New Guidelines for Treating Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

New Guidelines for the management of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been released by The Brain Trauma Foundation's (BTF, New York, NY, USA).

The third edition of the guidelines, which include specific recommendations with regard to monitoring intracranial pressure (ICP) and brain tissue oxygen (BtO2) management, were developed by the BTF in association with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), and the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care. The 2007 guidelines incorporate the latest published research findings relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of severe traumatic brain injury.

"Research has shown that not all brain damage occurs at the moment of impact. Damage frequently evolves over the ensuing hours and days after the initial injury,” said BTF president Jamshid Ghajar, M.D., Ph.D., FACS, a clinical professor of neurological surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College (New York, NY, USA). "Research has proven that, in most cases, this secondary damage can be controlled using scientific, evidence-based treatment guidelines.”

The Brain Trauma Foundation was founded in 1986 as a non-profit organization to improve outcomes for TBI patients. TBI, usually from car crashes but also falls and sport injuries, is the leading cause of death and disability in children and young adults. The BTF is dedicated to improving TBI care during the acute phase after injury, in the
ambulance and in the hospital. By educating medical professionals in this area, thousands of lives could be saved each year in the United States and thousands more could be spared lifelong permanent disabilities.


Related Links:
The Brain Trauma Foundation's