Emergency Interventions After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats: Effect on Neuropathology and Functional Outcome
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) contributes to combat morbidity/mortality. Studies in models of TBI have focused on novel mediators and mechanisms. We used controlled cortical impact (CCI), a contemporary model of TBI in rats to study field-oriented treatments. The following technical objectives were addresses: 1) What is the optimal ventilation strategy? 2) Is hypothermia beneficial? and 3) what is the optimal sedative/analgesic? A fourth objective, combining hypothermia plus other therapies was abandoned due to the limited efficacy of hypothermia. The most important findings/publications include: Objective #1), in a report published in the Journal of Neurosurgery, we demonstrated that early aggressive hyperventilation worsened neuronal death, Objective #2), we published the first report showing that hypothermia was ineffective in the combat-relevant scenario of CCI followed by secondary hypoxemia. That work is in press in Critical Care Medicine, Objective #3), we reported remarkably poor outcome in rats treated with narcotics (fentanyl) versus general anesthesia (isoflurane) after CCI. That study is extremely relevant since narcotics are the current field treatment. That work was presented at the 1999 meeting of the National Neurotrauma Society by research trainee Dr. Kimberly Statler, who received the Women in Neurotrauma Award. The paper was submitted to Journal of Neurosurgery.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADB252283
Entities
People
- Patrick M. Kochanek
Organizations
- University of Pittsburgh