CEREBRAL EXTRACTION OF OXYGEN, LACTATE PRODUCTION, AND PERFUSION-PRESSURE IN GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD - CASE-REPORT

A case of gunshot wound to the head is presented, in which the patient made a satisfactory recovery after a prolonged period of elevated int racranial pressure and increased cerebral extraction of oxygen, Even t hough cerebral extraction of oxygen was increased in the most acute ph ase, the arteriojugular lactate difference was never abnormally decrea sed (ischemic), This finding indicated that, in this patient, increase d cerebral extraction of oxygen was not sufficient to result in global cerebral ischemia (increased cerebral lactate production), To our kno wledge, this is the first report on frequent serial assessment of cere bral extraction of oxygen and lactate production in severe penetrating head injury.