Traumatic brain injury and acute kidney injury - outcomes and associated risk factors

Our objective was to analyze the contribution of acute kidney injury (AKI) to the mortality of isolated TBI patients and its associated risk factors. Observational, prospective and multicenter registry (RETRAUCI) methods were used, from March 2015 to December 2019. Isolated TBI was defined as abbreviated injury scale (AIS) ≥ 3 head with no additional score ≥ 3. A comparison of groups was conducted using the Wilcoxon test, chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze associated risk factors in the development of AKI. For the result, overall, 2964 (30.2%) had AIS head ≥ 3 with no other area with AIS ≥ 3. The mean age was 54.7 (SD 19.5) years, 76% were men, and the ground-level falls was 49.1%. The mean ISS was 18.4 (SD 8). The in-hospital mortality was 22.2%. Up to 310 patients (10.6%) developed AKI, which was associated with increased mortality (39% vs. 17%, adjusted OR 2.2). Associated risk factors (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval)) were age (OR 1.02 (1.01?1.02)), hemodynamic instability (OR 2.87 to OR 5.83 (1.79-13.1)), rhabdomyolysis (OR 2.94 (1.69-5.11)), trauma-associated coagulopathy (OR 1.67 (1.05-2.66)) and transfusion of packed red-blood-cell concentrates (OR 1.76 (1.12-2.76)). In conclusion, AKI occurred in 10.6% of isolated TBI patients and was associated with increased mortality

El eje hipotalámico-hipofisario-suprarrenal en el paciente crítico

[spa] La integridad del eje hipotalámico-hipofisario-suprarrenal desempeña un papel fundamental en el mantenimiento de la homeostasis en el paciente crítico. El cortisol, glucocorticoide principal, es esencial por sus potenciales efectos cardiovasculares, metabólicos e inmunológicos. En esta tesis se resume el estudio de la disfunción del eje hipotalámico-hipofisario-suprarrenal en pacientes críticos, especialmente con shock séptico y traumatismo craneoencefálico, y el impacto del tratamiento sustitutivo suprarrenal con hidrocortisona. Además se presenta la microdiálisis cerebral como una nueva técnica para determinar la disponibilidad de cortisol en el intersticio cerebral en pacientes con traumatismo craneoencefálico

Levels of caspase-1 in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with traumatic brain injury: correlation with intracranial pressure and outcome

OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study were to evaluate levels of inflammasome-signaling proteins in serum and CSF of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to correlate these protein levels with intracranial pressure (ICP) and clinical outcomes at 6 months after injury. METHODS This is a prospective and observational study in patients with moderate and severe TBI who required an external ventricular drain as part of their treatment. Serum and CSF samples were collected 3 times a day for the first 5 days after TBI. The authors have determined the protein concentration of caspase-1 in the CSF and serum of patients with TBI by using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The ICP value was recorded hourly. The 6-month outcome was assessed using the Glasgow Outcome Scale–Extended. RESULTS A total of 21 patients were included in this study, and a total of 234 paired serum-CSF samples were analyzed. The area under the curve (AUC) value of caspase-1 in CSF during the 5-day period was 2452.9 pg/mL·hr in the group of patients with high ICP vs 617.6 pg/mL·hr in the patients with low ICP. The differences were mainly on day 2 (19.7 pg/mL vs 1.8 pg/mL; p = 0.06) and day 3 (13.9 pg/mL vs 1 pg/mL; p = 0.05). The AUC value of caspase in CSF during the 5-day period was 1918.9 pg/mL·hr in the group of patients with poor outcome versus 924.5 pg/mL·hr in the patients with good outcome. The protein levels of caspase-1 in CSF were higher in patients with unfavorable outcomes during the first 96 hours after TBI. CONCLUSIONS In this cohort of patients with TBI who were admitted to the neurosurgical ICU, the inflammasome protein caspase-1 is increased in the CSF of patients with high ICP, especially on days 2 and 3 after TBI. Also the protein levels of caspase-1 in CSF were higher in patients with poor outcome during the first 96 hours after TBI. Moreover, not only the absolute value of caspase-1 in CSF but also its trend is associated with poor outcomes

Direct observation during surgery shows preservation of cerebral microcirculation in patients with traumatic brain injury

To describe the alterations of the cortical microcirculation of the brain (blood flow and vessel density) in TBI patients who and compare them with a control group. Prospective and observational study in a third-level university hospital. Cortical microcirculation in the brain was directly observed using sidestream dark-field (SDF) imaging in 14 patients who underwent surgery: 5 subdural hematomas (SDH) and 9 parenchymal lesions (contusions/hematomas). In this last set of patients, images were recorded in the "pericontusional" areas and in the "surrounding" brain (areas that were as far from the lesion as the craniotomy allowed). These patients were compared to five patients who underwent craniotomy for a disease that did not affect the cortex. There were fewer "pericontusional" images that could be analyzed due to the presence of subarachnoid hemorrhage. The proportion or perfused vessels was similar in all groups: control 99.5% ± 1.3%; SDH 98.6% ± 2.4%; "pericontusional" area 98.2% ± 2.4%; "surrounding" area 98.4% ± 2.5% (p = 0.145). The perfused vessel density index was smaller in the "pericontusional" area: control 6.5 ± 1.6 l/mm; SDH 6.5 ± 2.5 l/mm; "pericontusional" area 5.4 ± 2.6 l/mm; "surrounding" 6.6 ± 2.1 l/mm (p = 0.07). Although the analysis of pericontusional zone was difficult, there were fewer vessels than in the controls and there was no change in the flow. In the surrounding zone and in patients with SDH, we did not document alterations in the microcirculation. Direct imaging of cerebral microcirculation in TBI patients showed that despite serious brain injury the cerebral microcirculation was remarkably well preserve