Prehospital management of patients with severe head injuries

Advanced prehospital emergency medical care of patients with a severe head injury must essentially focus on the impact of secondary cerebral insults of systemic origin on the outcome. The first objective of prehospital care is to prevent hypoxaemia and hypercapnia. Therefore, all patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale score equal to or lower than 8 must be treated with endotracheal intubation and controlled ventilation under continuous monitoring of SpO2 and PETCO2. Treatment is similar in head-injured patients with significant deterioration of consciousness level, seizures, respiratory distress, or severe facial and thoracoabdominal injuries. The endotracheal tube is inserted by the orotracheal route under direct laryngoscopy, after a rapid induction sequence of anaesthesia and immobilization of the cervical spine in neutral position. For the induction of anaesthesia in these high-risk patients (full stomach, unknown medical history, deteriorated haemodynamic status), etomidate and suxamethonium are the preferred agents. Sedation is maintained with an hypnoticopioid association (fentanyl). Simultaneously, the main goal is the maintenance of an optimal cerebral perfusion pressure, as arterial hypotension severely worsens cerebral ischaemia. Volume loading is accomplished with 0.9% saline and hydroxyethyl starch.