Pulmonary complications in patients with severe brain injury.

Authors

Kiwon Lee, Mischer Neuroscience Institute, Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center;Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery
Fred Rincon, Divisions of Critical Care and Neurotrauma, Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1-2012

Comments

This article is published in Critical Care Research and Practice.

Volume 2012, 2012, Article number207247.

The published version is available at DOI: 10.1155/2012/207247. © 2012 Kiwon Lee and Fred Rincon.

Abstract

Pulmonary complications are prevalent in the critically ill neurological population. Respiratory failure, pneumonia, acute lung injury and the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS), pulmonary edema, pulmonary contusions and pneumo/hemothorax, and pulmonary embolism are frequently encountered in the setting of severe brain injury. Direct brain injury, depressed level of consciousness and inability to protect the airway, disruption of natural defense barriers, decreased mobility, and secondary neurological insults inherent to severe brain injury are the main cause of pulmonary complications in critically ill neurological patients. Prevention strategies and current and future therapies need to be implemented to avoid and treat the development of these life-threatening medical complications.

Recommended Citation

Lee, Kiwon and Rincon, Fred, "Pulmonary complications in patients with severe brain injury." (2012). Department of Neurology Faculty Papers. Paper 54.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/neurologyfp/54

PubMed ID

23133746