Treatment of intracerebral haemorrhage

Apart from management in a specialised stroke or neurological intensive care unit, until very recently no specific therapies improved outcome after intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). In a recent phase II trial, recombinant activated factor VII (eptacog alfa) reduced haematoma expansion, mortality, and disability when given within 4 h of ICH onset; a phase III trial (the FAST trial) is now in progress. Ventilatory support, blood-pressure reduction, intracranial-pressure monitoring, osmotherapy, fever control, seizure prophylaxis, and nutritional supplementation are the cornerstones of supportive care in intensive care units. Ventricular drainage should be considered in all stuporous or comatose patients with intraventricular haemorrhage and acute hydrocephalus. Given the lack of benefit seen in a the recent STICH trial, emergency surgical evacuation within 72 h of onset should be reserved for patients with large (>3 cm) cerebellar haemorrhages, or those with large lobar haemorrhages, substantial mass effect, and rapidly deteriorating condition.

Prolonged hypernatremia controls elevated intracranial pressure in head-injured pediatric patients

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects continuous infusions of hypertonic saline (3% NaCl) on intracranial pressure (ICP) control and describe the physiologic effects of hypertonic saline administered to closed head injury children.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

SETTINGS

Pediatric intensive care unit of a children's hospital.

PATIENTS

Sixty-eight children with closed head injury.

INTERVENTIONS

Intravenous infusion of 3% hypertonic saline to increase serum sodium to levels necessary to reduce ICP < or =20 mm Hg.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The patients enrolled had similar Injury Severity Scores. Treatment effectively lowered ICP in these patients and ICP was under good control a majority of the time. Only three patients (4%) died of uncontrolled elevation of ICP. No adverse effects of supraphysiologic hyperosmolarity such as renal failure, pulmonary edema, or central pontine demyelination, were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypertonic saline administration to children with closed head injury appears to be a promising therapy for control of cerebral edema. Further controlled trials are required to determine the optimal duration of treatment before widespread use is advocated.

Hypertonic saline resuscitation of patients with head injury: a prospective, randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Experimental and clinical work has suggested that hypertonic saline (HTS) would be better than lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) for the resuscitation of patients with head injuries. No clinical study has examined the effect of HTS infusion on intracranial pressure (ICP) and outcome in patients with head injuries. We hypothesized that HTS infusion would result in a lower ICP and fewer medical interventions to lower ICP compared with LRS.

METHODS/DESIGN

Prospective, randomized clinical trial at two teaching hospitals.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients were enrolled and were similar in age and Injury Severity Score. HTS patients had a lower admission Glasgow Coma Scale score (HTS: 4.7+/-0.7; LRS: 6.7+/-0.7; p = 0.057), a higher initial ICP (HTS: 16+/-2; LRS: 11+/-2; p = 0.06), and a higher initial mean maximum ICP (HTS: 31+/-3; LRS: 18+/-2; p < 0.01). Treatment effectively lowered ICP in both groups, and there was no significant difference between the groups in ICP at any time after entry. HTS patients required significantly more interventions (HTS: 31+/-4; LRS: 11+/-3; p < 0.01). During the study, the change in maximum ICP was positive in the LRS group but negative in the HTS group (LRS: +2+/-3; HTS: -9+/-4; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

As a group, HTS patients had more severe head injuries. HTS and LRS used with other therapies effectively controlled the ICP. The widely held conviction that sodium administration will lead to a sustained increase in ICP is not supported by this work.

Effect of small-volume resuscitation on intracranial pressure and related cerebral variables

BACKGROUND

Head injury outcome is adversely affected by the presence of hypotension. Therapies directed at rapidly correcting hypotension may improve outcome.

METHODS

In two separate studies, we investigated small-volume resuscitation (4 mL/kg) using Ringer's lactate, hypertonic saline and dextran, and diaspirin cross-linked hemoglobin in a porcine model of cryogenic brain injury and shock.

RESULTS

Small-volume resuscitation with hypertonic saline and dextran and diaspirin cross-linked hemoglobin significantly improved mean arterial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure compared with Ringer's lactate. These data suggest that small-volume resuscitation with hypertonic saline and dextran or diaspirin cross-linked hemoglobin may effectively limit or prevent secondary ischemic brain injury after head injury and shock.

Closed head injury and the treatment of sequelae after a motor vehicle accident

Approximately 2 million closed head injuries (CHIs) occur yearly in the United States. Twenty-five percent of these injuries require hospitalization, and 70,000 to 90,000 of those hospitalized suffer long-term disability. This case conference details one such case of CHI in which the patient ultimately died. Close attention is given to the pathophysiology and treatment of this process. Commonly accepted, as well as investigational, modalities of therapy are discussed.

Intravenous fluid tonicity: effect on intracranial pressure, cerebral blood flow, and cerebral oxygen delivery in focal brain injury

An investigation into the role of intravenous fluid tonicity in determining intracranial pressure (ICP) after brain injury is described. The authors compare the results of infusion of a hypotonic fluid (Ringer's lactate, 270 mOsm/liter) to those of a hypertonic fluid (hypertonic sodium lactate, 500 mOsm/liter) in a porcine model of focal cryogenic brain injury. Hemodynamic parameters (ICP, regional cerebral blood flow (CBF), and oxygen delivery) and serum osmolarity were measured every 3 hours for 24 hours after injury. At sacrifice, the water content of the lesioned and nonlesioned cortex was determined by specific gravity. The cryogenic injury produced a significant increase in ICP and a significant decrease in CBF in all experimental groups. Maintenance infusion of hypertonic sodium lactate for 24 hours resulted in significantly lower ICP, higher CBF and oxygen delivery, and higher serum osmolarity than Ringer's lactate infusion. Cortical water content in the area of the lesion was similar in both groups, but in the uninjured hemisphere it was significantly lower in the hypertonic group. These data suggest that hypertonic maintenance fluid improves intracranial compliance by dehydrating uninjured cortex. Improved CBF in the hypertonic group may be due to dehydration of cerebrovascular endothelium and erythrocytes. By reducing ICP and improving CBF, hypertonic fluid administration may thus reduce secondary brain injury after head trauma.