Elsevier

The Lancet

Volume 356, Issue 9233, 9 September 2000, Pages 923-929
The Lancet

Seminar
Traumatic brain injury

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(00)02689-1Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open archive

Summary

The decrease in mortality and improved outcome for patients with severe traumatic brain injury over the past 25 years can be attributed to the approach of “squeezing oxygenated blood through a swollen brain”. Quantification of cerebral perfusion by monitoring of intracranial pressure and treatment of cerebral hypoperfusion decrease secondary injury. Before the patient reaches hospital, an organised trauma system that allows rapid resuscitation and transport directly to an experienced trauma centre significantly lowers mortality and morbidity. Only the education of medical personnel and the institution of trauma hospital systems can achieve further improvements in outcome for patients with traumatic brain injuries.

Cited by (0)