Articles: brain-injuries.
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The combined cardiovascular effects of hemorrhagic shock and mechanical brain injury were modeled in five groups of pigs. Standard and hypertonic saline resuscitation of hypotension were evaluated. Changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), central venous pressure (CVP), intracranial pressure (ICP), and brain water were measured. ⋯ Volumes of saline required to restore blood pressure were large (> 6 L in 3 hours). 1.8% saline produced less rise in ICP than 0.9% saline but was less effective in restoring blood pressure. Brain edema was not decreased with 1.8% saline. Brain injury altered vascular compensation to hemorrhage and made accepted resuscitative measures ineffective.
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An estimated 60,000 patients with severe head injury reach the Emergency Department alive each year; 50% of these patients have significant elevations in intracranial pressure at or shortly after arrival. Aggressive emergency department management with particular attention to airway management, control of intracranial pressure, and proper use of radiographic studies is crucial to successful neurologic recovery.
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Critical care medicine · Feb 1993
Comparative StudyAutonomic cardiovascular state after severe brain injury and brain death in children.
To study and compare the autonomic cardiovascular state of children after severe brain injury and brain death. ⋯ Our results support the concept of a damaged sympathetic cardiovascular system in severe brain injury and complete interruption of the autonomic cardiovascular pathways in brain death. Since determination of brain death may be difficult, our findings have implications for corroborating brain death using autonomic cardiovascular testing.
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As triage and resuscitation protocols evolve, it is critical to determine the major extracranial variables influencing outcome in the setting of severe head injury. We prospectively studied the outcome from severe head injury (GCS score < or = 8) in 717 cases in the Traumatic Coma Data Bank. We investigated the impact on outcome of hypotension (SBP < 90 mm Hg) and hypoxia (Pao2 < or = 60 mm Hg or apnea or cyanosis in the field) as secondary brain insults, occurring from injury through resuscitation. ⋯ Hypoxia and hypotension are common and detrimental secondary brain insults. Hypotension, particularly, is a major determinant of outcome from severe head injury. Resuscitation protocols for brain injured patients should assiduously avoid hypovolemic shock on an absolute basis.