- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Part 9.1 Anatomy and physiology
- Part 9.2 Neurological monitoring
- Chapter 221 Electroencephalogram monitoring in the critically ill
- Chapter 222 Cerebral blood flow and perfusion monitoring in the critically ill
- Chapter 223 Intracranial pressure monitoring in the ICU
- Chapter 224 Imaging the central nervous system in the critically ill
- Part 9.3 Sleep disturbance
- Part 9.4 Agitation, confusion, and delirium
- Part 9.5 The unconscious patient
- Part 9.6 Seizures
- Part 9.7 Intracranial hypertension
- Part 9.8 Stroke
- Part 9.9 Non-traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage
- Part 9.10 Meningitis and encephalitis
- Part 9.11 Non-traumatic spinal injury
- Part 9.12 Neuromuscular syndromes
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care
(p. 1063) Imaging the central nervous system in the critically ill
- Chapter:
- (p. 1063) Imaging the central nervous system in the critically ill
- Author(s):
Olivier Bodart
and Steven Laureys
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0224
Imaging techniques play a major role in managing patients with acute severe neurological signs. Initial evaluation of patients with traumatic brain injuries is best performed with a computed tomography (CT) scan, both for its ability to demonstrate most of the significant lesions and for logistical reasons. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is able to provide more subtle information, as well as prognosis indicators, but is impractical until the patient’s condition has been stabilized. MRI has the same advantages for assessing anoxic brain injuries. In strokes, MRI has become the technique of choice, as it is able to highlight new lesions among older ones, and can identify ischaemic lesions only a few minutes after the event. At the same time MRI can identify or exclude contraindications for intravenous thrombolysis. Subarachnoid haemorrhages are best initially assessed with CT followed by a digital suppression angiogram to identify arterial aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations. In spine imaging, CT scan works the best in indicating traumatic bone lesions, while MRI is unsurpassed in examining the spinal cord and ligamentous injuries, and can provide prognostic indicators of the expected functional outcome.
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- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Part 9.1 Anatomy and physiology
- Part 9.2 Neurological monitoring
- Chapter 221 Electroencephalogram monitoring in the critically ill
- Chapter 222 Cerebral blood flow and perfusion monitoring in the critically ill
- Chapter 223 Intracranial pressure monitoring in the ICU
- Chapter 224 Imaging the central nervous system in the critically ill
- Part 9.3 Sleep disturbance
- Part 9.4 Agitation, confusion, and delirium
- Part 9.5 The unconscious patient
- Part 9.6 Seizures
- Part 9.7 Intracranial hypertension
- Part 9.8 Stroke
- Part 9.9 Non-traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage
- Part 9.10 Meningitis and encephalitis
- Part 9.11 Non-traumatic spinal injury
- Part 9.12 Neuromuscular syndromes
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care