Keywords Barbiturate coma therapy - cerebral ischaemia - intractable intracranial hypertension
- multimodality monitoring - transcranial Doppler - traumatic brain injury
INTRODUCTION
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common cause of increased intracranial pressure
(ICP) and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Intractable intracranial
hypertension is defined as ICP that fails to respond to first-line medical and surgical
treatment and is associated with 92% mortality.[1 ] Barbiturate coma therapy (BCT) is an option in such patients with intractable intracranial
hypertension.[2 ]
We report a case of refractory ICP with transcranial Doppler (TCD) evidence of ischaemic
cerebral blood flow and computed tomography (CT) scan showing well-formed ischaemic
zone respectively, successfully treated with BCT using relevant available multiple
modalities of neurophysiological monitoring with full recovery without any neurological
deficits. Much of the data in the literature regarding refractory ICP treated with
BCT is without TCD and CT scan evidence of ischaemia, more so complete resolution
of dense ischaemic zones has never been reported.
CASE REPORT
A 32-year-old male was referred from another hospital after 3 days with a history
of road traffic accident, head injury with a bifrontal contusion, and fracture both
bone left forearm with the cast in situ . He was treated there conservatively with anti-oedema measure using mannitol. Non-contrast
CT (NCCT) head at admission showed right frontal bone fracture with bifrontal and
temporal haemorrhagic contusion with oedema [Figure 1a ]. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was E3V4M6 with normal pupil size and reaction. He was
initially treated conservatively, both for head injury with anti-oedema measures and
for fractures forearm. Two days after admission, sensorium deteriorated to GCS E2V2M4
and his pupils were both normal size with sluggish reaction. Repeat NCCT scan showed
increased oedema with obliteration of basal cisterns [Figure 1b ]. Bifrontal decompressive craniectomy (DC) was done. He was sedated and ventilated
post-operatively. Anti-oedema measures this time were instituted with 3% hypertonic
saline (HTS) pulsed therapy in a dose of 7 ml/kg. NCCT head done on the first postoperative
day showed significant oedema without any haematoma. The same therapy was continued
but by fourth postoperative day, craniotomy site bulge became tense and pupils anisocoric
with sluggish reaction. Repeat NCCT head and magnetic resonance imaging brain with
venogram was performed which revealed significant brain oedema with mass effect and
ischaemic/infarcted zone in the right parieto-occipital region [Figure 2a ]. TCD examination was performed in which right hemicranial vessels could not be insonated
and left middle cerebral artery, anterior cerebral artery showed ischaemic blood flow
velocities [Figure 3a ] and left PCA had reverberating blood flow pattern indicating raised ICP. The vasopressor
infusion was started to increase cerebral blood flow (CBF). Extended DC with right
frontal lobectomy was performed, and Codman’s intraparenchymal ICP probe put in situ. Sedation, ventilation and intermittent bolus hyperosmolar therapy with HTS, with
an ICP threshold of 20 was continued postoperative. Within 24–36 h post second surgery
ICP was refractory to HTS and mean ICP was in the range of 25–30 mmHg with little,
short-lived response to HTS bolus. Repeat TCD examination revealed ischaemic blood
flow velocities in both right and left hemicranial vessels. After suspending previous
sedatives, BCT was initiated with thiopentone at a loading dose of 10 mg/kg over 30
min followed by 3–7 mg/kg/h continuous infusion. We adjusted barbiturate infusion
rate at minimal dose to maintain ICP below 20 mmHg, stable haemodynamics, high normal
CBF velocities in TCD [Figure 3b ] and to maintain absence of response of patient to deep painful stimuli so as to
correspond roughly with burst suppression of electroencephalography (EEG). ICP swings
of more than 20 mmHg were treated by a minimal dose of HTS required to reduce ICP
and increase in barbiturate infusion dose to prevent such swings. Cerebral perfusion
pressure (CPP) was regulated to maintain high normal cerebral blood blow as evidenced
by serial TCD examinations with volume replacement, inotropes/vasopressor infusions
and optimal barbiturate infusion dose [Figure 4 ]. After ICP became stable for 48 h, that is, by the 5th day of BCT institution, we started to taper barbiturate infusion at a rate of 0.05
mg/kg/h. Total duration of barbiturate coma was 8 days. ICP probe was removed after
72 h of stopping BCT. The patient improved in sensorium and was discharged 25 days
after admission fully conscious, walking and without any neurological deficits. Follow-up
scan 2 weeks after discharge showed bifrontal gliotic changes without any ischaemic/infarcted
zones [Figure 2b ]. Cranioplasty was done 2 months later, and the patient has resumed his normal professional
and personal duties as before the accident.
