Management of Patients Suffering Acute Traumatic Brain Injuries.

Abstract

The objective of this literature review was to examine and summarize knowledge of best practices for the management of patients suffering traumatic brain injury based on studies using a variety of practices to improve outcomes published 2018 - 2021. From a clinical perspective, when a patient suffers an acute traumatic brain injury, providers and clinicians ask themselves and each other, "What else could we do? What could we have tried to improve the outcome with this patient?" Astute clinicians spend ample time reviewing contemporary studies to improve their patients' outcomes. This project aimed not to find all studies about a specific treatment, but to review all studies about a topic to evaluate the studies for rigor and results to improve bedside patient care in times of crisis. A quality assessment model was used in four domains: design, bias, synthesis, and dissemination with a Quality Assessment Score assigned for each of the four domains. Ten studies met the rigor of the quality assessment evaluation. The highest ranked studies indicate a common theme of prevention of extension of injury.