The spectrum of sepsis-associated encephalopathy: a clinical perspective

Critical Care

Review

Marc Doman¹  Michael Thy¹  Sarah Benghanem²  Lina Jeantin³  Augustin Gaudemer⁴  Etienne de Montmollin⁵  Jean-François Timsit⁵  Romain Sonneville⁵ 

[1] Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Bichat-Claude Bernard University Hospital, APHP, 46 Rue Henri Huchard, 75877, Paris Cedex, France;Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Cochin University Hospital, APHP, 75014, Paris, France;Department of Neurology, Rothschild Foundation, Paris, France;INSERM UMR 1137, Université Paris Cité, 75018, Paris, France;Department Radiology, Bichat-Claude Bernard University Hospital, APHP, 75018, Paris, France;INSERM UMR 1137, Université Paris Cité, 75018, Paris, France;Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Bichat-Claude Bernard University Hospital, APHP, 46 Rue Henri Huchard, 75877, Paris Cedex, France;

关键词: Encephalopathy;    Delirium;    Coma;    Sepsis;    Seizures;    Prognosis;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13054-023-04655-8

 received in 2023-08-02, accepted in 2023-09-19,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy is a severe neurologic syndrome characterized by a diffuse dysfunction of the brain caused by sepsis. This review provides a concise overview of diagnostic tools and management strategies for SAE at the acute phase and in the long term. Early recognition and diagnosis of SAE are crucial for effective management. Because neurologic evaluation can be confounded by several factors in the intensive care unit setting, a multimodal approach is warranted for diagnosis and management. Diagnostic tools commonly employed include clinical evaluation, metabolic tests, electroencephalography, and neuroimaging in selected cases. The usefulness of blood biomarkers of brain injury for diagnosis remains limited. Clinical evaluation involves assessing the patient's mental status, motor responses, brainstem reflexes, and presence of abnormal movements. Electroencephalography can rule out non-convulsive seizures and help detect several patterns of various severity such as generalized slowing, epileptiform discharges, and triphasic waves. In patients with acute encephalopathy, the diagnostic value of non-contrast computed tomography is limited. In septic patients with persistent encephalopathy, seizures, and/or focal signs, magnetic resonance imaging detects brain injury in more than 50% of cases, mainly cerebrovascular complications, and white matter changes. Timely identification and treatment of the underlying infection are paramount, along with effective control of systemic factors that may contribute to secondary brain injury. Upon admission to the ICU, maintaining appropriate levels of oxygenation, blood pressure, and metabolic balance is crucial. Throughout the ICU stay, it is important to be mindful of the potential neurotoxic effects associated with specific medications like midazolam and cefepime, and to closely monitor patients for non-convulsive seizures. The potential efficacy of targeted neurocritical care during the acute phase in optimizing patient outcomes deserves to be further investigated. Sepsis-associated encephalopathy may lead to permanent neurologic sequelae. Seizures occurring in the acute phase increase the susceptibility to long-term epilepsy. Extended ICU stays and the presence of sepsis-associated encephalopathy are linked to functional disability and neuropsychological sequelae, underscoring the necessity for long-term surveillance in the comprehensive care of septic patients.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

【 图 表 】

Fig. 3

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