THE EFFICACY OF INDUCING MILD HYPOTHERMIA AND ADMINISTERING BARBITURATE THERAPY IMMEDIATELY AFTER A COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SCAN FOR SEVERE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES

Abstract

　　Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of inducing mild hypothermia (HT) and administering barbiturate therapy (BT) immediately after a computed tomography (CT) scan as a treatment for severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Methods : This study was a historical control study. The inclusion criteria were severe TBI patients (Glasgow Coma Scale score : ≤8) whose bilateral pupillary light reflexes were absent or who exhibited extensive subarachnoid hemorrhaging or absent cisterns on CT. The 11 patients that were transferred to our facilities between 2012 and 2014 and in whom HT was induced and BT was administered immediately after a CT scan comprised the early HT group. The 36 patients who met the inclusion criteria and were treated with HT between 1997 and 2012 made up the control group. Results : There was no significant difference in the patient characteristics of the two groups. The prognosis of the early HT group was significantly better than that of the control group. Conclusion : Inducing HT and administering BT immediately after a CT scan might improve the prognosis of severe TBI.