Intensive Care Unit Management of Traumatic Brain Injury: From Basics to Practice

Abstract

This chapter highlights the management of traumatic brain injury in the intensive care unit. Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) are a significant source of disability and mortality, which disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries. The modern management of severe TBI has fallen into the domain of a multidisciplinary team led by neurointensivists, neuroanaesthetists, and neurosurgeons and is based on the avoidance of secondary injury, maintenance of cerebral perfusion pressure, and optimization of cerebral oxygenation. For the young and inexperienced physician, mnemonics have been demonstrated to be helpful in recalling the methodical care of clinical problems. This contribution attempts to offer the acronym "HEAD" as a helpful mnemonic for the management of TBI in the ICU.