior entre os pacientes irradiados na cabeça e pescoço. Palavras-chave: Neoplasias. Radioterapia. Saliva. Xerostomia.

The influence of continuous local wound infusion on postoperative pain in patients undergoing transfemoral amputation

VASA ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 381-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Uhl ◽  
Thomas Betz ◽  
Andrea Rupp ◽  
Markus Steinbauer ◽  
Ingolf Töpel
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Local Anaesthetic ◽  
Phantom Pain ◽  
Transfemoral Amputation ◽  
Postoperative Wound ◽  
Stump Pain ◽  
Management Protocol ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Abstract. Summary: Background: This pilot study was set up to examine the effects of a continuous postoperative wound infusion system with a local anaesthetic on perioperative pain and the consumption of analgesics. Patients and methods: We included 42 patients in this prospective observational pilot study. Patients were divided into two groups. One group was treated in accordance with the WHO standard pain management protocol and in addition to that received a continuous local wound infusion treatment (Group 1). Group 2 was treated with analgesics in accordance with the WHO standard pain management protocol, exclusively. Results: The study demonstrated a significantly reduced postoperative VAS score for stump pain in Group 1 for the first 5 days. Furthermore, the intake of opiates was significantly reduced in Group 1 (day 1, Group 1: 42.1 vs. Group 2: 73.5, p = 0.010; day 2, Group 1: 27.7 vs. Group 2: 52.5, p = 0.012; day 3, Group 1: 23.9 vs. Group 2: 53.5, p = 0.002; day 4, Group 1: 15.7 vs. Group 2: 48.3, p = 0.003; day 5, Group 1 13.3 vs. Group 2: 49.9, p = 0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups, neither in phantom pain intensity at discharge nor postoperative complications and death. Conclusions: Continuous postoperative wound infusion with a local anaesthetic in combination with a standard pain management protocol can reduce both stump pain and opiate intake in patients who have undergone transfemoral amputation. Phantom pain was not significantly affected.

Creation of physiologic rhythm by closed loop stimulation in heart failure patients with severe chronotropic incompetence: worldwide first results of a pilot study

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Proff ◽  
B Merkely ◽  
R Papp ◽  
C Lenz ◽  
P.J Nordbeck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Funding Source ◽  
Chronotropic Incompetence ◽  
First Results ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Abstract Background The prevalence of chronotropic incompetence (CI) in heart failure (HF) population is high and negatively impacts prognosis. In HF patients with an implanted cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) device and severe CI, the effect of rate adaptive pacing on patient outcomes is unclear. Closed loop stimulation (CLS) based on cardiac impedance measurement may be an optimal method of heart rate adaptation according to metabolic need in HF patients with severe CI. Purpose This is the first study evaluating the effect of CLS on the established prognostic parameters assessed by the cardio-pulmonary exercise (CPX) testing and on quality of life (QoL) of the patients. Methods A randomised, controlled, double-blind and crossover pilot study has been performed in CRT patients with severe CI defined as the inability to achieve 70% of the age-predicted maximum heart rate (APMHR). After baseline assessment, patients were randomised to either DDD-CLS pacing (group 1) or DDD pacing at 40 bpm (group 2) for a 1-month period, followed by crossover for another month. At baseline and at 1- and 2-month follow-ups, a CPX was performed and QoL was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. The main endpoints were the effect of CLS on ventilatory efficiency (VE) slope (evaluated by an independent CPX expert), the responder rate defined as an improvement (decrease) of the VE slope by at least 5%, percentage of maximal predicted heart rate reserve (HRR) achieved, and QoL. Results Of the 36 patients enrolled in the study, 20 fulfilled the criterion for severe CI and entered the study follow-up (mean age 68.9±7.4 years, 70% men, LVEF=41.8±9.3%, 40%/60% NYHA class II/III). Full baseline and follow-up datasets were obtained in 17 patients. The mean VE slope and HRR at baseline were 34.4±4.4 and 49.6±23.8%, respectively, in group 1 (n=7) and 34.5±12.2 and 54.2±16.1% in group 2 (n=10). After completing the 2-month CPX, the mean difference between DDD-CLS and DDD-40 modes was −2.4±8.3 (group 1) and −1.2±3.5 (group 2) for VE slope, and 17.1±15.5% (group 1) and 8.7±18.8% (group 2) for HRR. Altogether, VE slope improved by −1.8±2.95 (p=0.31) in DDD-CLS versus DDD-40, and HRR improved by 12.9±8.8% (p=0.01). The VE slope decreased by ≥5% in 47% of patients (“responders to CLS”). The mean difference in the QoL between DDD-CLS and DDD-40 was 0.16±0.25 in group 1 and −0.01±0.05 in group 2, resulting in an overall increase by 0.08±0.08 in the DDD-CLS mode (p=0.13). Conclusion First results of the evaluation of the effectiveness of CLS in CRT patients with severe CI revealed that CLS generated an overall positive effect on well-established surrogate parameters for prognosis. About one half of the patients showed CLS response in terms of improved VE slope. In addition, CLS improved quality of life. Further clinical research is needed to identify predictors that can increase the responder rate and to confirm improvement in clinical outcomes. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): Biotronik SE & Co. KG

