[Advances in the conservative treatment of acute traumatic cerebral edema. Controlled clinical trial with follow-up examination (author's transl)].

Studies in 142 accident victims with severe craniocerebral trauma showed that the intravenous application of sodium escinate over several days considerably reduced the dangerous rise in intracranial pressure and also the total mortality in comparison with corticosteroid therapy alone. Both groups, each of 71 patients, were adjusted from an initial intraventricular pressure of 500--250 mm H2O to the same basic pressure of 150 mm H2O hydrostatically. In the same way, sodium escinate shortened the duration of unconsciousness. The renal function in patients was good. Follow-up examinations at least 2 to a maximum of 3.5 years after the accident and treatment showed a significantly higher rehabilitation rate in the sodium escinate group.