24 research outputs found

    Development of a Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Consensus-Based Treatment Protocol Conference in Latin America

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    Antecedentes La lesión cerebral traumática grave (TCE) es un importante problema de salud mundial que afecta de manera desproporcionada a los países de ingresos bajos y medios (PIBM). El manejo de la hipertensión intracraneal en la sTBI es crucial para la supervivencia y la recuperación óptima. Los médicos de los países de ingresos altos utilizan habitualmente monitores de presión intracraneal (PIC), aunque se ha cuestionado su utilidad. Los monitores ICP generalmente no están disponibles en los países de ingresos bajos y medianos. No existen protocolos o literatura probados / basados ​​en consenso para el tratamiento de la sTBI sin monitoreo de la PIC. Métodos Los investigadores desarrollaron encuestas en serie de SurveyMonkey para neurointensivistas y neurocirujanos latinoamericanos para determinar la práctica actual. Estos médicos tenían una amplia experiencia continua de rutina en sTBI sin monitorización de la PIC. Las encuestas se administraron y analizaron antes / durante / después de una conferencia de consenso en Buenos Aires de 2015. Los investigadores identificaron áreas de convergencia cegadas a las respuestas de los colegas. Un grupo de trabajo de 47 médicos, que representa a 15 países, que trata de forma rutinaria a pacientes con TCE sin monitores, desarrolló pautas de tratamiento basadas en consenso durante una conferencia facilitada de 3 días. Resultados Se agregaron elementos al protocolo a un umbral de acuerdo del 80%. Las encuestas de seguimiento resolvieron los elementos restantes con un 97% de acuerdo. El protocolo aborda tanto la disminución gradual (en la mejora) como el empeoramiento neurológico. Se identificaron opciones de tratamiento por etapas, además de problemas únicos de práctica clínica. Este proceso introdujo un método de investigación a un gran grupo multidisciplinario de médicos de LMIC. Este informe describe el proceso utilizado para desarrollar un protocolo específico de LMIC que es transferible a otras enfermedades / lesiones. El protocolo se está probando en 5 LMIC. Conclusiones Derivamos pautas consensuadas para el tratamiento de la sTBI sin monitorización de la PIC, e introdujimos un método de investigación a un gran grupo multidisciplinario de médicos de LMIC sin experiencia en tales métodos.Background Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) is a significant global health problem disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Management of intracranial hypertension in sTBI is crucial to survival and optimal recovery. Practitioners in high-income countries routinely use intracranial pressure (ICP) monitors although their usefulness has been questioned. ICP monitors are usually unavailable in LMICs. No consensus-based/tested protocols or literature exists for sTBI treatment without ICP monitoring. Methods Investigators developed serial SurveyMonkey surveys for Latin American neurointensivists and neurosurgeons to determine current practice. These clinicians had extensive routine ongoing experience in sTBI without ICP monitoring. Surveys were administered and analyzed before/during/after a 2015 Buenos Aires consensus conference. Investigators identified areas of convergence blinded from colleagues’ responses. A 47-clinician task force, representing 15 countries, who routinely manage patients with sTBI without monitors developed consensus-based treatment guidelines during a 3-day facilitated conference. Results Elements were added to the protocol at an 80% agreement threshold. Follow-on surveys resolved remaining elements to 97% agreement. The protocol addresses both tapering (on improvement) and neuroworsening. Staged treatment options were identified, plus unique clinical practice issues. This process introduced a research method to a large multidisciplinary group of LMIC clinicians. This report describes the process used to develop an LMIC-specific protocol that is transferable to other diseases/injuries. The protocol is being tested in 5 LMICs. Conclusions We derived consensus-based guidelines for sTBI treatment without ICP monitoring, and introduced a research method to a large multidisciplinary group of LMIC clinicians naive to such method

    Development of a severe traumatic brain injury consensus-based treatment protocol conference in Latin America

