[External respiratory functions and pulmonary hemodynamics in patients with neurotrauma]

To study abnormal external respiration function and pulmonary circulation in patients with severe brain injury, a total of 120 victims were examined. The static and dynamic parameters of external respiration function and pulmonary hemodynamics were determined every day within the first week and on days 10, 14, 21, and 28 of postinjury. The findings indicated that the causes of impaired external respiration function and circulation in brain injuries were decreases in lung volumes and capacities, disturbances in bronchial patency and alveolar ventilation uniformity followed by the development of lung and lung shunt atelectasis, changes in pulmonary circulation and elevations in pulmonary diastolic pressure, which depend upon the severity of an injury. At the same time it was found that patients with severe brain contusion developed bronchospasm, pulmonary hypertension with lesser pulmonary circulation twice more frequently than did those with moderate injuries.