[Pulmonary complications in severe cranio-cerebral injury]

An analysis of 2049 autopsies and experimental investigations in 150 albino rats have shown that pulmonary complications developing during the first two weeks after cranio-cerebral traumas include pulmonary edema, aspiration syndrome, pneumonia. The pulmonary injuries are based on several pathogenetic mechanisms associated with the effect of hemodynamics, humoral factors, activation of leukocytes, aspiration and infection. Disturbed hemodynamics and vascular permeability in the lungs can be due to functional alterations in the zone of vascular-motor and respiratory centers.