Comparison of the ATRIA, CHA2DS2-VASc, and Modified Scores ATRIA-HSV, CHA2DS2-VASc-HS, for the Prediction of Coronary Artery Disease Severity

Angiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 000331972199141
Author(s):  
Arafat Yildirim ◽  
Mehmet Kucukosmanoglu ◽  
Fethi Yavuz ◽  
Nermin Yildiz Koyunsever ◽  
Yusuf Cekici ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Artery Disease ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Vascular Disease ◽  
Operating Characteristics ◽  
Coronary Artery Disease Severity ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Artery Disease ◽  
Group 1

Many parameters included in the Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation (ATRIA) and CHA2DS2-VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke, vascular disease, age 65-74 years, sex category) scores also predict coronary artery disease (CAD). We modified the ATRIA score (ATRIA-HSV) by adding hyperlipidemia, smoking, and vascular disease and also male sex instead of female. We evaluated whether the CHA2DS2-VASc, CHA2DS2-VASc-HS, ATRIA, and ATRIA-HSV scores predict severe CAD. Consecutive patients with coronary angiography were prospectively included. A ≥50% stenosis in ≥1epicardial coronary artery (CA) was defined as severe CAD. Patient with normal CA (n = 210) were defined as group 1, with <50% CA stenosis (n = 178) as group 2, and with ≥50% stenosis (n = 297) as group 3. The mean ATRIA, ATRIA-HSV, CHA2DS2-VASc, and CHA2DS2VASc-HS scores increased from group 1 to group 3. A correlation was found between the Synergy between PCI with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery score and ATRIA ( r = 0.570), ATRIA-HSV ( r = 0.614), CHA2DS2-VASc ( r = 0.428), and CHA2DS2-VASc-HS ( r = 0.500) scores ( Ps < .005). Pairwise comparisons of receiver operating characteristics curves showed that ATRIA-HSV (>3 area under curve [AUC]: 0.874) and ATRIA (>3, AUC: 0.854) have a better performance than CHA2DS2-VASc (>1, AUC: 0.746) and CHA2DS2-VASc-HS (>2, AUC: 0.769). In conclusion, the ATRIA and ATRIA-HSV scores are simple and may be useful to predict severe CAD.

Does Presurgical Nasoalveolar Molding Have a Long-Term Effect on Nasal and Upper Airway Dimensions?

2020 ◽  
pp. 105566562098023
Author(s):  
Ashwina S. Banari ◽  
Sanjeev Datana ◽  
Shiv Shankar Agarwal ◽  
Sujit Kumar Bhandari
Keyword(s):  
Upper Airway ◽  
P Value ◽  
Airway Patency ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Acoustic Pharyngometry ◽  
Nasoalveolar Molding ◽  
Area And Volume ◽  
Group 1

Objectives: To compare nasal and upper airway dimensions in patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) who underwent nasoalveolar molding (NAM) with those without NAM during infancy using acoustic pharyngometry and rhinometry. Materials and Methods: Eccovision acoustic pharyngometry and rhinometry (Sleep Group Solutions) was used for assessment of mean area and volume of nasal and upper airway in patients with complete unilateral CLP (age range 16-21 years) treated with NAM (group 1, n = 19) versus without NAM (group 2, n = 22). Results: The mean nasal cross-sectional areas and volume were higher in group 1 compared to group 2 on both cleft ( P value <.001) and noncleft side ( P value >.05). The mean area and volume of upper airway were also significantly higher in group 1 compared to group 2 ( P value <.05). Conclusions: Nasoalveolar molding being one of the first interventions in chronology of treatment of patients with CLP, its long-term outcome on nasal and upper airway patency needs to be ascertained. The results of the present study show that the patients with CLP who have undergone NAM during infancy have better improvement in nasal and upper airway patency compared with those who had not undergone NAM procedure. The basic advantages of being noninvasive, nonionizing and providing dynamic assessment of nasal and upper airway patency make acoustic pharyngometry and rhinometry a diagnostic tool of choice to be used in patients with CLP.