Figure 1: Preoperative computed tomography scans. (a) Admission computed tomography scan. (b)
Preoperative computed tomography scan before first decompressive surgery
Figure 2: Postoperative Scans. (a) Computed tomography scan before second decompressive surgery
and initiating barbiturate coma therapy. (b) Computed tomography scan after 2 weeks
of barbiturate coma therapy and cerebral blood flow augmentation
Figure 3: Transcranial Doppler images. (a) Middle cerebral artery cerebral blood flow velocity
before second decompressive surgery and initiating barbiturate coma therapy. (b) Middle
cerebral artery cerebral blood flow velocity during maintenance of barbiturate coma
therapy
Figure 4: Intracranial haemodynamics during barbiturate coma therapy
DISCUSSION
Severe TBI is associated with intracranial hypertension in 53–80% of patients and
is the most frequent cause of mortality and morbidity due to inadequate perfusion
of the injured brain.[3 ]
[4 ] Intracranial hypertension is defined as an episode of sustained ICP above 20 mmHg
requiring treatment, and intractable intracranial hypertension is defined as ICP non-responsive
to the first line of treatment.[1 ] The first-line of therapy to control raised ICP may include sedation, moderate hypocapnia,
hyperosmolar therapy, haematoma evacuation, etc. When these measures fail to control
high ICP second-line therapies such as DC, BCT or moderate hypothermia are considered.[4 ]
Hyperosmolar agents currently in clinical use for TBI are mannitol and HTS. Mannitol
is the most commonly used hyperosmolar agent, but recently HTS also has been used
in these circumstances. HTS for this purpose has been used in concentrations ranging
from 3% to 23.4%.[4 ] In some studies, HTS has been more effective at reducing ICP than mannitol and is
an agent of choice in intractable intracranial hypertension.[5 ] In our case as the ICP was refractory to mannitol clearly the choice of hyperosmolar
agent was HTS and even such the response of HTS on raised ICP in our patient was suboptimal
and short-lived making us coin ICP refractory to HTS.
BCT is used as second-line therapy for intracranial hypertension. Benefits of BCT
are derived from vasoconstriction in normal brain areas thus shunting blood to ischaemic
brain tissue and decrease in metabolic oxygen demand thus maintaining flow demand
ratio in ischaemic areas. Other proposed mechanisms also make barbiturates a good
choice as an effective cerebral protective agent.[2 ] BCT when instituted is guided by burst suppression ratio in EEG for optimal benefit.
It is associated with numerous side effects which can be detrimental to patient outcome.[6 ] If these risk factors are addressed appropriately, the optimal outcome can be expected.
In our case though we did not do EEG monitoring for burst suppression but adjusted
the dose to ICP readings, stable haemodynamics, high normal CBF velocities in TCD
and no clinical response of the patient to supramaximal pain.
Multimodality monitoring in neurocritical care is a fast evolving concept primarily
to accurately detect the physiological changes undergoing in the injured brain thus
initiating early timely intervention to circumvent morbidity and mortality.[7 ] Few of such monitoring armamentarium includes ICP, TCD, cerebral imaging microdialysis,
EEG, jugular oximeter, brain tissue oxygen monitor, etc.[7 ] Judicious use of these monitors with Integration of this information allows for
more precise diagnosis and optimization of the management of these patients.[7 ] TCD is valuable equipment providing a vast range of information involving CBF non-invasively.
TCD CBF velocities in major cerebral vessels below 30 cm/s are defined as ischaemic
and are associated with poor outcomes.[8 ]
In our case, we used cerebral imaging to detect the cause, ICP monitor to regulate
ICP and CPP, TCD to detect ischaemic CBF and regulate CBF to high normal during BCT.
The combination of these helped us in being judicious in our approach including doing
DC, diagnosing refractory intracranial hypertension, optimal use of hyperosmolar therapy,
early initiation/maintenance of BCT, regulation of CBF ultimately leading to resolution
of ischaemic infarct and thus good outcome. We suggest that, judicious use of multimodality
monitoring (permutable combination of Cerebral Imaging, Intracranial Pressure monitor,
CBF guide) can help neurointensivists in diagnosing life-threatening intracranial
dynamics early and implementing corrective therapeutic procedures alongside monitoring
their efficacy to surmount these challenges.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
