title: Medical complications of head injury.
abstract: There are many common and significant medical complications of head injury. These include (1) cardiovascular problems such as hyperdynamic state, myocardial injury, and dysrhythmias; (2) respiratory changes such as neurogenic pulmonary edema, hypoxia, abnormal ventilatory patterns, pulmonary infections, and pulmonary emboli secondary to deep vein thrombosis; (3) consumption coagulopathy; (4) water and electrolyte derangements--hypo- and hypernatremia; (5) hypothalamic/pituitary dysfunction--syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone and diabetes insipidus; (6) increased general metabolism with loss of immunocompetence, respiratory compromise, and complications of decreased activity; (7) gastrointestinal difficulties, particularly stress gastritis; and (8) infectious problems including those related to contamination from open wounds and foreign bodies such as monitors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Timberlake
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Voelker
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Pait
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology