Congrats to PGY3s Shobhit Singla and Gabriella García on the publication of their review article “Detecting seizures and epileptiform abnormalities in acute brain injury.” Click the link below to check it out!
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Yale Neuro Residents Advancing the Knowledge of Our Collective Brain – Feat. Justine Cormier, PGY3
Congratulations to Justine Cormier, PGY3 for having her recent manuscript, The Ictal-Interictal Continuum: When to Worry About the Continuous EEG Pattern, accepted for publication in Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Guest editors for this journal edition are Dr. David Hwang and Dr. David Greer. A link to the article will be put up when it is released (currently submitted to publisher). For now, the abstract is copied below.
Continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) monitoring is an invaluable tool in the evaluation of encephalopathy and coma in critically ill patients. Marked increases in cEEG monitoring, coinciding with several societal guideline statements in the last decade, have allowed for the earlier detection and treatment of clearly harmful patterns, including non-convulsive seizures (NCSz) and non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE). However, it has also unmasked a range of EEG patterns of less clear clinical significance, with some more “malignant” than others given their potential association with increased neuronal stress and secondary brain injury. These patterns lay on a spectrum often referred to as the Ictal-Interictal Continuum (IIC). To date, no definitive guidelines exist for the management of these potentially harmful EEG patterns, thus presenting a clinical dilemma for critical care physicians. Here we review the various IIC patterns, their associated features, seizure risk, and outcomes and propose a clinical approach to management based on available data and expert opinion.
Brain Imaging May Predict Cognitive Problems after Off-Pump Cardiac Surgery
Dr. Paul Fu works with researchers at the Capital Medical University Anzhen Hospital in Beijing, China to investigate whether abnormalities in brain imaging correlates with cognitive problems following off-pump heart surgery.
In 556 enrolled patients who had off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, those with abnormal CT perfusion scans were found to have lower cognitive function based on MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) scores. Dr. Fu’s research adds to the controversial topic of postperfusion syndrome (in the media colloquially called “pumphead”) – cognitive problems following cardiopulmonary bypass.
The third-year resident’s research was published in Neurological Research this month.
Spotlight on Peer Mentorship in Neurology Residency
Dr. Reshma Narula presents her work today on peer mentorship at Medical Education Day at Yale 2016 sponsored by the Teaching and Learning Center.
Last year, she designed a program matching entering junior residents with seniors. Among several encouraged activities, seniors helped new resident neurologists identify hospital and community resources, guided them through workflow and clinical issues, and offered early career advice. Met with significant positive feedback, her work had also been previously presented at an education conference in Rhode Island last month.
Dr. Narula discusses importance of mentorship with conference attendees
With research mentor Dr. Jeremy Moeller
Dr. Narula begins her last year of residency in July, after which she will be a stroke fellow at Yale with plans to continue her work in medical education.
50 Studies Every Neurologist Should Know
Yale Neurology publishes 50 Studies Every Neurologist Should Know today. Led by faculty members Drs. David Hwang and David Greer, sixteen Yale neurology residents collaborated to author this collection of 50 “must know” clinical trials that shape the practice of clinical neurology today. The book covers all subspecialties with special emphasis on neurocritical care and vascular neurology.
Current residents who participated on the large-scale project include Drs. Benjamin Blond, Shivani Ghoshal, Mark Landreneau, Brian MacGrory and Ashish Ranpura. Prior residents include Drs. Hardik Amin, Allison Arch, Daniel Brooks, Sarah Buckingham, Amy Chan, Irene Chan, Robert Claycomb, Matthew Kalp, Joshua Lovinger, Sarah Mulukutla and Kimberly Robeson. Current fellow Dr. Teddy Youn also participated.
Caring for Maggie: A Conversation in the Neuroscience ICU
Chief resident Dr. Sara Schaefer receives the Creative Expression of Human Values in Neurology for her piece “Caring for Maggie“. Published in Neurology, the essay details a conversation between a patient’s loved one and her physician in the ICU, while exploring the underlying intentions of both parties. A deep and almost uneasy piece, it captures the common breakdown in patient-physician communication despite best intentions.
The award will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology conference later this month.
NeuroLogic: The Brain’s Hidden Rationale Behind Our Irrational Behavior
Resident Dr. Eliezer Sternberg’s third book “NeuroLogic” continues to intrigue. Published earlier this year, the book met with overwhelmingly positive reviews. The second-year resident continues to publish in a variety of venues including GQ, Slate Magazine and The Wall Street Journal.
More information on his most recent book can be found here.