The Neglected Prehospital Phase of Head Injury: Apnea and Catecholamine Surge

The prehospital phase of head injury, also called the critical phase, consists of trauma-induced apnea and stress catecholamine release. This immediate period after head injury remains poorly summarized in the literature and essentially ignored with respect to treatment. A MEDLINE search of the lite...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Mayo Clinic proceedings 2000, Vol.75 (1), p.37-47
1. Verfasser: ATKINSON, JOHN L.D.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:Volltext
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:The prehospital phase of head injury, also called the critical phase, consists of trauma-induced apnea and stress catecholamine release. This immediate period after head injury remains poorly summarized in the literature and essentially ignored with respect to treatment. A MEDLINE search of the literature on apneustic response and catecholamine surge after head injury and a review of literature from my acquired references revealed 116 references (from more than 600) that were pertinent. Apnea induced by head injury produces hypoxia, hypercarbia, and subsequent cardiac failure and hypotension, which, along with substantially bstantially elevated catecholamine values, promote secondary mechanisms of organ injury. Treatment for this immediate period after head injury requires a rapid response to the scene of trauma and development of treatment options that can be instituted at the scene of injury.
ISSN:0025-6196
1942-5546
DOI:10.4065/75.1.37