Acute management of severe head injury

Abstract

The ultimate aim of head injury management is to reduce morbidity and mortality in the fraction of cases with avoidable intra- and extracranial secondary complications, such as intracranial hypertension, hypoventilation or circulatory failure. This requires not only competent emergency services at the scene of an accident and safe transportation but also swift admission to a hospital with experience in diagnosis, comprehensive monitoring and care of head-injured patients.