This week we look at TBI and discuss some of the pitfalls and pearls in early management of traumatic ICH.


https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Podcast_84_0_Final_Cut.m4a



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Tags: Head Injury, Hyperosmolar Therapy, ICH, Resuscitation, RSI, TBI, Trauma





Show Notes
Take Home Points

If you get a heads up from EMS on an incoming trauma, take the lead time you get to clearly delineate everyone’s roles to help ensure the resuscitation runs smoothly.
In the severe TBI patient, the key is in preventing secondary injury to the brain. We do this by guarding against hypoxia, hypercarbia, hypotension and aspiration. Max your pre-ox, get the ETT in quickly to prevent oxygenation and ventilation issues and keep the head up if possible
Hypotension is rarely seen in isolated head trauma. If the patient is or becomes hypotensive, reassess for any sources of hemorrhagic shock that may have been missed and consider whether the meds you gave may have caused the problem.
Hypertension is much more common and despite extensive research, we haven’t shown that dropping the patient to normal levels is beneficial. Keeping the SBP < 180 seems reasonable but check your local protocol as well.
If the patient’s ICP spikes or your concerned about herniation, administer mannitol or hypertonic saline and get your neurosurgeon to the bedside since the patient is gonna need decompression
Finally, make sure to reverse any anticoagulant the patient may have on board as this will hopefully prevent hematoma expansion.

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