This book proves essential to understanding the problem of brain failure by emphasizing the various therapeutic approaches which have previously been somewhat neglected. The book summarizes the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of the various forms of brain failure, examining in detail structural and examining metabolic causes. Special consideration has been given to patients with severe head trauma, stroke, subarachnoid haemorrhage and to a variety of metabolic causes of coma. The relationship between cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolic rate is explored, providing important conclusions with regard to therapy. New techniques of monitoring brain failure are described and their clinical usefulness defined, providing intensive care physicians, anaesthesiologists and neurologists a solid basis on which to build their knowledge of the brain-failure patient.

Inhalt

Brain, Endocrine and Immune Interactions: Implications in Intensive Care.- Chemical Pathobiology of CNS Trauma.- Pathophysiology and Treatment of Stroke.- Neurotoxic Amino Acids and Amino Acid Antagonists as Neuroprotective Agents.- The Role of Lipid Peroxidation in Ischemic Central Nervous System Injury.- Brain Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury.- Anaerobic Metabolism Within the Brain: Its Relationship to Brain Failure in Head-Injured Patients.- Pathophysiology of the Encephalopathies Associated with Uremia and Hyponatremia.- Encephalopathy Associated with Liver Disease.- Drug-Induced Encephalopathy.- Encephalopathy Associated with Sepsis.- Energy Metabolism in Brain Injury.- Perspectives in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Present and Future.- Influence of Mechanical Ventilation on Brain Circulation and function.- Cerebral Blood Flow in Head Injury.- Monitoring Brain Failure Using Evoked Potentials.- Near Infrared Spectroscopy "In Vivo".- Intracranial Pressure Monitoring.- Surgical Management of Head Injury.- Prognosis of Brain Failure in the Intensive Care Unit.