SECONDARY INSULTS DURING INTRAHOSPITAL TRANSPORT OF NEUROSURGICAL INTENSIVE-CARE PATIENTS

Secondary insults occuring after injury have been prospectively assess ed in seven head-injured patients who required intrahospital transfer to a computerized tomography unit for re-evaluation of their brain inj ury. During transportation the intracranial pressure, blood pressure. and arterial blood gases were monitored. A significant increase in int racranial pressure was observed during transport (p < 0.01). The concl usion is that patients should be ventilated and have appropriate sedat ion and analgesia. This could provide some protection against secondar y insults.