    No full text
    Antecedentes La lesión cerebral traumática grave (TCE) es un importante problema de salud mundial que afecta de manera desproporcionada a los países de ingresos bajos y medios (PIBM). El manejo de la hipertensión intracraneal en la sTBI es crucial para la supervivencia y la recuperación óptima. Los médicos de los países de ingresos altos utilizan habitualmente monitores de presión intracraneal (PIC), aunque se ha cuestionado su utilidad. Los monitores ICP generalmente no están disponibles en los países de ingresos bajos y medianos. No existen protocolos o literatura probados / basados ​​en consenso para el tratamiento de la sTBI sin monitoreo de la PIC. Métodos Los investigadores desarrollaron encuestas en serie de SurveyMonkey para neurointensivistas y neurocirujanos latinoamericanos para determinar la práctica actual. Estos médicos tenían una amplia experiencia continua de rutina en sTBI sin monitorización de la PIC. Las encuestas se administraron y analizaron antes / durante / después de una conferencia de consenso en Buenos Aires de 2015. Los investigadores identificaron áreas de convergencia cegadas a las respuestas de los colegas. Un grupo de trabajo de 47 médicos, que representa a 15 países, que trata de forma rutinaria a pacientes con TCE sin monitores, desarrolló pautas de tratamiento basadas en consenso durante una conferencia facilitada de 3 días. Resultados Se agregaron elementos al protocolo a un umbral de acuerdo del 80%. Las encuestas de seguimiento resolvieron los elementos restantes con un 97% de acuerdo. El protocolo aborda tanto la disminución gradual (en la mejora) como el empeoramiento neurológico. Se identificaron opciones de tratamiento por etapas, además de problemas únicos de práctica clínica. Este proceso introdujo un método de investigación a un gran grupo multidisciplinario de médicos de LMIC. Este informe describe el proceso utilizado para desarrollar un protocolo específico de LMIC que es transferible a otras enfermedades / lesiones. El protocolo se está probando en 5 LMIC. Conclusiones Derivamos pautas consensuadas para el tratamiento de la sTBI sin monitorización de la PIC, e introdujimos un método de investigación a un gran grupo multidisciplinario de médicos de LMIC sin experiencia en tales métodos.Background Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) is a significant global health problem disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Management of intracranial hypertension in sTBI is crucial to survival and optimal recovery. Practitioners in high-income countries routinely use intracranial pressure (ICP) monitors although their usefulness has been questioned. ICP monitors are usually unavailable in LMICs. No consensus-based/tested protocols or literature exists for sTBI treatment without ICP monitoring. Methods Investigators developed serial SurveyMonkey surveys for Latin American neurointensivists and neurosurgeons to determine current practice. These clinicians had extensive routine ongoing experience in sTBI without ICP monitoring. Surveys were administered and analyzed before/during/after a 2015 Buenos Aires consensus conference. Investigators identified areas of convergence blinded from colleagues’ responses. A 47-clinician task force, representing 15 countries, who routinely manage patients with sTBI without monitors developed consensus-based treatment guidelines during a 3-day facilitated conference. Results Elements were added to the protocol at an 80% agreement threshold. Follow-on surveys resolved remaining elements to 97% agreement. The protocol addresses both tapering (on improvement) and neuroworsening. Staged treatment options were identified, plus unique clinical practice issues. This process introduced a research method to a large multidisciplinary group of LMIC clinicians. This report describes the process used to develop an LMIC-specific protocol that is transferable to other diseases/injuries. The protocol is being tested in 5 LMICs. Conclusions We derived consensus-based guidelines for sTBI treatment without ICP monitoring, and introduced a research method to a large multidisciplinary group of LMIC clinicians naive to such method

    Intensive care treatments associated with favorable discharge outcomes in Argentine children with severe traumatic brain injury: For the South American Guideline Adherence Group.

