Mechanical Ventilation of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Patients in the Prehospital Setting

Abstract Objective Suboptimal ventilation may impact outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study compares the incidence of eucapnia between manually and mechanically ventilated patients with severe TBI during helicopter transport. Methods This retrospective chart review included consecutive intubated adults with severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale score Results Of 1,070 trauma patients intubated and transported, 93 met the inclusion criteria with full data. The mean age was 43 years, 81 of 93 were white, and 70 of 93 were men. The mean Injury Severity Score was 29, and 26 of 93 were mechanically ventilated. Hypocapnia occurred in 4 of 93 and hypercapnia in 56 of 93. There was no difference in the rate of eucapnia in manually ventilated compared with mechanically ventilated patients (36% vs. 35%, P = 1.00). Conclusion Eucapnia at emergency department arrival occurred in 36% of patients and was unaffected by whether ventilation was manually or mechanically controlled. Few patients were hypocapnic, indicating a low incidence of hyperventilation during helicopter transport.