Surgical treatment for 'brain compartment syndrome' in children with severe head injury

No Abstract. South African Medical Journal Vol. 96(9) (Part 2) 2006: 969-97

Multimodality monitoring in paediatric severe traumatic brain injury : the contributions of brain oxygen, transcranial doppler and autoregulation monitoring to conventional methods on monitoring

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (p. 175-218).Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a highly complex clinical condition in the most complex organ of the body. The foundation of care of the patient with severe TBI is the prevention of secondary insults to the brain. This relies on conventional monitoring tools to identify patients at risk, but often these may fail to detect important secondary insults. Moreover, the therapies that are used commonly in the critical care environment all have potential adverse effects, many of which may not be evident. TBI treatment in children is further complicated by changing thresholds with age, and the much smaller evidence base compared to their adult counterparts

Surgical treatment for 'brain compartment syndrome' in children with severe head injury

OBJECTIVES: Traumatic brain injury accounts for a high percentage of deaths in children. Raised intracranial pressure (ICP) due to brain swelling within the closed compartment of the skull leads to death or severe neurological disability if not effectively treated. We report our experience with 12 children who presented with cerebral herniation due to traumatic brain swelling in whom decompressive craniectomy was used as an emergency. DESIGN: Prospective, observational. SETTING: Red Cross Children's Hospital. SUBJECTS: Children with severe traumatic brain injury and cerebral swelling. OUTCOME MEASURES: Computed tomography (CT) scanning, ICP control, clinical outcome. RESULTS: Despite the very poor clinical condition of these children preoperatively, aggressive management of the raised pressure resulted in unexpectedly good outcomes. CONCLUSION: Aggressive surgical measures to decrease ICP in the emergency situation can be of considerable benefit; the key concepts are selection of appropriate patients and early intervention

Standardized Methods for Enhanced Quality and Comparability of Tuberculous Meningitis Studies

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) remains a major cause of death and disability in tuberculosis-endemic areas, especially in young children and immunocompromised adults. Research aimed at improving outcomes is hampered by poor standardization, which limits study comparison and the generalizability of results. We propose standardized methods for the conduct of TBM clinical research that were drafted at an international tuberculous meningitis research meeting organized by the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam. We propose a core dataset including demographic and clinical information to be collected at study enrollment, important aspects related to patient management and monitoring, and standardized reporting of patient outcomes. The criteria proposed for the conduct of observational and intervention TBM studies should improve the quality of future research outputs, can facilitate multicenter studies and meta-analyses of pooled data, and could provide the foundation for a global TBM data repository

Elevated matrix metalloproteinase concentrations offer novel insight into their role in pediatric tuberculous meningitis

We collected lumbar and ventricular cerebrospinal fluid and serum from 40 children treated for tuberculous meningitis and measured the concentrations of gelatinases and their inhibitors. The concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), MMP-2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), and TIMP-2 were significantly elevated in the lumbar CSF samples, and we found interesting dynamics for MMP-9 that offer novel insight into its role in pediatric patients with tuberculous meningitis

Knowledge gaps and research priorities in tuberculous meningitis.

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe and disabling form of tuberculosis (TB), accounting for around 1-5% of the global TB caseload, with mortality of approximately 20% in children and up to 60% in persons co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus even in those treated. Relatively few centres of excellence in TBM research exist and the field would therefore benefit from greater co-ordination, advocacy, collaboration and early data sharing. To this end, in 2009, 2015 and 2019 we convened the TBM International Research Consortium, bringing together approximately 50 researchers from five continents. The most recent meeting took place on 1 st and 2 nd March 2019 in Lucknow, India. During the meeting, researchers and clinicians presented updates in their areas of expertise, and additionally presented on the knowledge gaps and research priorities in that field. Discussion during the meeting was followed by the development, by a core writing group, of a synthesis of knowledge gaps and research priorities within seven domains, namely epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, antimicrobial therapy, host-directed therapy, critical care and implementation science. These were circulated to the whole consortium for written input and feedback. Further cycles of discussion between the writing group took place to arrive at a consensus series of priorities. This article summarises the consensus reached by the consortium concerning the unmet needs and priorities for future research for this neglected and often fatal disease

Traumatic brain injury – global collaboration for a global challenge

Even though, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are facing a far greater traumatic brain injury (TBI) burden compared to high-income countries (HICs), agency funding and multi-centre research efforts have had a disproportionately greater focus on HICs.1 Initiatives, such as InTBIR,2 are advancing TBI care in HICs but the participation of LMICs has been very limited. Additionally, multicentre trials in TBI, with very few exceptions, have predominantly focused on HIC populations.NIHR Global Heath Researc

Checklists to guide the supportive and critical care of tuberculous meningitis

The assessment and management of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is often complex, yet no standardised approach exists, and evidence for the clinical care of patients, including those with critical illness, is limited. The roles of proformas and checklists are increasing in medicine; proformas provide a framework for a thorough approach to patient care, whereas checklists offer a priority-based approach that may be applied to deteriorating patients in time-critical situations. We aimed to develop a comprehensive assessment proforma and an accompanying ‘priorities’ checklist for patients with TBM, with the overriding goal being to improve patient outcomes. The proforma outlines what should be asked, checked, or tested at initial evaluation and daily inpatient review to assist supportive clinical care for patients, with an adapted list for patients in critical care. It is accompanied by a supporting document describing why these points are relevant to TBM. Our priorities checklist offers a useful and easy reminder of important issues to review during a time-critical period of acute patient deterioration. The benefit of these documents to patient outcomes would require investigation; however, we hope they will promote standardisation of patient assessment and care, particularly of critically unwell individuals, in whom morbidity and mortality remains unacceptably high

Intracranial endoscopy

In modern neurosurgery there has been a strong trend towards the use of minimally invasive techniques, one of which is intracranial endoscopy. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is the commonest procedure performed; it is used to treat hydrocephalus caused by an obstruction to the ventricular system anywhere distal to the mamillary bodies of the third ventricle. The obstruction is bypassed by a stoma created in the floor of the third ventricle, allowing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to flow freely into the subarachnoid space. Endoscopy can also be used for the fenestration of various intracranial cysts, intraventricular biopsy, the placement and retrieval of ventricular catheters, the removal of small intraventricular lesions, and improved visualisation in microsurgical operations. At Red Cross Children’s Hospital and Groote Schuur Hospital endoscopy has become an indispensable tool in the management of a wide range of neurosurgical conditions. As experience has accumulated worldwide, a better understanding of the benefits and limitations of endoscopy in diverse circumstances has emerged