Controversies in the management of the head-injured patient

The management of the patient with severe head injury has changed dramatically and continues to evolve. Through clinical studies on head-injured patients, the effectiveness of some current therapies are being questioned. Modifications of current protocols will continue to be made so that the overall goal of maintaining cellular integrity and preventing secondary injury to the brain can be met. As research continues, more changes are anticipated in the care of head injuries. The critical care nurse must keep abreast of the current trends in head injury management. No one can be sure what the future of head trauma care will be, but it is certain that it will change based on the effectiveness of the therapies on reducing mortality and morbidity for these patients.