title: High-dose barbiturates for refractory intracranial hypertension in children with severe traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate high-dose barbiturates as a second-tier therapy for pediatric refractory intracranial hypertension complicating severe traumatic brain injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective cohort study of children with refractory intracranial hypertension treated with high-dose barbiturates.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single center level I pediatric trauma from 2001 to 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six children with refractory intracranial hypertension defined as intracranial pressure greater than 20 mm Hg despite standard management treated with high-dose barbiturates after severe traumatic brain injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  High-dose barbiturates were administered for refractory intracranial hypertension for a minimum duration of 6 hours and monitored by continuous electroencephalography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exposure was control of refractory intracranial hypertension defined as > 20 mm Hg within 6 hours after starting barbiturates. Pediatric cerebral performance category scores at hospital discharge and at 3 months (or longer) follow-up were the primary outcomes. Ten of 36 patients (28%) had control of refractory intracranial hypertension. Neither demographic nor injury characteristics were associated with refractory intracranial hypertension control. Children who responded received barbiturates significantly later after injury (76 vs. 29 median hours). Overall, 14 children died, 13 without control of intracranial pressure. Survival was more common in those who responded compared with those who did not respond to high-dose barbiturates, although this did not reach statistical significance (relative risk of death 0.2; 95% confidence interval; [0.03-1.3]). Of the 22 survivors, 19 had an acceptable survival (pediatric cerebral performance category less than 3) at 3 months or longer after injury; however, only three returned to normal function. Among survivors, control of refractory intracranial hypertension was associated with significantly better pediatric cerebral performance category scores and over two-fold likelihood of acceptable long-term outcome (relative risk 2.3; 95% confidence interval [1.4-4.0]) compared with uncontrolled refractory intracranial hypertension despite high-dose barbiturates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Addition of high-dose barbiturates achieved control of refractory intracranial hypertension in almost 30% of treated children. Control of refractory intracranial hypertension was associated with increased likelihood of an acceptable long-term outcome.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors: Sarah A
authors: SA
authors: Mellion
authors: Kimberly Statler
authors: KS
authors: Bennett
authors: German L
authors: GL
authors: Ellsworth
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Moore
authors: Jay
authors: J
authors: Riva-Cambrin
authors: Ryan R
authors: RR
authors: Metzger
authors: Susan L
authors: SL
authors: Bratton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018757:GABA Modulators; D010424:Pentobarbital