Desaturation episodes after severe head injury: influence on outcome.

The relationship of jugular venous desaturation and neurological outcome was examined in 116 patients with severe head injury. Seventy-six episodes of jugular venous desaturation were prospectively identified in 46 (40%) of the patients. The etiology of the desaturations varied, including both systemic and cerebral causes. A poor neurological outcome was strongly associated with the occurrence of jugular venous desaturation.