Promising strategies to minimize secondary brain injury after head trauma.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To review novel therapeutic approaches in the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury.

DESIGN:

Eighty-three studies were reviewed specific to the treatment of traumatic brain injury, in either experimental models or in patients.

CONCLUSION:

Four therapeutic strategies appear to be the most promising approaches currently in clinical trials for severe traumatic brain injury: a) the novel pharmacologic agent dexanabinol; b) hypertonic saline; c) mild hypothermia; and d) decompressive craniectomy. Each of these therapies share the common feature of targeting multiple mechanisms, suggesting this may be an important factor to the development of a successful approach to severe traumatic brain injury.

• Authors: Hülya Bayir, Robert S B Clark, Patrick M Kochanek
• Journal: Critical care medicine (Crit Care Med) Vol. 31 Issue 1 Suppl Pg. S112-7 (Jan 2003) ISSN: 0090-3493 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12544985 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Review)

Topics

• Brain Injuries (etiology, immunology, prevention & control)
• Craniocerebral Trauma (complications, immunology, therapy)
• Critical Care (methods)
• Humans
• Trauma Severity Indices