Systemic Management of Cerebral Edema Based on a New Concept in Severe Head Injury Patients

Summary

Cerebral hypothermia treatment of critical brain injury patients was studied based on the management and control of cerebral thermo-pooling, synaptic excitation, hypermetabolic demand, and the systemic critical condition of the metabolic reserve. The initial pathophysiological changes after trauma included a progressive increase in brain tissue temperature. Such cerebral thermo-pooling, which reached a maximum of 43.8°C, can change or damage the vascular proteins directly.

The brain tissue temperature was influenced by four factors: 1. the cerebral metabolism, 2. the systemic excess energy metabolism, 3. the CPP that carries the systemic energy to the brain tissue, and 4. the cerebral blood flow that leads to washout of brain tissue temperature. Mild cerebral hypothermia (32–33°C) managed by the whole body compartment cooling technique in the critical conditions of diffuse brain injury patients (GCS < 4) produced a good recovery in 8 of 10 patients. Continuous monitoring of the jugular venous oxygen saturation and BTT/TMT was effective for evaluating cerebral ischemia and oxygen metabolic disturbances even during cerebral hypothermia treatment.