The LITFL Critical Care Compendium is a comprehensive collection of pages concisely covering the core topics and controversies of critical care.
Transverse Myelitis: myelitis is a rare inflammatory condition of spinal cord characterised by pyramidal (motor), sensory, and/or autonomic dysfunction to varying degrees. The term “transverse” originally referred to the clinical finding of a band-like horizontal area of altered sensation usually at the dermatomal level of the lesion within the cord, more recently it is used simply describes the position of the inflammation, that is, across the width of the spinal cord
Status epilepticus: continuous seizure activity for 5 minutes or more without return of consciousness, or recurrent seizures (2 or more) without an intervening period of neurological recovery
Watershed infarcts result from severe hypotensive insults. They occur in areas with relatively poor blood supply at the boundaries between territories of cerebral arteries or their branches.
** See Thiamine deficiency
OVERVIEW USES INDICATIONS Consider in patients at high risk of NCSE (~20% risk): METHOD OF USE Duration of monitoring Reducing interference In some circumstances a modified array or reduced channels may be needed (may reduce sensitivity) PROS AND CONS Advantages…
Coma differential diagnosis
Electroencephalography (EEG) is the recording of electrical activity along the scalp, which corresponds to the voltage fluctuations caused by ionic current flows within brain neurons.
Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) refers to thrombus formation in either the deep or superficial venous drainage systems of the brain. The etiology is multifactorial and the presentation is variable, with diagnosis requiring a high index of suspicion
Decompressive craniectomy is a controversial therapy for malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke
Aneurysms can be either angiographically coiled or surgically clipped following subarachnoid haemorrhage
Decompressive Craniectomy: can be prophylactic or therapeutic; increases intracranial compliance and prevents/treats elevated ICP (especially if dura opened)
Monitoring in the critically ill subarachnoid haemorrhage patient is primarily to detect vasospasm.