Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of mortality and long-term morbidity, particularly affecting young people. With our best therapies, one half of the patients with severe traumatic brain injury are never capable of living independently. Two interventions, which have real potential to improve neurological outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury, are (i) very early induction of prophylactic hypothermia and (ii) exogenous erythropoietin therapy. There is substantial experimental evidence, a plausible biological rationale, and supportive clinical evidence from clinical trials to suggest a possible beneficial effect of prophylactic hypothermia and also for exogenous erythropoietin therapy in severe traumatic brain injury. Despite the recent guidelines and publications recommending these interventions, critical care clinicians should be conservative towards implementing these therapies outside clinical trials due to substantial efficacy and safety concerns. Nevertheless the high morbidity and mortality associated with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) demands that we investigate the safety and efficacy of these promising potential therapies as a matter of urgency.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.injury.2009.01.002

Type

Journal

Injury

Publication Date

05/2009

Volume

40

Pages

471 - 478

Addresses

Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care-Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Alfred Hospital Campus, Commercial Road, Melbourne, Australia. alistair.nichol@med.monash.edu.au

Keywords

POLAR Study Investigators on behalf of the ANZICS-Clinical Trials Group, EPO Study Investigators on behalf of the ANZICS-Clinical Trials Group, Animals, Humans, Brain Injuries, Thrombosis, Disease Models, Animal, Erythropoietin, Recombinant Proteins, Neuroprotective Agents, Hematinics, Ultrasonography, Body Temperature, Treatment Outcome, Critical Care, Hypothermia, Induced, Glasgow Coma Scale