Purpose

Life-threatening mass effect (LTME) arises when brain swelling displaces or compresses crucial midline structures subsequent to acute brain injuries (ABIs) like traumatic brain injury (TBI), ischemic stroke (IS), and intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH), which can manifest rapidly within hours or more gradually over days. Despite advancements in surgical management, significant gaps in understanding persist regarding optimal monitoring and therapeutic approaches. The current standard for identifying LTME involves neurologic decline in conjunction with radiographic evidence or increased intracranial pressure (ICP) indicating space-occupying mass effect. However, in critically ill patients, reliance on subjective physical exam findings, such as decreased arousal, often leads to delayed recognition, occurring only after catastrophic shifts have already occurred. The goal of this study is to determine the association of non-invasive biomarkers with neurologic deterioration, and to determine whether non-invasive biomarker inclusion improves detection of outcome and decline. The investigators propose to use various non-invasive methods to monitor ICP as adjuncts in detecting deteriorating mass effect. These methods include quantitative pupillometry, radiographic data, laboratory data, and other bedside diagnostic tests available including electroencephalography (EEG), skull vibrations detected via brain4care device, optic nerve sheath diameter assessment (ONSD), and ultrasound-guided eyeball compression. Some of these methods will be measured *only* for the purposes of the research study (such as skull vibrations via brain4care). Other measurements, such as quantitative pupillometry, will represent additional measurements beyond those already being collected for clinical care. This research study is necessary to understand the association of these non-invasive biomarkers with neurological decline and outcomes while considering potential confounding factors.

Condition

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Admitted under Neuro intensivist primary or consultative care. - At least one head computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrating intracranial pathology that may lead to life-threatening mass effect (i.e. traumatic brain injury, ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, epidural or subdural hematoma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, diffuse hypoxic injury, metabolic cerebral edema, tumor) - Concern for Life Threatening Mass Effect - Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) <9 - Anticipated stay >24 hours

Exclusion Criteria

  • Comfort measure only - Any other criteria that the PI deems that makes the patient inadequate for the study - Sub-exclusion criteria for specific non-invasive measurements include: - Orbital injury (pupillometry, ONSD) - Traumatic injury or surgery that precludes use of B4C device - Presence of supratentorial craniectomy or craniotomy that has not healed and is mobile/bone defects/scalp injury [EEGelectroencephalogram (EEG), Brain4Care] - Presence of extensive scalp injury

Study Design

Phase
Study Type
Observational
Observational Model
Other
Time Perspective
Prospective

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
NIMABI Group Eligible patients will be recruited on admission to the ICU followed by the Neurointensive care team. Demographic, invasive ICP monitoring data, clinical, laboratory, diagnostic, treatment (medical and surgical) and outcome data will be collected. Data will be collected from non-invasive devices using either clinical review from the chart, or if not available and/or used for additional measurements, from the device (smartguard for pupillometry, imaging, EEG data, Brain4care data).

Recruiting Locations

Boston Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts 02118
Contact:
Charlene Ong, MD MPHS
cjong@bu.ed

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Boston Medical Center

Study Contact

Charlene Ong, MD MPHS
617 638 5351
cjong@bu.ed

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.