In this episode of Hot Topics, Dr. Nicholas Morris interviews Claire Dahyot-Fizelier, M.D, Ph.D., a professor of anesthesia and intensive care at the University of Poitiers, to explore the groundbreaking PROPHY-VAP trial published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. This landmark study investigates the impact of single-dose ceftriaxone prophylaxis on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in acute brain injury patients. Dr. Dahyot-Fizelier discusses the rationale behind the study, key findings and the broader implications for ICU practices. Tune in to discover how this trial could reshape approaches to infection prevention and improve patient outcomes in neurocritical care.

Show notes:

https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(23)00471-X

Dahyot-Fizelier C, Lasocki S, Kerforne T, Perrigault PF, Geeraerts T, Asehnoune K, Cinotti R, Launey Y, Cottenceau V, Laffon M, Gaillard T, Boisson M, Aleyrat C, Frasca D, Mimoz O, on behalf of the PROPHY-VAP Study Group and the ATLANREA Study Group. Ceftriaxone to prevent early ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients with acute brain injury: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, assessor-masked superiority trial. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 2024 May 1;12(5):375-85.

In this episode of Hot Topics, Dr. Nicholas Morris interviews Dr. Giuseppe Citerio, professor of anesthesia and intensive care at Milano-Bicocca University, about the ORANGE study, which investigated the neurological pupil index (NPI) for prognosticating outcomes in patients with acute brain injury. The study, involving 13 centers in Europe and North America, found that repeat abnormal NPI values, including zero, were predictors of poor outcomes. The study collected data every four hours for seven days and used a sophisticated statistical model to account for longitudinal changes. Despite initial expectations, the study did not find a strong correlation between the NPI and ICP, suggesting NPI should not be used as a surrogate for ICP. Future research may focus on developing a standardized response to low NPI values.

Show Notes:

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(23)00271-5

Oddo M, Taccone FS, Petrosino M, Badenes R, Blandino-Ortiz A, Bouzat P, Caricato A, Chesnut RM, Feyling AC, Ben-Hamouda N, Hemphill JC. The Neurological Pupil index for outcome prognostication in people with acute brain injury (ORANGE): a prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study. The Lancet Neurology. 2023 Oct 1;22(10):925-33.

On September 2022, Cameron Kuklick fell from a motorized rental scooter while returning to his hotel after celebrating his brother’s wedding in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Cameron experienced a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) at the age of 30. Cameron and his family hope that by sharing their story and experiences, they too can provide hope and healing for others. In this week’s episode, Cameron joins Dr. Lauren Koffman and Dea Mahanes, DNP, APRN, CCNS, HEC-C, FNCS, who was on Cameron's care team, to discuss his Story of Hope.

You can read Cameron's story in Currents at https://currents.neurocriticalcare.org/Stories-of-Hope/Article/unbroken-stride-camerons-story-of-hope-overcoming-brain-injury-to-cross-the-finish-line.