scholarly journals Comparison of Bite Force in Patients After Treatment of Mandibular Fractures With 3-Dimensional Locking Miniplate and Standard Miniplates

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-10
Author(s):  
Gaurav Singh ◽  
Madan Mishra ◽  
Amit Gaur ◽  
Dhritiman Pathak
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Bite Force ◽  
Mandibular Fractures ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Drilling Conditions ◽  
Group 1

Background: Fractures of the mandible can be studied and described in anatomic terms, functional considerations, treatment strategies, and outcome measures. The performance of any fixation system depends on multiple factors including plate adaptation, screw placement, bone quality, drilling conditions, and postoperative patient compliance. Bite force assesses masticatory muscle function under clinical and experimental conditions. Method: 30 patients with isolated, noncomminuted mandibular fractures were randomly divided into two equal groups. Group 1 patients were treated using 3-dimensional locking miniplates and group 2 patients were treated with standard miniplates. The bite forces were recorded at definite time intervals: preoperatively, and second week, sixth week, third month, and sixth month postoperatively. Result: At 6 weeks postoperative, 3 month postoperative, and 6 month postoperative, the mean bite force was found to be significantly higher among group 1 patients as compared to those in group 2 in all the sites. While at 2 week postoperative, the mean bite force was found to be significantly higher in Group 2 as compared to Group 1 at incisor region. Conclusion: The overall results of the present study show better performance in bite force for the 3-dimensional locking miniplate when compared with standard miniplates.

Relationship among anesthesia technique, surgical stress, and cognitive dysfunction following spinal surgery: a randomized trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 894-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna A. Ezhevskaya ◽  
Alexei M. Ovechkin ◽  
Zhanna B. Prusakova ◽  
Valery I. Zagrekov ◽  
Sergey G. Mlyavykh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Pain Management ◽  
Epidural Analgesia ◽  
General Anesthesia ◽  
Cognitive Dysfunction ◽  
Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Cellular Immune ◽  
Inflammatory Changes ◽  
Group 1

OBJECTIVESurgical trauma is known to result in systemic inflammatory changes that can lead to postoperative cognitive dysfunction. In the present study, the authors compared the effects of an epidural anesthesia protocol to those of traditional anesthesia with regard to postoperative inflammatory changes, cellular immunity, and cognitive dysfunction.METHODSForty-eight patients, ages 45–60 years, underwent multilevel thoracolumbar decompression and fusion and were randomly assigned to one of two groups: group 1 (27 patients) had combined epidural and general anesthesia, followed by epidural analgesia for 48 hours after surgery, and group 2 (21 patients) had general anesthesia, followed by traditional opioid pain management after surgery. At multiple time points, data on pain control, cognitive function, cellular immunity, and inflammatory markers were collected.RESULTSGroup 1 patients demonstrated lower pain levels, less systemic inflammation, less cellular immune dysfunction, and less postoperative cognitive dysfunction than group 2 patients.CONCLUSIONSThe use of combined epidural and general anesthesia followed by postoperative epidural analgesia during the first 48 hours after multilevel thoracolumbar decompression and fusion surgery had a significant positive effect on pain management, cellular immune function, systemic inflammation, and postoperative cognitive function.Clinical trial registration no.: 115080510080 (http://rosrid.ru)

scholarly journals Repair Integrity and Functional Outcomes Between Knot-Tying and Knotless Suture-Bridge Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 232596712110024
Author(s):  
Koray Şahin ◽  
Fatih Şentürk ◽  
Mehmet Ersin ◽  
Ufuk Arzu ◽  
Mechmet Chodza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rotator Cuff ◽  
Constant Score ◽  
Knot Tying ◽  
Suture Bridge ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Cuff Repair ◽  
Group 1

