title: Head trauma in the cat: 2. assessment and management of traumatic brain injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Feline trauma patients are commonly seen in general practice and frequently have sustained some degree of brain injury.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Cats with traumatic brain injuries may have a variety of clinical signs, ranging from minor neurological deficits to life-threatening neurological impairment. Appropriate management depends on prompt and accurate patient assessment, and an understanding of the pathophysiology of brain injury. The most important consideration in managing these patients is maintenance of cerebral perfusion and oxygenation. For cats with severe head injury requiring decompressive surgery, early intervention is critical.
  
  
  METHODS
  There is a limited clinical evidence base to support the treatment of traumatic brain injury in cats, despite its relative frequency in general practice. Appropriate therapy is, therefore, controversial in veterinary medicine and mostly based on experimental studies or human head trauma studies. This review, which sets out to describe the specific approach to diagnosis and management of traumatic brain injury in cats, draws on the current evidence, as far as it exists, as well as the authors' clinical experience.
authors: Davies Veterinary Specialists, Manor Farm Business Park, Higham Gobion, Hertfordshire SG5 3HR, UK. lsg@vetspecialists.co.uk
authors: Laurent
authors: L
authors: Garosi
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Adamantos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D002415:Cats / Q000293:injuries*; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000662:veterinary; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000662:veterinary; D059408:Pain Management / Q000662:veterinary; D011859:Radiography; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*