[Preliminary experience with controlled lumbar drainage in medically refractory intracranial hypertension].
BACKGROUND
The contribution of brain edema to brain swelling in cases of traumatic brain injury remains a critical problem. In head injury, the swelling and eventual rise in intracranial pressure is a frequent cause of death, and in survivors the poor prognosis with sustained elevation of ICP has been well documented.


OBJECTIVE
The objective this study was to evaluate the effect of controlled lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage in adult patients with refractory intracranial hypertension following severe brain injury.


METHODS
The study involved 10 head injured patients (GCS < or = 8) with medically refractory intracranial hypertension. Aggressive treatment included the repeated steps of the Brain Trauma Foundation's guidelines, barbiturate coma and in many cases decompressive craniectomy as well. After institution of a lumbar drain, cerebrospinal fluid drainage was maintained under control of intracranial pressure (ICP) and neurological status. ICP and cerebral perfusion pressure before and after initiation of lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage and related complications were documented.


RESULTS
All patients demonstrated an immediate decrease of ICP (from 30.6 +/- 4.7 mm Hg to 11.5 +/- 3.9 mm Hg, mean +/- SD) and a concomitant increase of cerebral perfusion pressure. In seven patients the decrease of ICP was long lasting and 5 of them had a favourable outcome. Two patients survived with a severe permanent neurologic deficit and only three patients died because of the progressive brain edema, which developed despite of the maximum therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion we may consider, that controlled lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage is a potentially useful treatment in cases of severe traumatic brain injury when maximal medical therapy and ventricular cerebrospinal fluid evacuation have failed to control high intracranial hypertension. The danger of herniation is minimized by considering lumbar drainage in the presence of discernible basilar cisterns only.
Tömösvári
Adrienn
A
Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Altalános Orvostudományi Kar, Aneszteziológiai és Intenzív Terápiás Intézet, Szeged.
Mencser
Zoltán
Z
Futó
Judit
J
Hortobágyi
Anna
A
Bodosi
Mihály
M
Barzó
Pál
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013129:Spinal Puncture; D016896:Treatment Outcome