6533b85afe1ef96bd12b9f72

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Dexamethasone in severe head injuries

D. MüllerH. J. ReulenK. SchürmannG. Faupel

subject

medicine.medical_specialtySevere head injurybusiness.industryLow doseGeneral Medicinemedicine.diseasePlaceboSteroid therapyAnesthesiaClosed head injurymedicineHigh dosesSurgeryNeurology (clinical)NeurosurgerybusinessDexamethasonemedicine.drug

description

The results of a double-blind-study on the effects of placebo, a low dose and a high dose of dexamethasone on severe closed head injury are presented. 95 patients were selected and carefully analyzed according to mortality, neurological course and symptoms, midbrain lesions and final outcome. The results demonstrate that dexamethasone, particularly given in high doses, reduces mortality and improves the neurological course. The steroid treatment seems to improve chances as well as quality of survival. Apart from the dose, timing of administration is of great importance.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
1979-09-01Neurosurgical Review
https://doi.org/10.1007/bf01646735