Timing of Gastrostomy Relative to Tracheostomy After Complete Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: Impact on Hospitalization Outcomes and Complication Rates.

Background And Objectives: Tracheostomy and gastrostomy are frequently performed to facilitate prolonged ventilation and nutritional support in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of gastrostomy timing relative to tracheostomy on in-hospital outcomes and complications in complete traumatic cervical SCI patients.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective observational study was performed using data from the Trauma Quality Improvement Program of the American College of Surgeons, between 2010 and 2020.

Optimal Tracheostomy Timing After Traumatic Complete Spinal Cord Injury: A Comparative Analysis of Ultraearly, Early, and Delayed Practice.

Background And Objectives: Tracheostomy is crucial for managing airway and respiratory complications in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients, with recent studies linking its timing to respiratory outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the association between adverse events and tracheostomy timing in complete traumatic cervical SCI patients.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective observational cohort study used data from the Trauma Quality Improvement Program between 2010 and 2020 and included all complete traumatic cervical SCI patients who underwent spine surgery and tracheostomy.

Evolution of Real-World Clinical Practice in Time to Surgery Following Thoracolumbar Spinal Cord Injury: An Observational Study of North American Trauma Centers from 2010 to 2020.

This study aims to estimate real-world clinical practice trends in time to surgery following thoracolumbar spinal cord injury (SCI) in trauma centers across North America over the last decade (2010-2020). A multi-center retrospective observational study was conducted using Trauma Quality Improvement Program data from 2010 to 2020. All surgically treated patients with thoracic and lumbar SCI were included.

Insurance-Related Disparities in Withdrawal of Life Support and Mortality After Spinal Cord Injury.

Importance: Identifying disparities in health outcomes related to modifiable patient factors can improve patient care.

Objective: To compare likelihood of withdrawal of life-supporting treatment (WLST) and mortality in patients with complete cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) with different types of insurance.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study collected data between 2013 and 2020 from 498 trauma centers participating in the Trauma Quality Improvement Program.

Influence of health insurance on withdrawal of life sustaining treatment for patients with isolated traumatic brain injury: a retrospective multi-center observational cohort study.

Background: Healthcare inequities for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) represent a major priority area for trauma quality improvement. We hypothesized a relationship between health insurance status and timing of withdrawal of life sustaining treatment (WLST) for adults with severe TBI.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective observational cohort study utilized data collected between 2017 and 2020.

Quantifying the Association Between Surgical Spine Approach and Tracheostomy Timing After Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.

Background And Objectives: Recent evidence suggests earlier tracheostomy is associated with fewer complications in patients with complete cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). This study aims to evaluate the influence of spine surgical approach on the association between tracheostomy timing and in-hospital adverse events treating patients with complete cervical SCI.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was performed using Trauma Quality Improvement Program data from 2017 to 2020.

Admitting Hospital Influences on Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Treatment Decision for Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Background And Objectives: Withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment (WLST) in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is complex, with a paucity of standardized guidelines. We aimed to assess the variability in WLST practices between trauma centers in North America.

Methods: This retrospective study used data from trauma centers through the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program between 2017 and 2020.

Vision Transformer-based Decision Support for Neurosurgical Intervention in Acute Traumatic Brain Injury: Automated Surgical Intervention Support Tool.

Purpose To develop an automated triage tool to predict neurosurgical intervention for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Materials and Methods A provincial trauma registry was reviewed to retrospectively identify patients with TBI from 2005 to 2022 treated at a specialized Canadian trauma center. Model training, validation, and testing were performed using head CT scans with binary reference standard patient-level labels corresponding to whether the patient received neurosurgical intervention.

Automatic localisation and per-region quantification of traumatic brain injury on head CT using atlas mapping.

Rationale And Objectives: To develop a method for automatic localisation of brain lesions on head CT, suitable for both population-level analysis and lesion management in a clinical setting.

Materials And Methods: Lesions were located by mapping a bespoke CT brain atlas to the patient's head CT in which lesions had been previously segmented. The atlas mapping was achieved through robust intensity-based registration enabling the calculation of per-region lesion volumes.

Association between cerebrovascular reactivity in adult traumatic brain injury and improvement in patient outcome over time: an exploratory analysis.

Background: Impaired cerebrovascular reactivity following moderate/severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) has emerged as a key potential driver of morbidity and mortality. However, the major contributions to the literature so far have been solely focused on single point measures of long-term outcome. Therefore, it remains unknown whether cerebrovascular reactivity impairment, during the acute phase of TBI, is associated with failure to improve in outcome across time.

Pre-Injury Antiplatelet Therapy and Risk of Adverse Outcomes after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

There is an increasing number of trauma patients presenting on pre-injury antiplatelet (AP) agents attributable to an aging population and expanding cardio- or cerebrovascular indications for antithrombotic therapy. The effects of different AP regimens on outcomes after traumatic brain injury (TBI) have yet to be elucidated, despite the implications on patient/family counseling and the potential need for better reversal strategies. The goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the impact of different pre-injury AP regimens on outcomes after TBI.

