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How long should we monitor cerebral perfusion pressure following a severe traumatic brain injury?

By Michael Kaplen

Autoregulation is the ability of the brain to regulate the amount of oxygen it receives. 

Following a severe traumatic brain injury the autoregulatory ability of the brain is impaired leading to profound changes in oxygen perfusion pressure. The medical profession with large efforts on the part of the Brain Trauma Foundation has recognized the importance of monitoring perfusion pressure in the brain immediately following severe brain injuries.

A study in this week?s Journal of Neurosurgery, April 24 2009 discusses the
time course for autoregulation recovery following severe traumatic brain injury.

The study concluded that autoregulation recovery after severe TBI can be delayed, and failure to recover during the 2nd week after injury occurs mainly in patients with a lower Glasgow Coma Scale score, diffuse brain injury, elevated ICP, or unfavorable outcome. The finding suggests that perfusion pressure management should be considered in some of the patients for a period of at least 2 weeks.

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on May 05, 2009 (boomark / email).