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    Little is known about the critical care management of children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in low middle income countries. We aimed to identify indicators of intensive care unit (ICU) treatments associated with favorable outcomes in Argentine children with severe TBI.We conducted a secondary analysis of data from patients previously enrolled in a prospective seven center study of children with severe TBI who were admitted to an ICU in one of the seven study centers. Severe TBI was defined by head AIS ≥ 3, head CT with traumatic lesion, and admission GCS < 9. Seven indicators of best practice TBI care were examined. The primary outcome was discharge Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category Scale [PCPC] and Pediatric Overall Performance category Scale [POPC]. We also examined variation in ICU care and in-patient mortality.Of the 117 children, 67% were male and 7.5 (4.3) years on average, 92% had isolated TBI. Hypotension (54%) was more common than hypoxia (28%) and clinical or radiographic signs of high intracranial pressure (ICP) were observed in 92%. Yet, ICP monitoring occurred in 60% and hyperosmolar therapy was used in only 36%. Adherence to indicators of best TBI practice ranged from 55.6% to 83.7% across the seven centers and adherence was associated with favorable discharge PCPC (aRR 0.98; 95% CI [0.96, 0.99]), and POPC (aRR 0.98; 95% CI [0.96, 0.99]). Compared to patients whose adherence rates were below 65%, patients whose adherence rates were higher between 75%-100% had better discharge PCPC (aRR 0.28; 95% CI [0.10, 0.83]) and POPC (aRR 0.32; 95% CI [0.15, 0.73]. Two indicators were associated with favorable discharge PCPC: Avoidance of hypoxia (aRR 0.46; 95% CI [0.23, 0.93]), and Nutrition started in 72 hours (aRR 0.45; 95% CI [0.21, 0.99]). Avoiding hypoxia was also associated with favorable discharge POPC (aRR 0.47; 95% CI [0.22, 0.99]).There is variation in Argentine ICU practice in the care of children with severe TBI. Second insults are common and hyperosmolar therapy use is uncommon. Adherence to best practice TBI care by avoiding hypoxia and providing timely nutrition were associated with significantly favorable discharge outcomes. Implementing strategies that prevent hypoxia and facilitate early nutrition in the ICUs are urgently needed to improve pediatric TBI outcomes

    Benchmarking Prehospital and Emergency Department Care for Argentine Children with Traumatic Brain Injury: For the South American Guideline Adherence Group

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    <div><p>Objective</p><p>There is little information on the type of early care provided to children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in low middle income countries. We benchmarked early prehospital [PH] and emergency department [ED] pediatric TBI care in Argentina.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We conducted a secondary analysis of data from patients previously enrolled in a prospective seven center study of children with TBI. Eligible participants were patients 0–18 years, and had diagnosis of TBI (admission Glasgow Coma scale score [GCS] < 13 or with GCS 14–15 and abnormal head CT scan within 48 hours of admission, and head AIS > 0). Outcomes were transport type, transport time, PH and ED adherence to best practice, and discharge Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category Scale (PCPC) and Pediatric Overall Performance category Scale (POPC).</p><p>Results</p><p>Of the 366 children, mean age was 8.7 (5.0) years, 58% were male, 90% had isolated TBI and 45.4% were transported by private vehicle. 50 (34.7%) of the 144 children with severe TBI (39.3% of all TBI patients) were transported by private vehicle. Most (267; 73%) patients received initial TBI care at an index hospital prior to study center admission, including children with severe (81.9%) TBI. Transport times were shorter for those patients who were directly transported by ambulance to study center than for the whole cohort (1.4 vs.5.5 hours). Ambulance blood pressure data were recorded in 30.9%. ED guideline adherence rate was higher than PH guideline adherence rate (84.8% vs. 26.4%). For patients directly transferred from scene to study trauma centers, longer transport time was associated with worse discharge outcome (PCPC aOR 1.10 [1.04, 1.18] and (POPC aOR 1.10 [1.04, 1.18]). There was no relationship between PH or ED TBI guideline adherence rate and discharge POPC and PCPC.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>This study benchmarks early pediatric TBI care in Argentina and shows that many critically injured children with TBI do not receive timely or best practice PH care, that PH guideline adherence rate is low and that longer transport time was associated with poor discharge outcomes for patients with direct transfer status. There is an urgent need to improve the early care of children with TBI in Argentina, especially timely transportation to a hospital.</p></div
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