After patients undergo surgery for severe brain injuries, the early recovery period is especially critical. During their first few weeks in the ICU, they’re at risk for secondary injuries. These can cause long-term disability or death.
Researchers may have finally uncovered the mechanism behind these secondary injuries. Spreading depolarizations (SD) are massive waves of brain activity that elude normal EEG recordings, explains UVA Health neurosurgeon Andrew Carlson, MD.
Carlson hopes to build on this knowledge by finding treatments to reduce severe adverse effects in patients after large strokes. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for what SDs can help neuroscientists understand and ultimately treat.
“We think that these events may play a major role in many conditions,” Carlson says. “These kinds of observations could have direct effects on how we treat not only patients with severe brain injuries and strokes, but also conditions such as brain tumors, migraine, dementias, concussions, and maybe even recovery and rehabilitation after brain injuries.”
Excerpted from: https://www.uvaphysicianresource.com/preventing-spreading-depolarizations-after-large-strokes
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