[Lactate concentration in the ventricular fluid and blood plasma following severe craniocerebral trauma]

Cerebral ischemia/hypoxia is of central importance in the sequence of pathogenetic processes after severe head injuries. Investigations in 72 patients showed that after severe head injury the changes of lactate concentration in blood plasma do not allow any statement with respect to cerebral ischaemia/hypoxia. However in ventricular liquor the amount and duration of increase in lactate concentration is significantly different in nonsurvivors in comparison to survivors. In lethal courses after 3rd day after head injury the increase of lactate concentration in ventricular liquor points to secondary cerebral ischemia/hypoxia.