Vital Treatment Considerations in a Traumatic Brain Injury
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Brain Injury Lawyer. If there is any suspicion that someone has sustained a brain injury, time is of the essence. The faster the injury is diagnosed, the earlier treatment can be started. When healthcare professionals are trying to decide what the proper treatment is going to be, there are some important points that are going to be considered.
Is There Any Bleeding in the Brain?
One of the first challenges when someone presents with a possible traumatic brain injury is to figure out whether or not there is any bleeding in their brain. This can often be diagnosed with either a CT scan or an MRI but plays a role because it impacts whether or not their injury constitutes a medical emergency. Someone who is bleeding into their brain could be at risk of not only losing blood but also causing swelling inside of their brain. Therefore, bleeding plays a key role in the determination of the next steps in the treatment of the injury.
Is the Brain Swelling?
If someone has bleeding inside of their brain, they could also be at risk of having swelling. Swelling in the brain can manifest with many different symptoms, notably with altered mental status and difficulty with either eye movement or pupillary dilation. If there is suspicion for brain swelling, surgery could be needed to relieve this. If the swelling is not reduced, the brain could herniated through one of the numerous openings in the skull. This could lead to numerous comorbidities as a result or even a wrongful death. Because of this, it is vital to check and see if there is any swelling because this could require an emergent craniotomy.
How is the Brain’s Perfusion Status?
One of the other treatment considerations involves the brain’s perfusion status. This is checked by taking a look at the patient’s blood pressure. If the patient’s blood pressure is too low, this can make it difficult to maintain proper oxygen and nutrition delivery to the already injured cells of the brain. On the other hand, if the blood pressure is too high, this could increase the risk of causing a brain bleed or a stroke along with the traumatic brain injury. If the blood pressure is abnormal, it can be controlled with medications so that the blood pressure is right where it needs to be.
Sacramento Brain Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Brain Injury Lawyer. A neurological injury can be challenging for the patient and their loved ones. If your family is processing a serious head or brain injury, feel free to reach out to our office using in the local area or through our toll-free line (800) 404-5400 for those reaching out from long distance. We offer free, friendly advice without any cost or obligation.
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