Can modern therapy influence the prognosis of brain injuries in childhood?

A standard therapy and the outcome following severe head injury in 51 children are presented. The Glasgow-Coma-Scale was used for classification. Initial therapy included intubation, hyperventilation, ICP monitoring, and barbiturate coma. 14 children had a normal ICP recording, 13 showed moderate (-35 mmHg) ICP elevations, and 23 had recurrent ICP elevations above 35 mmHg. Only one patient survived in a vegetative state. Overall mortality was 21%. All but one of the survivors were controlled one year after the accident. School performance, social integration and the Glasgow-Outcome-Scale were controlled for judging the results. 82% of the surviving children were able to visit a normal school.