Left Ventricular Function in the Initial Period After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Swine
Adeyinka Adedipe1, Alexander St John2, Vijay Krishnamoorthy3
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Box 359702, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98104-2499, USA. adeyinka@uw.edu.
Neurocritical Care
|March 22, 2022
Summary
Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes immediate cardiac dysfunction, including decreased left atrial area and impaired LV filling. This early cardiac response following TBI is critical for understanding patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cardiology
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Cardiac dysfunction frequently occurs after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), potentially worsening outcomes.
- Immediate cardiac function changes in the minutes and hours post-TBI remain poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize immediate cardiac function following severe TBI in a swine model.
- To investigate early hemodynamic and echocardiographic changes after TBI.
Main Methods:
- Severe fluid percussion TBI was induced in anesthetized swine.
- Animals underwent resuscitation to maintain cerebral perfusion pressure and intracranial pressure.
- Cardiac output and transesophageal echocardiography were used to assess cardiac function at various time points.
Main Results:
- TBI led to decreased mean arterial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure, with increased heart rate and intracranial pressure.
- Immediately post-injury, significant decreases in left atrial area and tissue Doppler imaging e' were observed.
- An increase in left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and E/e' ratio indicated impaired diastolic function.
Conclusions:
- Severe TBI induces rapid cardiac dysfunction, affecting diastolic function.
- Understanding these early hemodynamic and echocardiographic changes is crucial for managing severe head injuries.
- Further research can improve the clinical management of TBI patients.
