Determination of Neurological Prognosis and Clinical Decision Making in Adult Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Survey of Canadian Intensivists, Neurosurgeons, and Neurologists.

Link to article at PubMed

Determination of Neurological Prognosis and Clinical Decision Making in Adult Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Survey of Canadian Intensivists, Neurosurgeons, and Neurologists.

Crit Care Med. 2013 Feb 4;

Authors: Turgeon AF, Lauzier F, Burns KE, Meade MO, Scales DC, Zarychanski R, Moore L, Zygun DA, McIntyre LA, Kanji S, Hébert PC, Murat V, Pagliarello G, Fergusson DA, for the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group

Abstract
OBJECTIVES:: Accurate prognostic information in patients with severe traumatic brain injury remains limited, but mortality following the withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies is high and variable across centers. We designed a survey to understand attitudes of physicians caring for patients with severe traumatic brain injury toward the determination of prognosis and clinical decision making on the level of care. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS:: We conducted a cross-sectional study of intensivists, neurosurgeons, and neurologists that participate in the care of patients with severe traumatic brain injury at all Canadian level 1 and level 2 trauma centers. INTERVENTION:: None. MEASUREMENTS:: The main outcome measure was physicians' perceptions of prognosis and recommendations on the level of care. MAIN RESULTS:: Our response rate was 64% (455/712). Most respondents (65%) reported that an accurate prediction of prognosis would be most helpful during the first seven days. Most respondents (>80%) identified bedside monitoring, clinical exam, and imaging to be useful for evaluating prognosis, whereas fewer considered electrophysiology tests (<60%) and biomarkers (<15%). In a case-based scenario, approximately one third of respondents agreed, one third were neutral, and one third disagreed that the patient prognosis would be unfavorable at one year. About 10% were comfortable recommending withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies. CONCLUSIONS:: A significant variation in perceptions of neurological prognosis and in clinical decision making on the level of care was found among Canadian intensivists, neurosurgeons, and neurologists. Improved understanding of the factors that can accurately predict prognosis for patients with traumatic brain injury is urgently needed.

PMID: 23385104 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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