Brain injury : [BI]
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Brain injury : [BI] · Feb 2001
ReviewDiagnostic criteria and differential diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injury.
Brain injury is classified clinically as severe, moderate or mild brain injury characteristics, including admission Glasgow coma score, duration of unconsciousness and post-traumatic amnesia and any focal neurological findings. Most traumatic brain injuries are classified as mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). Headache, nausea and dizziness are frequent symptoms after MTBI and may continue for weeks to months after the trauma. ⋯ Computed tomography of the brain seems to be the best way to exclude the development of relevant intracranial lesions. MTBI has a good clinical outcome, although a substantial group of patients develop post-concussional complaints (PCC). There is little information on the effectiveness of various methods suggested for reducing the frequency of PCC.
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Brain injury : [BI] · Feb 2001
Clinical TrialMethotrimeprazine in the treatment of agitation in acquired brain injury patients.
Medical management of the agitation associated with acquired brain injury (ABI) has been proble matic. At least 12 distinct drugs are currently recommended in the medical literature. In recent years, on the ABI in-patient rehabilitation unit, methotrimeprazine (MTZ) has come to be the preferred drug and is used routinely for effective treatment of agitation. ⋯ Agitation was controlled in most cases. In only two cases were significant side effects noted. While MTZ has been used as a safe and effective neuroleptic in psychiatry for over 40 years, this is the first report of its use in treating agitation in ABI.