title: [Post-traumatic dysautonomic crises in intensive care unit: a French national assessment].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The dysautonomic crises (DC) after traumatic brain injury are an unknown syndrome whereas the first case was described more than 50 years ago. This work aimed to collect their support modalities in French neuro-intensive cares units.
  
  
  METHODS
  French medical doctors, working in neuro-intensive care unit, were questioned by mail. The questionnaire developed point of prevalence, physiopathology, diagnosis, treatment, prognostic of DC and the existence of a support protocol in the department.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 52 replies (40%) of 25 different hospitals. The DC were common or frequent for 77% of intensivists. The large majority (94%) reported a lack of knowledge about the physiopathology of the DC. The DC presented more often a therapeutic problem (28%) than a diagnostic problem (10%). The intensivists didn't know if the DC impacted on the prognostic of the patients (33%). The preferred treatment for the DC was an association of alpha/beta blockers and neuroleptics (38%). The more used preventive treatment was alpha/beta blockers (33%). Only two departments had a support protocol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although DC were a common complication in neuro-intensive care unit, their support seems mainly empirical.
authors.affiliation: Service d'anesthésie-réanimation, hôpital neurologique Pierre-Wertheimer, Groupement Hospitalier Est, 59, boulevard Pinel, 69677 Bron, France. lionel.bapteste@chu-lyon.fr
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bapteste
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carrillon
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lieutaud
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054969:Primary Dysautonomias / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents