Letter to the Editor: Glucose and Energy in Severe Head Injury Care
Journal name: The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
Original article title: Letter to The Editor: Evaluation of Glucose and Energy Expenditure in the Acute Care of Severe Head Injury Patients: Indirect Calorimeter versus Harris Benedict Formula
The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences (MJMS) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal published online at least six times a year. It covers all aspects of medical sciences and prioritizes high-quality research.
This page presents a generated summary with additional references; See source (below) for actual content.
Original source:
This page is merely a summary which is automatically generated hence you should visit the source to read the original article which includes the author, publication date, notes and references.
Mohd Noor Saiful Razman
The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences:
(A peer-reviewed, open-access journal)
Full text available for: Letter to The Editor: Evaluation of Glucose and Energy Expenditure in the Acute Care of Severe Head Injury Patients: Indirect Calorimeter versus Harris Benedict Formula
Year: 2012
Copyright (license): CC BY 4.0
Download the PDF file of the original publication
Summary of article contents:
Introduction
The paper by Rahmat Harun @ Haron, titled “An Observational Study of Blood Glucose Levels during Admission and 24 Hours Post-Operation in a Sample of Patients with Traumatic Injury in a Hospital in Kuala Lumpur,” explores the relationship between traumatic brain injuries of varying severity and blood glucose levels. Published in the Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences in 2011, the study found elevated blood glucose levels during admission, correlated with the severity of the traumatic injuries. However, it reported that surgical interventions did not significantly alter blood glucose levels post-operation. This discourse highlights the significance of glucose and energy expenditure measurements in monitoring patients with traumatic head injuries.
Monitoring Metabolic Rates in Severe Head Injury Patients
In a recent prospective observational study conducted at the Neuro Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, researchers measured energy expenditure through indirect calorimetry in 31 severely head-injured patients. The study aimed to assess whether energy expenditure differed based on the severity of the injury as classified by Marshall’s computed tomography grading. Despite finding varied energy expenditure values across different injury severity grades, the results indicated no significant differences in metabolic rates among the groups or between operated and non-operated patients. Notably, there was a lack of correlation between blood glucose levels and measured energy expenditure, further suggesting metabolic stability despite the severity of the head injuries.
Conclusion
The findings from the discussed studies elucidate the complexities of metabolic responses in patients with severe head injuries. The lack of significant correlation between blood glucose levels and energy expenditure, coupled with the homogeneity of metabolic rates despite varying injury severity, suggests that metabolic monitoring may not differ significantly within this patient cohort. Such insights underscore the necessity for continuous evaluation of metabolic responses in clinical settings to optimize care and resource allocation for patients with traumatic brain injuries. Future research may benefit from exploring a broader cohort and investigating the potential influences of confounding factors such as sedation and physiological states on energy expenditure and glucose metabolism.
FAQ section (important questions/answers):
What did the study by Harun @ Haron investigate?
The study explored blood glucose levels in patients with traumatic brain injuries, observing their levels during admission and 24 hours post-operation, finding that glucose levels increased with injury severity without significant changes after surgical intervention.
What measurement technique was used in the recent study?
The recent study measured energy expenditure using indirect calorimetry in severe head injury patients, assessing their metabolic rate in an acute setting and comparing results against values predicted from the Harris Benedict equation.
What correlation was found between blood glucose levels and energy expenditure?
The study revealed no significant correlation between blood glucose levels and measured energy expenditure, indicating that glucose levels did not influence metabolic rates in patients with severe head injuries.
Was there any difference in blood glucose levels among groups?
No significant differences were found in blood glucose levels across various severity and treatment groups, suggesting consistent metabolic responses among patients regardless of injury severity or surgical intervention.
Glossary definitions and references:
Scientific and Ayurvedic Glossary list for “Letter to the Editor: Glucose and Energy in Severe Head Injury Care”. This list explains important keywords that occur in this article and links it to the glossary for a better understanding of that concept in the context of Ayurveda and other topics.
1) Blood:
Blood is a vital bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's cells, including oxygen and nutrients, while transporting waste products away. In the context of traumatic brain injuries, the measurement of blood glucose levels is particularly crucial, as abnormalities may indicate metabolic changes related to injury severity and recovery.
2) Study (Studying):
A study is a systematic investigation aimed at discovering new information or validating existing knowledge. In this context, the observational studies referenced explore the relationships between traumatic brain injuries and blood glucose levels, providing insights into the metabolic responses of patients, which can guide clinical management of severe head injuries.
3) Post:
Post refers to the time period following an event or intervention. In medical studies, such as those observing changes in patients after surgery, it indicates a focus on outcomes and physiological changes, like blood glucose levels measured within 24 hours after traumatic injury or surgical treatment, helping evaluate patient recovery.
4) Measurement:
Measurement is the process of quantifying physical parameters, often using specific tools or methodologies. In the context of severe head injuries, it involves assessing energy expenditure and blood glucose levels, which provides crucial data for understanding a patient's metabolic state, informing treatment decisions, and facilitating optimal recovery strategies.
5) Science (Scientific):
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. The studies referenced involve scientific methodologies to examine physiological changes in response to traumatic injuries, contributing to evidence-based medical knowledge that can improve patient care and outcomes.
6) Fever:
Fever is a temporary increase in body temperature, often indicative of an infection or illness. In the context of severe head injury, the absence of fever may suggest that metabolic changes, like those observed in energy expenditure and blood glucose levels, can be reliably attributed to the injury itself rather than to infectious processes.
7) Coma:
Coma is a profound state of unconsciousness where a patient cannot respond to stimuli. Patients with severe head injuries classified by the Glasgow Coma Scale are crucial to the studies discussed, as understanding their metabolic rates and blood glucose levels is essential for treatment and prognosis during their critical care in intensive settings.
8) Chan:
Chan refers to one of the authors of the referenced study on indirect calorimetry. The contributions of multiple researchers, including Chan, are essential for validating findings and promoting collaborative efforts in medical research, which enhance the robustness of studies about energy expenditure and metabolic responses in critically injured patients.
Other Science Concepts:
Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘Letter to the Editor: Glucose and Energy in Severe Head Injury Care’. Further sources in the context of Science might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:
Surgical intervention, Significant difference, Statistical test, Inclusion criteria, Treatment group, Observational study, Traumatic brain injuries, Conservative treatment, One-way analysis of variance, Blood glucose level, Kruskal Wallis test, Significant association, Metabolic rate, Glasgow Coma Scale, Prospective observational study, Traumatic Injury, Energy expenditure, Traumatic brain injury, Glucose level, Severe head injury, Pearson Correlation, Calorimetric Measurements, Indirect calorimetry, Mean blood glucose level, Specific objectives, No significant difference.