Head injury outcome is influenced by the initial insult and the various pathophysiological changes that take place in the posttraumatic phase, some of which may be amenable to intervention. Appropriate measures taken during initial emergency department management and subsequently in the intensive therapy unit can significantly improve outcome. The primary goal is to limit secondary brain injury. Early imaging, rather than admission and observation for neurological deterioration, reduces the time to the detection of life-threatening complications. This paper discusses the current management of severe head injury, some prognostic indicators and methods used to rule out an associated spinal injury.

During an attempt to measure renal function during operation in six patients undergoing major abdominal surgery involving intestinal resection and blood loss in excess of 300 ml, it became apparent that the conventional recommendation for i.v. crystalloid fluid of 5-10 ml kg-1 h-1 was not sufficient to maintain cardiovascular stability and urine output, but a volume of 15 ml kg-1 h-1, given to a subsequent six patients, was adequate. Administration of low sodium (glucose) solutions also produced biochemical abnormalities of a severity not documented previously. A survey of the published literature on volumes of crystalloid fluids used supports the contention that, during major surgery, crystalloid requirements may be of the order of 10-15 ml kg-1 h-1 rather than 5-10 ml kg-1 h-1.

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