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Published on: October 17, 2017
Intracranial pressure response to severe head injury induced apnea and catecholamine surge
Robert E Anderson1, John L D Atkinson
1Department of Neurological Surgery, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Background:
Apnea and catecholamine surge have been known sequelae in the first few minutes of postexperimentally induced severe head injury for over a century. However, the intracranial pressure (ICP) response to these two pathophysiologic processes is poorly understood.
Methods:
We used the rat fluid percussion head injury model to study apnea and catecholamine surge separately and in combination on measured ICP response
Results:
The three experimental groups of apnea, hypertensive surge, and both combined revealed significantly different ICP responses with markedly elevated pressures correlating closely with mean arterial blood pressure.
Conclusion:
ICP and mean arterial blood pressure correlate closely in the first few minutes after head injury in the absence of space-occupying hematomas, and may initiate pathophysiologic sequelae that can only be treated by earlier medical intervention at the scene.
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