title: Continuous ventricular cerebrospinal fluid drainage with intracranial pressure monitoring for management of posttraumatic diffuse brain swelling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ventricular drainage has played an important role in the management of traumatic brain-injured patients. The aim of the present study was describe outcomes in a series of 57 patients with diffuse brain swelling underwent to intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight patients with diffuse posttraumatic brain swelling, were evaluated prospectively. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of patients varied from 4 to 12. Patients groups divided according to GCS and age. Patient neurological assessment was classified as favorable, unfavorable, and death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mechanisms of injury were vehicle accidents in 72.4% and falls in 15.6%. 54% of patients had GCS scores between 6 and 8. There were no statistical differences, regarding outcome, between groups separated by age. In the adults group (n=47), 44.7% evolved favorably.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate a poor prognosis in patients with brain swelling. We believe that continuous ventricular CSF drainage with ICP monitoring is a simple method as an adjunct in the management of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Clinical's Hospital, University of São Paulo Medical School, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Almir Ferreira de
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Wellingson Silva
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.forename: Robson Luis Oliveira de
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.forename: Eberval Gadelha
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Antonio Nogueira de
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Roger Schmidt
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Brock
authors.forename: Edson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bor-Seng-Shu
authors.forename: Manoel Jacobsen
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Teixeira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles; D015170:Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D056424:Decompressive Craniectomy; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult