The Management of Traumatic Brain Injury

The management of traumatic brain injury necessitates a multidisciplinary approach with medical and surgical therapies employed based on rapid clinical assessment of injury severity and imaging characteristics. Therapy aims to prevent secondary brain injury through multifactorial interventions primarily focusing on prevention of cerebral hypoxemia and aggressive control of intracranial pressure (ICP). This chapter covers epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical assessment, and both medical and surgical management of traumatic brain injury. Management topics include appropriate monitoring, first- and second-line therapy for ICP and cerebral perfusion pressure, hypoxia, seizure prophylaxis, hyperpyrexia, glycemic control, fluids and electrolytes, nutrition, and prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism and the gastrointestinal system.