The physiologic effects of indomethacin test on CPP and ICP in severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI).
BACKGROUND
Refractory intracranial hypertension (RICH) is associated with high mortality in severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI). Indomethacin (INDO) can decrease intracranial cerebral pressure (ICP) improving cerebral pressure perfusion (CPP). Our aim was to determine modifications in ICP and CPP following INDO in RICH secondary to sTBI.


METHODS
INDO was administered in a loading dose (0.8 mg/kg/15 min), followed by continuous 2-h infusion period (0.5 mg/kg/h). Clinical outcome was assessed at 30 days according to Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Differences in ICP and CPP values were assessed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used for discrimination in predicting 30-day survival and good functional outcome (GOS 4 or 5). Analysis of INDO safety profile was also conducted.


RESULTS
Thirty-two patients were included. Median GCS score was 6 (interquartile range: 4-7). The most frequent CT finding was the evacuated mass lesion (EML) according to Marshall classification (28.1 %). Mortality rate was 34.4 %. Within 15 min of INDO infusion, ICP decreased (Δ%: -54.6 %; P < 0.0001), CPP increased (Δ%: +44.0 %; P < 0.0001), and the remaining was stable during the entire infusion period. Patients with good outcome (n = 12) showed a greater increase of CPP during INDO test (P = 0.028). CPP response to INDO test discriminated moderately well surviving patients (AUC = 0.751; P = 0.0098) and those with good functional recovery (AUC = 0.763; P = 0.0035) from those who died and from those with worse functional outcome, respectively. No adverse events were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
INDO appears effective in reducing ICP and improving CPP in RICH. INDO test could be a useful tool in identifying RICH patients with favorable outcome. Future studies are needed.
Neurocritical Care Unit, Sanatorio Pasteur, San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, Argentina, dagodoytorres@yahoo.com.ar.
Daniel Agustín
DA
Godoy
Erica
E
Alvarez
Ruben
R
Manzi
Gustavo
G
Piñero
Mario
M
Di Napoli
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D007213:Indomethacin