Secondary brain injury and the role of neuroprotective agents.

Secondary brain injury is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. Reversible causes of secondary injury, including hypoxemia, hypotension and increased intracranial pressure need to be anticipated and prevented, when at all possible. In addition, further understanding of the cellular and metabolic alterations associated with delayed brain injury and the role of neuroprotective agents in the prevention of said injury will hopefully result in improved neurologic care. One challenge for health care providers in the years ahead will be to limit the extent of injury after the initial event, thereby improving outcomes.