Cerebral hemodynamic changes after wartime traumatic brain injury

Alexander Razumovsky, Teodoro Tigno, Sven M. Hochheimer, Fred L. Stephens, Randy Bell, Alexander H. Vo, Meryl A. Severson, Scott A. Marshall, Stephen M. Oppenheimer, Robert Ecker, Rocco A. Armonda

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

    16 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with the severest casualties from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). From October 1, 2008, the U.S. Army Medical Department initiated a transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound service for TBI; included patients were retrospectively evaluated for TCD-determined incidence of post-traumatic cerebral vasospasm and intracranial hypertension after wartime TBI. Ninety patients were investigated with daily TCD studies and a comprehensive TCD protocol, and published diagnostic criteria for vasospasm and increased intracranial pressure (ICP) were applied. TCD signs of mild, moderate, and severe vasospasms were observed in 37%, 22%, and 12% of patients, respectively. TCD signs of intracranial hypertension were recorded in 62.2%; 5 patients (4.5%) underwent transluminal angioplasty for post-traumatic clinical vasospasm treatment, and 16 (14.4%) had cranioplasty. These findings demonstrate that cerebral arterial spasm and intracranial hypertension are frequent and significant complications of combat TBI; therefore, daily TCD monitoring is recommended for their recognition and subsequent management.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Title of host publicationCerebral Vasospasm
    Subtitle of host publicationNeurovascular Events After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
    PublisherSpringer-Verlag Wien
    Pages87-90
    Number of pages4
    ISBN (Print)9783709111918
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 2013

    Publication series

    NameActa Neurochirurgica, Supplementum
    Volume115
    ISSN (Print)0065-1419
    ISSN (Electronic)0001-6268

    Keywords

    • Cerebral blood flow velocity
    • Combat-associated wartime traumatic brain injury
    • Intracranial pressure
    • Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography
    • Vasospasm
    • Wartime traumatic brain injury

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Surgery
    • Clinical Neurology

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