• Magnus Olivecrona, Marie Rodling-Wahlström, Silvana Naredi, and Lars-Owe D Koskinen.
• Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Neurosurgery, Ume University, SE 90185 Umeå, Sweden. magnus.olivecrona@vll.se
• Brain Inj. 2012 Jan 1;26(1):67-75.

ObjectiveTo prospectively assess clinical outcome in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) managed according to an ICP-targeted programme as well as additional treatment with prostacyclin.Materials And MethodsInclusion criteria were GCS ≤8, age 15-70 years, first recorded cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) > 10 mm Hg. Exclusion criteria were pregnancy, breastfeeding or penetrating brain injury. The patients were treated using the same ICP-guided protocol, with one group randomized to receive prostacyclin in a low dose (0.5 ng kg(-1 )min(-1)). The clinical outcome was prospectively assessed at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months using structured interviews.ResultsForty-eight patients were included, mean age 35.5 years, median GCS 6 (3-8), 69% were multi-traumatized. Mortality at 3 months was 12.5%. Median Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at all follow-up points was 4. Favourable outcome (GOS 4-5) at 3 months was 52%, at 24 months 64%. Favourable outcome increased over time. There was a statistically significant association between GOS, GCS at admission and age. Higher ICP(max) was associated with worse outcome.ConclusionWith this treatment protocol, a low number of deaths and a high number of favourable outcomes in sTBI were observed. Prostacyclin in this low dose does not seem to improve the outcome. ICP(max) is a positive predictor of worse outcome. Higher GCS at admission and lower age are correlated to better outcome.

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