Hyponatremia is commonly seen in patients with severe and moderate head injury, but it is rarely reported in those with mild head injury. The authors report a patient with mild head injury who presented with data typical of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), but showed no clinical deterioration. Though the clinical significance of this condition is unclear, the true incide...

The objective of this study was to determine if alcohol potentiates the severity of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in motor vehicle crash (MVC) victims, controlling for crash severity characteristics. Prior studies evaluating effects of alcohol on TBI have not accounted for severity of crash. We evaluated severity of head injury by Marshall score [a classification scale of intracranial pathology ...

This study analyzed 237 fatal ground-level falls occurring in decedents aged 65 years or older reported to the Seattle-King County Medical Examiner's Office during the year 2007. Head injuries accounted for 109 (46%) of the deaths, and nonhead injuries accounted for 128 (54%) of the deaths. Falls occurred in similar locations in both groups. Compared with those of nonhead injuries, decedents of...

Pneumonia, severe sepsis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are frequent complications after head trauma. Recombinant human activated protein C (APC) reportedly improves circulation and respiration in severe sepsis, but is contraindicated after head injury because of increased risk of intracranial bleeding. A 21-year-old man with severe head injury after a car accident was endotrac...

This study examines the relation between cerebral O2 consumption (CMRO2) and the O2 consumption of the rest of the body (BVO2) after severe head injury. Seventy nine serial measurements of whole body O2 consumption, CMRO2, plasma adrenaline, T3, and glucagon concentrations were made in 15 children with severe head injuries receiving neurointensive care. Body O2 consumption was measured with ind...

Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) has an adverse effect on the clinical course of patients with severe head injuries. Direct intracranial measurement is the only method of knowing the precise ICP. At the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, elevations in ICP are treated according to an aggressive protocol. Our experience with this protocol has led to the following conc...

PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY To review the characteristics, concomitant injuries and mortality in children with polytrauma and associated pelvic fractures treated in a Level-I Trauma Centre. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between December 2003 and November 2013, 49 children with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 16 or greater and a pelvic fracture met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated. The mortality,...

Objective To show the effect of dual monitoring including cardiac output (CO) and intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring for severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patiens. We hypothesized that meticulous treatment using dual monitoring is effective to sustain maintain minimal intensive care unit (ICU) complications and maintain optimal ICP and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) for severe TBI pati...

I ncreased pressure within the cranial cavity is a common and important problem in the care of patients with serious injuries and diseases of the central nervous system. Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) is most commonly associated with severe head injury; some degree of increased ICP was found in 80 percent of all patients with a major head injury and in over one half of these patients the ...