Trauma: Traumatic Brain Injury

In this chapter the essential aspects of anesthesia for traumatic brain injury are discussed. Subtopics include manifestations and treatment of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), drugs used to lower ICP, and patient monitoring. The case presented is an emergent craniotomy. The chapter is divided into preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative sections with important subtopics related to the main topic in each section. Preoperative topics discussed are evaluation of trauma, use of the GCS in this case, assessing intracranial hypertension, history of substance abuse, and clearing the cervical spine. Issues related to intraoperative management in this case include induction and use of blood products. Postoperative concerns addressed include polyuria and acute respiratory distress syndrome.