Severe traumatic brain injury: consequences of early adverse events.

BACKGROUND: Several factors associated with an unfavourable outcome after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been described: prolonged pre-hospital time, secondary referral to a level 1 trauma centre, the occurrence of secondary insults such as hypoxia, hypotension or low end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO(2)). To determine whether adverse events were linked to outcome, patients with severe TBI were studied before arrival at a level 1 trauma centre. METHODS: Prospective, observational study design. Patients with severe TBI (n = 48), admitted to Umeå University Hospital between January 2002 to December 2005 were included. All medical records from the site of the accident to arrival at the level 1 trauma centre were collected and evaluated. RESULTS: A pre-hospital time of >60 min, secondary referral to a level 1 trauma centre, documented hypoxia (oxygen saturation <95%), hypotension (systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg), hyperventilation (ETCO(2) <4.5 kPa) or tachycardia (heart rate >100 beats/min) at any time before arrival at a level 1 trauma centre were not significantly related to an unfavourable outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale 1-3). CONCLUSION: Early adverse events before arrival at a level 1 trauma centre were without significance for outcome after severe TBI in the trauma system studied.

S-100B and neuron specific enolase are poor outcome predictors in severe traumatic brain injury treated by an intracranial pressure targeted therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively study S-100B and neuron specific enolase (NSE) levels in subjects treated for severe head injury (sTBI), and investigate the prognostic value of these biomarkers. METHODS: Subjects included in a prospective double blind randomised study for sTBI. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) 10 mm Hg and arrival <24 h after trauma. Subjects were treated with an intracranial pressure (ICP) targeted therapy. Blood samples for S-100B and NSE were drawn immediately after arrival and every 12 h for 5 days. Outcome was evaluated as Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) by independent staff at 3 and 12 months. RESULTS: 48 subjects, mean age 35.5 years, and median GCS 6 were included. The first blood sample was drawn at 15.6 (1.4) h after injury. Initial concentration of S-100B was 1.04 (0.21) microg/l and for NSE 18.94 (2.32) microg/l. The biomarkers were significantly higher in subjects with GCS 3 and in those who died compared with those with GCS 4-8 and GOS 2-5, respectively. Receiver operated characteristic curve analyses of the initial S-100B and NSE levels to GOS dichotomised as unfavourable (GOS 1-3) and favourable (GOS 4-5) showed a weak correlation: AUC 0.585 and 0.555, respectively. Using the dichotomisation dead (GOS 1)/alive (GOS 2-5), the AUC values were 0.687 and 0.734, respectively. Furthermore, a correlation was found between the biomarkers themselves and the biomarkers and ICP. CONCLUSION: At 3 and 12 months after trauma, no differences in prognostic values between the markers were apparent nor was there any clinical significant value of the markers as predictors of clinical outcome.

Fluid therapy and the use of albumin in the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based guidelines for severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) do not include strategies for fluid administration. The protocol used in this study includes albumin administration to maintain normal colloid osmotic pressure and advocates a neutral to slightly negative fluid balance. The aim of this study was to analyze the occurrence of organ failure and the mortality in patients with severe TBI treated by a protocol that includes defined strategies for fluid therapy. METHODS: Ninety-three patients with severe TBI and Glasgow Coma Score or=3 was evident only for respiratory failure, which was observed in 29%. None developed renal failure. After 28 days, mortality was 11% and, after 18 months, it was 14%. CONCLUSIONS: A protocol including albumin administration in combination with a neutral to a slightly negative fluid balance was associated with low mortality in patients with severe TBI in spite of a relatively high frequency (29%) of respiratory failure, assessed with the SOFA score.