Otolaryngologic clinics of North America
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The management of trauma to the air and food passages has been reviewed briefly, with emphasis on the management of the acute problems based upon a thorough evaluation.
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Because of the large numbers of head injuries, physicians are frequently called upon to evaluate and initiate treatment in these acute emergencies. Deterioration of such patients results from direct injury to the brain tissue and a subsequent increase in the intracranial pressure. The pathophysiology of brain injury is manifested in a cycle of detrimental events with increased tissue damage and progressive neurological deficit. Current concepts in management of head injuries aimed at interrupting this cycle of events are discussed in detail.