Neuropsychological and behavioral disorders, functional outcomes and quality of life in traumatic brain injury victims.

INTRODUCTION: the assessment of neuropsychological and behavioral disorders outcomes, functional outcomes and quality of life in traumatic brain injury victims. It was also to evaluate initial means of care provided to these patients. Finally, to study correlations between neuropsychological and behavioral disorders with demographic characteristics, injury severity, functional status and quality of life. METHODS: it was a cross-sectional study including 50 patients with traumatic brain injury conducted in the physical medicine and rehabilitation department of Sfax. Memory disorders were tested by the mini mental state and the Glaveston orientation and amnesia tests. Executive functions were evaluated by the dysexecutive function scale. The psychological profile was evaluated using the hospital anxiety and depression scale and behavioral disorders were tested by the agitated behavior scale. Glasgow outcome scale has allowed the assessment of traumatic brain injury severity in terms of disability. Otherwise, functional capacity was measured by functional independence measure scale. Finally, health-related quality of life was measured using a generic measure (short-form-36) and the QOLIBRI scales. RESULTS: abnormal executive functions were noted in 41 patients (82%) with a dysexcutive function average score of 33.20 ± 22.74. About psychological profile, depressive symptoms were found in 32 patients (64%). Moreover anxiety was noted in 20 patients (40%). Behavioral disorders such as aggressiveness and agitation were noted respectively in 32 (64%) and 8 patients (16%). The global social functional evolution was considered as unfavorable in 42% of the patients and favorable in 58%. Regarding to functional independence measure scale, 92% of the victims showed impairment. Memory impairment and abnormal executive functions were statistically correlated with traumatic brain injury severity. Elementary brain injury lesions shown on computed tomography were correlated with memory disorders especially for temporal, cortical brain contusion and diffuse axonal injury. Our study showed that patients with severe memory impairment, abnormal executive functions and depressive mood had significant functional. CONCLUSION: the executive function disorders, depressed mood and the memory disorders seemed to be the most frequent among neuropsychological disorders in traumatic brain injury. We noted that it is so important to evaluate neuropsychological disorders in traumatic brain injury because they were underestimated. We have already started this experience despite the lack of means in our department. The evaluation of the executive function in addition to the classic neuropsychological assessment is essential to propose efficient means of rehabilitation.

[Pulmonary thromboembolism: incidence, physiopathology, diagnosis and treatment]. / L'embolie pulmonaire fibrino-cruorique fréquence, physiopathologie, tableau Clinique et traitement.

AIM: The objective of this work was to review current data about the pathophysiology, clinical features, and treatment of pulmonary thromboembolism. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a major challenge in hospitalised especially the care of critically ill patients. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the major complication of VTE. By occluding the pulmonary arterial bed it may lead to acute life-threatening but potentially reversible right ventricular failure. The outcome of patients with PE is quite variable depending primarily on the cardio-respiratory status and the embolus size. PE is a difficult diagnosis that may be missed because of non-specific clinical presentation. Clinical signs include hypoxia, tachypnea, and tachycardia. Severe cases of untreated PE can lead to circulatory instability, and sudden death. However, in ICU, most of patients require sedation and mechanical ventilation. The clinical manifestations usually observed in this condition (PE) cannot be exhibited by these patients and clinical presentation is usually atypical. For these reasons, the diagnosis of PE is usually suspected when un-explicated hypoxemia and/or shock and arterial hypotension were observed. Positive diagnosis is based on these clinical findings in combination with laboratory tests and imaging studies. D-dimer testing is of clinical use when there is a suspicion of DVT or pulmonary embolism PE. In Emergency department, a negative D-dimer test will virtually rule out thromboembolism with a negative predictive value at 95 to 98%. In massive and submassive PE, dysfunction of the right side of the heart can be seen on echocardiography. While the gold standard for diagnosis is the finding of a clot on pulmonary angiography, CT pulmonary angiography is the most commonly used imaging modality today. When the diagnosis is confirmed, anticoagulant therapy is the mainstay of treatment. Acutely, supportive treatments a pivotal role in the management of patients with PE. Severe cases may require thrombolysis with drugs such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) or may require surgical intervention via pulmonary thrombectomy. Prevention is highly warranted.