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A Pediatric Concussion Model in Mice: Closed Head Injury with Long-Term Disorders (CHILD)
Published on: February 7, 2025
857
Intensive care for pediatric traumatic brain injury
A Sigurtà1, C Zanaboni, K Canavesi
1Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neurointensive Care Unit and University of Milan, Milan, Italy. anna.sigurta@unimi.it
Intensive Care Medicine
|November 27, 2012
Summary
Pediatric head injuries often cause high intracranial pressure (ICP). Early intensive care and surgical treatment improve outcomes, with Glasgow Coma Scale motor score, pupils, and ICP predicting results.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurosurgery
- Intensive care medicine
- Trauma surgery
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children presents unique challenges.
- Intracranial pressure (ICP) management is critical for pediatric TBI outcomes.
- Current practices for ICP monitoring and treatment in pediatric head injury require evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize a cohort of pediatric head injury patients.
- To describe current ICP monitoring and treatment strategies.
- To identify predictors of 6-month outcomes in pediatric head injury.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database from three neuro-ICUs.
- Inclusion of patients younger than 19 years, stratified by age group.
- Analysis of ICP and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), with outcome assessed by Glasgow Outcome Score at 6 months.
Main Results:
- 199 pediatric patients included; 60% had extracranial injuries.
- ICP monitoring was performed in 117 patients, with 87 showing ICP > 20 mmHg.
- Mortality was 21%, with 72% achieving favorable outcomes; Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) motor score, pupils, and ICP were significant outcome predictors.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric head injury frequently involves intracranial hypertension.
- Prompt surgical intervention and intensive care management are crucial.
- Effective management strategies can lead to favorable outcomes in most pediatric TBI cases.
