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A retrospective analysis of paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity following severe pediatric brain injury

Lisa Letzkus1,2, Jessica Keim-Malpass1, Joel Anderson3

  • 1School of Nursing, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
|September 11, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Children with paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) after severe brain injury experienced longer hospital stays but showed no differences in cognitive or motor function compared to peers without PSH.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Neurocritical Care
  • Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

  • Limited understanding of prognosis and care for pediatric brain injury patients with paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH).
  • Need for research into the characteristics and outcomes of PSH in children post-brain injury.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the characteristics and prognosis of children who developed PSH following severe brain injury.
  • To identify factors associated with PSH in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • Secondary analysis of a clinical dataset from an academic children's rehabilitation center.
  • Inclusion of 83 children with severe brain injury.

Main Results:

  • Children with PSH had significantly longer acute care and total hospital stays (p=0.024, p=0.034).
  • No significant differences in cognitive function, motor function, or transition to rehabilitation were observed between children with and without PSH, after controlling for age and injury etiology.

Conclusions:

  • PSH in children with severe brain injury is associated with prolonged hospitalization.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand the implications of PSH in this population.
Abstract

Keywords:
Pediatric brain injuryparoxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity

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