Comprehensive monitoring and computerized tomographic follow up in patients with acute severe head injury:...

In 88 patients with acute severe head injury the Glasgow coma scale (GCS), computerized tomography and autonomic monitoring during the first 24 hours were used to characterize different types of post-traumatic brain dysfunction. A subgroup is defined--GCS 8.1--with signs of diffuse brain swelling and autonomic instability which included two cases with dorsal midbrain lesions. These preliminary results suggest that autonomic instability is a valid criterion for identifying patients suffering from diffuse axonal injury.