Bullet injuries of the brain.

Experience gained with a wide variety of missile injuries of the brain is presented. Clinical signs and intracranial pressure (ICP) studied in the early post-injury period have been correlated with survival and treatment. Stress is laid on fluid requirements and the importance of controlled ventilation in the management of the labile clinical condition of such patients. Coughing and struggling caused extrusion of blood and brain from the wound, and this was reduced considerably with endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Post-operatively high ICP could be controlled in potential survivors with continued ventilation.