• J York, A Arrillaga, R Graham, and R Miller.
• Department of Trauma Surgery, Greenville Hospital System, South Carolina 29605, USA.
• J Trauma. 2000 Mar 1;48(3):376-9; discussion 379-80.

BackgroundDespite increasing experimental and clinical evidence to the contrary, a dichotomy of management strategies of the patient with multiple injuries still exists, based on the presence or absence of traumatic brain injury. Many still advocate fluid restriction or small volume resuscitation if traumatic brain injury is present.PurposeTo demonstrate results of aggressive fluid resuscitation in a prospective case series of patients with multiple injuries and with severe head injury.MethodsThirty-four patients with Glasgow Coma Scale score < or = 8 and Injury Severity Score > or = 16 were enrolled into the study over a period of 18 months. Fluid resuscitation was guided in part by cerebral perfusion pressures (mean cerebral perfusion pressures > 80) as well as by hemodynamic monitoring and evidence of end organ perfusion. Overall fluid intake, intensive care unit fluid balance, presence or absence of hypoxia, hypotension, or both, were analyzed. Ninety- and 180-day Glasgow Outcome Scale and Disability Rating Scale scores were also obtained.ResultsBy using an aggressive fluid resuscitation strategy, secondary insults were avoided in 74% of the patients. A good functional outcome was achieved in 74% and mortality was impressively low at 6%.ConclusionFluid restriction is not necessary to achieve good results in the severely injured patient who also has a severe head injury.

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