Background: Knot-tying suture-bridge (SB) rotator cuff repair may compromise the vascularity of the repaired tendon, causing tendon strangulation and medial repair failure. The knotless SB repair technique has been proposed to overcome this possibility and decrease retear rates. Purpose: To compare clinical and structural outcomes and retear patterns between the knot-tying and knotless SB techniques. We hypothesized that the knotless technique would result in lower retear rates owing to the preservation of intratendinous vascularity. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: A total of 104 patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears were randomly and prospectively allocated to undergo knot-tying (group 1) or knotless (group 2) SB repair. Clinical outcome measures included range of motion, the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and the Constant score for function. Repair integrity was evaluated on magnetic resonance imaging scans using the Sugaya classification. Retears were also classified according to their pattern as type 1 (lateral) or type 2 (medial). Results: Overall, 88 patients (group 1: n = 42 [mean ± SD age, 54.3 ± 9.8 years]; group 2: n = 46 [mean ± SD age, 55.8 ± 8.2 years]) were included in the final analysis. The mean ± SD follow-up period was 25.4 ± 8.3 and 23.3 ± 7.2 months for groups 1 and 2, respectively. From preoperatively to postoperatively, the mean VAS pain score improved significantly in both groups (group 1: from 7.4 ± 1.7 to 1.0 ± 1.7; group 2: from 7.1 ± 1.9 to 1.3 ± 2.0; P < .0001 for both), as did the mean ± SD Constant score (group 1: from 51.7 ± 13.4 to 86.0 ± 11.5; group 2: from 49.4 ± 18.4 to 87.2 ± 14.8; P < .0001 for both). There was no significant difference between the groups for the postoperative VAS or Constant score. The retear rate was not significantly different between the groups (19.0% [8/42] in group 1 and 28.3% [13/46] in group 2; P > .05). There was a significant difference in the type 2 failure rate (75.0% [6/8] in group 1 and 23.1% [3/13] in group 2; P = .03). Conclusion: Both techniques showed excellent improvement and comparable clinical outcomes, and there was no significant difference in retear rates. Consistent with previously published data, the type 2 failure rate was significantly higher with the knot-tying technique. Registration: NCT03982108 ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

TO ASSESS THE IDEAL TIME OF LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY AFTER ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRADE CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY IN CASES OF CHOLELITHIASIS WITH CHOLEDOCHOLITHIASIS

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhirendra Godara ◽  
Vineet Choudhary ◽  
Nitish Soni
Keyword(s):  
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy ◽  
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Early Recovery ◽  
Endoscopic Retrograde ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Late Group ◽  
Group 1 ◽  
The Ideal

Background: Aims of this study was assess the ideal time of laparoscopic cholecystectomy after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in cases of cholelithiasis with Choledocholthiasis Methods: The present study was carried out on 150 patients admitted in Department of General surgery National Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Jaipur, diagnosed with cholelithiasis along with choledocholithiasis  from 1stJanuary 2019 to 30thJune, 2020. Results: In group 1 out of 75 patients 7 patients developed complications in post operative period compared to 35 patients out of 75 patients developed complications in group 2. The The mean hospital stay (in day) in group 1 patients was 2.26, median 2 and the mean of group 2 was 5.26, median 5. Conclusion: To conclude in our study there has been found significant advantage of early laparoscopic cholecystecomy following ERCP over the late group to minimize complications and promote early recovery of the patients. Keywords: ERCP, Cholecystectomy, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Cerebral oxygenation, vascular reactivity, and neurochemistry following decompressive craniectomy for severe traumatic brain injury

2008 ◽  
Vol 108 (5) ◽  
pp. 943-949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi Long Ho ◽  
Chee Meng Wang ◽  
Kah Keow Lee ◽  
Ivan Ng ◽  
Beng Ti Ang
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Decompressive Craniectomy ◽  
Severe Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Reactivity Index ◽  
Outcome Group ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Biochemical Indices ◽  
Group 1

Object This study addresses the changes in brain oxygenation, cerebrovascular reactivity, and cerebral neurochemistry in patients following decompressive craniectomy for the control of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods Sixteen consecutive patients with isolated TBI and elevated ICP, who were refractory to maximal medical therapy, underwent decompressive craniectomy over a 1-year period. Thirteen patients were male and 3 were female. The mean age of the patients was 38 years and the median Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission was 5. Results Six months following TBI, 11 patients had a poor outcome (Group 1, Glasgow Outcome Scale [GOS] Score 1–3), whereas the remaining 5 patients had a favorable outcome (Group 2, GOS Score 4 or 5). Decompressive craniectomy resulted in a significant reduction (p < 0.001) in the mean ICP and cerebrovascular pressure reactivity index to autoregulatory values (< 0.3) in both groups of patients. There was a significant improvement in brain tissue oxygenation (PbtO2) in Group 2 patients from 3 to 17 mm Hg and an 85% reduction in episodes of cerebral ischemia. In addition, the durations of abnormal PbtO2 and biochemical indices were significantly reduced in Group 2 patients after decompressive craniectomy, but there was no improvement in the biochemical indices in Group 1 patients despite surgery. Conclusions Decompressive craniectomy, when used appropriately in protocol-driven intensive care regimens for the treatment of recalcitrant elevated ICP, is associated with a return of abnormal metabolic parameters to normal values in patients with eventually favorable outcomes.

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