Acute brain edema in fatal head injury: analysis by dynamic CT scanning

Dynamic computerized tomography (CT) was performed on 42 patients with acute head injury to evaluate the hemodynamics and to elucidate the nature of fatal diffuse brain bulk enlargement. Patients were divided into two groups according to the outcome: Group A included 17 nonfatally injured patients, eight with acute epidural hematomas and nine with acute subdural hematomas; Group B included 25 fatally injured patients, 16 with acute subdural hematomas and nine with bilateral brain bulk enlargement. Remarkable brain bulk enlargement could be seen in all fatally injured patients with acute subdural hematoma. In 29 (69%) of 42 patients, dynamic CT was performed within 2 hours after the impact. In the nonfatally injured patients with brain bulk enlargement, dynamic CT scans suggested a hyperemic state. On the other hand, in 17 (68%) of the 25 fatally injured patients, dynamic CT scans revealed a severely ischemic state. In the fatally injured patients with acute subdural hematoma, CT Hounsfield numbers in the enlarged hemisphere (hematoma side) were significantly lower than those of the opposite side (p less than 0.001). Severe diffuse brain damage confirmed by follow-up CT scans and uncontrollable high intracranial pressure were noted in the fatally injured patients. Brain bulk enlargement following head injury originates from acute brain edema and an increase of cerebral blood volume. In cases of fatal head injury, acute brain edema is the more common cause of brain bulk enlargement and occurs more rapidly than is usually thought.