Althesin therapy - an adjunct for intracranial pressure control regimes? A preliminary report.

Since 1978 continuous intravenous infusion with Althesin has been used instead of barbiturates in the regime. Mortality rate fell from 83.7 percent (1970 1977) to 43.7 percent (1978 1980) for nonhead injury patients and from 72.1 percent (1970 1977) to 45.6 percent (1978 1980) in the headinjured group, the differences between the periods being statistically significant. The possible influencing factors are mentioned. The quality of salvage and survival requires investigation.