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Barbiturates in severe head injuries?

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Abstract

Possible mechanisms for the therapeutic effects of barbituric acid derivatives in severe head injuries have been discussed for half a century. In the following, a survey of the literature, and a discussion of three controlled clinical studies available until now is presented. A proven effect in terms of a beneficial long-term outcome for all injured patients has not been established.

On the other hand there might be a subgroup of patients with an intact CO2 reactivity of the brain vessels who may profit from barbiturates administered after head trauma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Münster, Fed. Rep. of Germany

    Dag Moskopp & Hansdetlef Wassmann

  2. Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, Fed. Rep. of Germany

    Fernand Ries

  3. Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Bonn, Fed. Rep. of Germany

    Joachim Nadstawek

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  1. Dag Moskopp
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  2. Fernand Ries
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  3. Hansdetlef Wassmann
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  4. Joachim Nadstawek
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Dedicated to Marianne and Gerhard Winkler

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Moskopp, D., Ries, F., Wassmann, H. et al. Barbiturates in severe head injuries?. Neurosurg. Rev. 14, 195–202 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310657

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