1. Description of the problem Status epilepticus is the presence of seizure activity lasting for more than five minutes with impared neurologic function, or recurrent seizures without a return to baseline mental status between seizures. Seizures are a common problem in the ICU. Several independent studies have found seizure rates in the 10-20% range for…
1. Description of the problem The goal of post-operative neurosurgical care is to prevent or minimize complications related to anesthesia and the surgical procedure. Careful, frequent neurological assessments by neurology-trained staff are the cornerstone of post-operative neurosurgical care. However, management of systemic complications is an essential task that can help minimize serious neurological consequences. In…
Spinal Cord Ischemia Also known as: spinal cord injury, postoperative paraplegia, postoperative paraparesis, thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair complication 1. Description of the problem What every clinician needs to know Spinal cord ischemia is a relatively uncommon form of spinal cord injury. The true prevalence of cord ischemia is not known, but it is suggested that…
1. Description of the problem By definition stroke refers to the sudden onset of neurologic deficits, not associated with trauma. This broad definition does not distinguish between hemorrhage into the brain or ischemia to a given brain region. However, only about 10% of strokes in the US are hemorrhagic, and as a result, the term…
Acquired Muscle Weakness and Peripheral Nerve Disease in the ICU Also known as: Critical illness myopathy (CIM), critical ilness polyneuropathy (CIP), prolonged neuromuscular blockade (PNMB) Continue Reading Related conditions: Prolonged neuromuscular blockade, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), myasthenia gravis (MG), botulism, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, porphyria, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), tick paralysis, acute flaccid paralysis 1. Description of…
Intracranial Hypertension Synonyms Continue Reading Elevated Intracranial Pressure, ICP Management Related conditions Acute brain injury, brain swelling, brain edema, traumatic brain injury, hydrocephalus 1. Description of the problem What every clinician needs to know Intracranial pressure (ICP) is a measurement of the pressure contained within the skull. The components that contribute to ICP include brain…
