[Respiratory failure in patients with severe craniocerebral trauma]

To study the pathogenesis of respiratory insufficiency in a severe craniocerebral injury the authors examined 120 patients. The results showed bronchospasm, diffuse collapse of alveoli, and the occurrence of atelectasis to be the underlying factors of respiratory insufficiency in severe craniocerebral injury. The effect of analgesics, neuroplegics, barbiturates, and heliox on this condition was studied.