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Respiratory Failure in Brain Injured Patients

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Anaesthesia, Pain, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine — A.P.I.C.E.

Abstract

It is known that in brain injured patients the principal morbidity and mortality is frequently caused by cerebral nervous system injury and its neurologic consequences [1, 2]. Nevertheless, extracerebral organ dysfunctions are common in brain injured patients which increases morbidity and mortality [3, 4]. Among them, the most frequent complication is respiratory dysfunction including pulmonary oedema and pneumonia. It is now clear that there is an entire spectrum of pulmonary abnormalities caused either directly or indirectly by acute brain injury. Although respiratory problems seems to play a relevant role in the clinical management of brain injured patients, very few studies have investigated respiratory function abnormalities in this category of patients [5]. The aim of this review is to discuss: a) functional abnormalities; b) clinical treatment; c) possible prevention of respiratory function abnormalities in brain injured patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Insubria University, Varese, Italy

    P. Pelosi & C. Gamberoni

  2. Department of Clinical and Biologic Sciences, Insubria University, Varese, Italy

    G. Colombo

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  1. P. Pelosi
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  2. G. Colombo
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Sciences Section of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Clinic, Trieste University School of Medicine, Trieste, Italy

    Antonino Gullo M.D. (Head) (Head)

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Pelosi, P., Colombo, G., Gamberoni, C. (2002). Respiratory Failure in Brain Injured Patients. In: Gullo, A. (eds) Anaesthesia, Pain, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine — A.P.I.C.E.. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2099-3_36

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2099-3_36

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