Complications of head injury

Management of head injury is based on two concepts, proper treatment of the acute insult and the prevention and treatment of secondary insults. The he ad injured patient is subject to both intracranial and extracranial seconda ry insults. This paper will review complications related to the central ner vous system as well as the pulmonary, infectious, gastrointestinal, and psy chiatric complications frequently seen following traumatic brain injury. Co mplications following head trauma lead to significant acute and chronic mor bidity and mortality. It is essential that clinicians be able to recognize and treat these complications in order to more effectively manage head trau ma, improve outcome, and care for patients.