Publications by authors named "Francesco A Rasulo"
Purpose: COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is common and linked with high fatality rates. To assess the impact on the incidence and outcome of CAPA of an antifungal prophylaxis (AFP) we compared two cohorts of COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) in Brescia, Italy, from January to August 2021.
Methods: The study cohort included all mechanically ventilated patients observed between April 2021 and August 2021 with SARS-CoV-2-pneumonia, who received AFP with oral posaconazole (200 mg every 6 h) and nebulized liposomal amphotericin B (50 mg every 2 weeks) from ICU admission to 7 days after discharge or, if applicable, until tracheostomy removal.
Background: The pupillary dilation reflex (PDR) is an objective indicator of analgesic levels in anesthetized patients. Through measurement of the PDR during increasing tetanic stimulation (10-60 mA), it is possible to obtain the pupillary pain index (PPI), a score that assesses the level of analgesia.
Objectives: The depth of analgesia during opioid-sparing anesthesia (OSA) with continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine in addition to general anesthesia was assessed.
Hinge craniotomy versus standard decompressive hemicraniectomy: an experimental preclinical comparative study.
Acta Neurochir (Wien)
September 2023
Introduction: Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is the most common surgical procedure to manage increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Hinge craniotomy (HC), which consists of fixing the bone operculum with a pivot, is an alternative method conceived to avoid some DC-related complications; nonetheless, it is debated whether it can provide enough volume expansion. In this study, we aimed to analyze the volume and ICP obtained with HC using an experimental cadaver-based preclinical model and compare the results to baseline and DC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: This work aimed to compare physical impairment in survivors of classic ARDS compared with COVID-19-associated ARDS (CARDS) survivors.
Material And Methods: This is a prospective observational cohort study on 248 patients with CARDS and compared them with a historical cohort of 48 patients with classic ARDS. Physical performance was evaluated at 6 and 12 months after ICU discharge, using the Medical Research Council Scale (MRCss), 6-min walk test (6MWT), handgrip dynamometry (HGD), and fatigue severity score (FSS).
Article Synopsis
- Sepsis is a serious condition that causes organ dysfunction due to a chaotic immune response to infection, often leading to issues in the nervous system, like sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) and ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW).
- The review discusses how these neurological complications of sepsis are primarily diagnosed clinically, though tools like electroencephalography and electromyography can aid in more complex cases, especially to assess severity.
- It also emphasizes the importance of understanding the long-term effects of SAE and ICUAW, highlighting the need for better prevention and treatment strategies for affected patients.
Delayed onset of fatal encephalitis in a COVID-19 positive patient.
Int J Neurosci
January 2023
Article Synopsis
- - The SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, which started in December 2019, has demonstrated various neurological symptoms in addition to the common respiratory issues, including headache, nausea, and, in severe cases, encephalitis and cerebral hemorrhage.
- - A case study featured a 47-year-old man who developed severe neurological issues, including intense headaches and seizures, 41 days after being diagnosed with COVID-19, ultimately leading to brain death despite treatment.
- - The findings suggest that COVID-19 can affect the brain through mechanisms involving the spike protein and host receptors, potentially causing severe inflammation and brain edema, marking a new understanding of delayed neurological impacts of the virus.
Importance: There are limited data on mortality and complications rates in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who undergo surgery.
Objective: To evaluate early surgical outcomes of patients with COVID-19 in different subspecialties.
Design, Setting, And Participants: This matched cohort study conducted in the general, vascular and thoracic surgery, orthopedic, and neurosurgery units of Spedali Civili Hospital (Brescia, Italy) included patients who underwent surgical treatment from February 23 to April 1, 2020, and had positive test results for COVID-19 either before or within 1 week after surgery.
Background: Post-traumatic cerebral infarction (PTCI) is common after traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is unclear what the occurrence of a PTCI is, how it impacts the long-term outcome, and whether it adds incremental prognostic value to established outcome predictors.
Methods: This was a prospective multicenter cohort study of moderate and severe TBI patients.