Management of posttraumatic brain swelling based on clinical typing.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical typing and prophylactico-therapeutic measures for acute posttraumatic brain swelling (BS).


METHODS
A retrospective study was performed in 66 cases of acute posttraumatic BS. There were 3 groups based on computered tomography (CT) scanning: 23 cases of hemisphere brain swelling (HBS) with middle line shift for less than 5 mm within 24 hours (Group A), 20 with middle line shift for more than 5 mm (Group B), and 23 with bilateral diffuse brain swelling (Group C).


RESULTS
(1) The mortality rates of the operative and nonoperative management in Group A, Group B, and Group C were 20.0%, 31.6%, and 75.0% versus 44.4%, 0, and 85.7%, respectively (P>0.05); while the rates in subgroups with different middle line shift (more than 5 mm and less or equal 5 mm) were 29.2% and 75.0% versus 75.0% and 44.4%, respectively (0.05>P>0.01). (2) The good recovery rate and mortality in Group A were 47.8% and 39.1%, respectively and in Group C, 8.7% and 78.3%, respectively. There was a very significant difference between Group A and Group C (P<0.01). (3) The total survival rate of the selective comprehensive therapy was 53.1%.


CONCLUSIONS
(1) Acute posttraumatic BS needs to be diagnosed correctly and promptly with CT scanning within 4 hours. (2) For patients with midline shift for more than 5 mm, especially with thin-layered subdural hematoma, surgical intervention is essential to reduce the fatality of acute posttraumatic BS.
Liu
Wei-guo
WG
Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital Affliated to Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Qiu
Wu-si
WS
Shen
Hong
H
Wang
Wei-min
WM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies