S. Naredi et al., An outcome study of severe traumatic head injury using the "Lund therapy" with low-dose prostacyclin, ACT ANAE SC, 45(4), 2001, pp. 402-406
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Aneshtesia & Intensive Care","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
Background: There are two independent head injury outcome studies using the
"Lund concept", and both showed a mortality rate of about 10%, and a favou
rable outcome (Glasgow outcome scale, GOS 4 and 5) of about 70%. The Lund c
oncept aims at controlling intracranial pressure, and improving microcircul
ation around contusions. Intracranial pressure is controlled by maintaining
a normal colloid osmotic pressure and reducing the hydrostatic capillary p
ressure. Microcirculation is improved by ensuring strict normovolaemia and
reducing sympathetic discharge. The endogenous substance prostacyclin with
its antiaggregatory/antiadhesive effects may further improve microcirculati
on, which finds support from a microdialysis-based clinical study and an ex
perimental brain trauma study. The present clinical outcome study aims at e
valuating whether the previously obtained good outcome with the Lund therap
y can be reproduced, and whether the addition of prostacyclin has any adver
se side-effects.
Methods: All 31 consecutive patients with severe head injury, Glasgow coma
scale (GCS) less than or equal to8, admitted to the University Hospital of
Umea during 1998 were included. The Lund therapy including prostacyclin inf
usion for the first three days at a dose of 0.5 ng kg(-1) min(-1). Outcome
was evaluated according to the GOS >10 months after the injury.
Results: One patient died, another suffered vegetative state and 7 severe d
isability. Of the 22 patients with favourable outcome, 19 showed good recov
ery and 3 moderate disability. No adverse side-effects of prostacyclin were
observed.
Conclusion: The outcome results from previous studies using the Lund therap
y were reproduced, and no adverse side-effects of low-dose prostacyclin wer
e observed.