Home  About us  Contact
 

Severe Neurological Impairment (severe + neurological_impairment)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences100%

Selected Abstracts

Mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure in children with severe neurological impairment: is it futile medical treatment?

DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 5 2010
JOSEPHUS PJ VAN GESTEL
Aim, To assess outcome for children with severe neurological impairment receiving invasive mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure. Method, Medical charts for all such children treated in our intensive care unit (ICU) between January 2003 and July 2008 were reviewed. Outcomes were compared with those for children with moderate neurological impairment. Results, Twenty-two children with severe neurological impairment were included (nine females, 13 males; median age 7y 10mo; range 4mo,17y). The median duration of mechanical ventilation was 16 days. Six children had an uneventful 1-year survival, the others required reintubation or readmission to the ICU, or died. Eleven children were still alive 1 year after discharge from the ICU. Nine patients died of respiratory failure. None of the children in the severe group died of a heart defect. Eleven children with moderate neurological impairment were included (eight females, three males; median age 1y 1mo, range 4mo,13y). Four children had an uneventful 1-year survival. Eight children were still alive 1 year after discharge from the ICU. Two of the three non-survivors died of their heart defects. Interpretation, Mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure in children with severe neurological impairment is complex and associated with limited survival. However, it cannot be regarded as futile medical treatment. Further studies are urgently needed for the rational guidance of clinical decision-making. [source]

Total esophagogastric dissociation in adult neurologically impaired patients with severe gastroesophageal reflux: an alternative approach

DISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 8 2008
E. J. Hazebroek
SUMMARY Patients with neuromuscular impairment, such as cerebral palsy or myotonic dystrophy, often suffer from oropharyngeal neuromuscular incoordination and severe gastresophageal reflux (GER). In 1997, Bianchi proposed total esophagogastric dissociation (TEGD) as an alternative to fundoplication and gastrostomy to eliminate totally the risk of recurrence of GER in neurologically impaired children. Little information exists about the best management for adult patients with severe neurological impairment in whom recurrent GER develops after failed fundoplication. We present our experience in three adult patients with neurological impairment in whom TEGD with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy and feeding gastrostomy was performed for permanent treatment of GER. [source]

Brain barrier dysfunction in Cuban Epidemic Optic Neuropathy

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 6 2008
A. González-Quevedo Monteagudo
Background and purpose:, There are practically no references to cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) studies in tropical or nutritional neuropathies. In the present paper we present the results of CSF studies in patients with Cuban Epidemic Optic Neuropathy (CEON) during epidemic and endemic periods, with an appraisal as to the contribution of brain barriers, function in the pathophysiology of this disease. Methods:, Two hundred and five patients with CEON were studied during the epidemic period (1992,1993) and 12 patients outside the outbreak (1995,1997). CSF protein determination and electrophoresis were carried out, as well as serum and CSF albumin and immunoglobulin G (IgG) quantitation for calculating IgG and Qalb indexes, in order to evaluate intrathecal IgG synthesis and the permeability of the blood,CSF barrier (B-CSF B). Results:, One fourth of the patients had increased permeability of the B-CSF B, but damage was more frequent between 16 and 60 days from onset of disease, disappearing after 120 days. B-CSF B dysfunction was more prevalent in patients with severe neurological impairment, although it was not related to the severity of ophthalmological damage. The group of patients studied outside of the outbreak (endemic period) showed similar results. Discussion:, The possible association of increased permeability of the B-CSF B with oxidative stress, which lies on the basis of this epidemic outbreak, is discussed. [source]