Temporal effects of barbiturate coma on intracranial pressure and compensatory reserve in children with traumatic brain injury

BACKGROUND: The aim was to study the effects of barbiturate coma treatment (BCT) on intracranial pressure (ICP) and intracranial compensatory reserve (RAP index) in children (< 17 years of age) with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and refractory intracranial hypertension (RICH). METHODS: High-resolution monitoring data were used to study the effects of BCT on ICP, mean arterial pressure (MAP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), and RAP index. Four half hour long periods were studied: before bolus injection and at 5, 10, and 24 hours thereafter, respectively, and a fifth tapering period with S-thiopental between < 100 and < 30 μmol/L. S-thiopental concentrations and administered doses were registered. RESULTS: Seventeen children treated with BCT 2007–2017 with high-resolution data were included; median age 15 (range 6–17) and median Glasgow coma score 7 (range 3–8). Median time from trauma to start of BCT was 44.5 h (range 2.5–197.5) and from start to stop 99.0 h (range 21.0–329.0). Median ICP was 22 (IQR 20–25) in the half hour period before onset of BCT and 16 (IQR 11–20) in the half hour period 5 h later (p = 0.011). The corresponding figures for CPP were 65 (IQR 62–71) and 63 (57–71) (p > 0.05). The RAP index was in the half hour period before onset of BCT 0.6 (IQR 0.1–0.7), in the half hour period 5 h later 0.3 (IQR 0.1–0.7) (p = 0.331), and in the whole BCT period 0.3 (IQR 0.2–0.4) (p = 0.004). Eighty-two percent (14/17) had favorable outcome (good recovery = 8 patients and moderate disability = 6 patients). CONCLUSION: BCT significantly reduced ICP and RAP index with preserved CPP. BCT should be considered in case of RICH.