[Hemodynamic and metabolic effects of thiopental in patients with severe head injuries].

The effect of pentobarbital was evaluated in 12 comatose brain injured patients (Glasgow coma scale < 7 at admission). Mean hemispheric cerebral blood flow (CBF) was studied following intravenous administration of 133Xenon. The results indicated a decrease in CBF, mean arterial pressure (MAP), intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2). The increase in cerebral perfusion pressure (PP) was found only in patients with diffuse brain injury. The results supports the hypothesis that barbiturate therapy is more effective at reducing ICP while preserving CPP when the cause is a diffuse lesion.