Optimal bispectral index level of sedation and cerebral oximetry in traumatic brain injury: a non-invasive individualized approach in critical care?

Background: Impaired cerebral autoregulation has been linked with worse outcomes, with literature suggesting that current therapy guidelines fail to significantly impact cerebrovascular reactivity. The cerebral oximetry index (COx_a) is a surrogate measure of cerebrovascular reactivity which can in theory be obtained non-invasively using regional brain tissue oxygen saturation and arterial blood pressure. The goal of this study was to assess the relationship between objectively measured depth of sedation through BIS and autoregulatory capacity measured through COx_a.

The Quantitative Associations Between Near Infrared Spectroscopic Cerebrovascular Metrics and Cerebral Blood Flow: A Scoping Review of the Human and Animal Literature.

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is an important physiologic parameter that is vital for proper cerebral function and recovery. Current widely accepted methods of measuring CBF are cumbersome, invasive, or have poor spatial or temporal resolution. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) based measures of cerebrovascular physiology may provide a means of non-invasively, topographically, and continuously measuring CBF.

Endovascular and Antithrombotic Treatment in Blunt Cerebrovascular Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: Ischemic stroke has been estimated to occur in up to 26% of patients with blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI). Antithrombotic therapy (AT) may be used for stroke prevention, but the role of endovascular treatment (ET) remains unclear. We systematically reviewed the literature on AT and ET for the treatment of patients with BCVIs.

Intracranial Pressure-Derived Cerebrovascular Reactivity Indices, Chronological Age, and Biological Sex in Traumatic Brain Injury: A Scoping Review.

To date, there has been limited literature exploring the association between age and sex with cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) in moderate/severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Given the known link between age, sex, and cerebrovascular function, knowledge of the impacts on continuously assessed CVR is critical for the development of future therapeutics. We conducted a scoping review of the literature for studies that had a direct statistical interrogation of the relationship between age, sex, and continuous intracranial pressure (ICP)-based indices of CVR in moderate/severe TBI.

Health Determinants among North Americans Experiencing Homelessness and Traumatic Brain Injury: A Scoping Review.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in those experiencing homelessness has been described in recent literature as a contributor to increased morbidity, decreased functional independence, and early mortality. In this systematically conducted scoping review, we aimed to better delineate the health determinants-as defined by Health Canada/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-associated with TBI in North Americans experiencing homelessness. BIOSIS, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Global Health were searched from inception to December 30, 2020.

Antithrombotic choice in blunt cerebrovascular injuries: Experience at a tertiary trauma center, systematic review, and meta-analysis.

Background: Blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVIs) may occur following trauma and lead to ischemic stroke if untreated. Antithrombotic therapy decreases this risk; however, the optimal agent has yet to be determined in this population. The aim of this study was to compare the risk-benefit profile of antiplatelet (AP) versus anticoagulant (AC) therapy in rates of ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic complications in BCVI patients.

Generation of optically synchronized pump-signal beams for ultrafast OPCPA via the optical Kerr effect.

In recent years, multi-petawatt laser installations have achieved unprecedented peak powers, opening new horizons to laser-matter interaction studies. Ultra-broadband and extreme temporal contrast pulse requirements make optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA) in the few-picosecond regime the key technology in these systems. To guarantee high fidelity output, however, OPCPA requires excellent synchronization between pump and signal pulses.

Multiclass semantic segmentation and quantification of traumatic brain injury lesions on head CT using deep learning: an algorithm development and multicentre validation study.

Background: CT is the most common imaging modality in traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, its conventional use requires expert clinical interpretation and does not provide detailed quantitative outputs, which may have prognostic importance. We aimed to use deep learning to reliably and efficiently quantify and detect different lesion types.

A needs assessment of pediatric epilepsy surgery in Haiti.

Objective: Epilepsy disproportionately affects low- and/or middle-income countries (LMICs). Surgical treatments for epilepsy are potentially curative and cost-effective and may improve quality of life and reduce social stigmas. In the current study, the authors estimate the potential need for a surgical epilepsy program in Haiti by applying contemporary epilepsy surgery referral guidelines to a population of children assessed at the Clinique d'Épilepsie de Port-au-Prince (CLIDEP).

Systemic Markers of Injury and Injury Response Are Not Associated with Impaired Cerebrovascular Reactivity in Adult Traumatic Brain Injury: A Collaborative European Neurotrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury (CENTER-TBI) Study.

The role of extra-cranial injury burden and systemic injury response on cerebrovascular response in traumatic brain injury (TBI) is poorly documented. This study preliminarily assesses the association between admission features of extra-cranial injury burden on cerebrovascular reactivity. Using the Collaborative European Neurotrauma Effectiveness Research in TBI High-Resolution ICU (HR ICU) sub-study cohort, we evaluated those patients with both archived high-frequency digital intra-parenchymal intra-cranial pressure monitoring data of a minimum of 6 h in duration, and the presence of a digital copy of their admission computed tomography (CT) scan.