Regional cerebral blood flow and intraventricular pressure in acute head injuries.

Twelve patients who were comatose after head injuries were studied with serial determinations of regional cerebral blood flow, jugular PO(2) tension, and intraventricular pressure. These determinations began a few hours after the injury, and were followed throughout the clinical course. Diffuse derangement of cerebral vasomotor regulation is confirmed after severe head trauma, which may contribute to deterioration and poor prognosis, and which indicates a need for therapeutic maintenance of rich oxygenation, hyperventilation with moderate hypocapnia, and steady blood pressure. Continuous recording of IVP (eventually sensitized by fluid infusion or CO(2) inhalation tests) may give an early indication of the subsequent clinical state and may suggest the need to submit the patients to further investigative and therapeutic procedures.