Position Paper
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Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Inc The Management of Acute Neurotrauma in Rural and Remote Locations A set of guidelines for the care of head and spinal injuries FORWARD These guidelines were first published in 1992 and revised in 2000 and 2009. They are intended to assist medical practitioners responsible for the initial management of patients with neurotrauma in places remote from specialised services. The outcome from severe head and spinal injury is often determined by the adequacy of initial care from the scene of injury through to definitive care. Since the first edition most rural practitioners have undertaken Early Management of Severe Trauma (EMST) training. This and the rural surgeons training scheme of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons have given rural surgeons the skills to manage acute neurotrauma. These guidelines are compatible with the EMST approach and terminology. Many larger rural hospitals have access to CT scanning and teleradiology which are of great assistance in sharing the responsibility of neurotrauma management with the central neurosurgical services. All rural hospitals have access to retrieval services. The guidelines are to be seen as part of a trauma management system beginning at the accident site and continuing through to definitive care at a regional or state trauma centre. EDITORIAL COMMITTEE The Neurosurgical Society of Australasia gratefully acknowledges the contributions of the following individuals who have contributed to this publication. Peter Reilly (Chair) Neurosurgeon Adelaide Eric Guazzo Neurosurgeon Townsville Glenn McCulloch Neurosurgeon Adelaide Francis Miller General Surgeon Wangaratta Jeffrey Rosenfeld Neurosurgeon Melbourne Marianne Vonau Neurosurgeon Brisbane Third Edition: 2009 Published by: Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Inc College of Surgeons’ Gardens 250 - 290 Spring Street EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002 © Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Inc This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia Inc. Requests and enquiries concerning production should be directed to the Executive Director, Neurosurgical Society of Australasia at the address shown above. TABLE OF CONTENTS EPIDEMIOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................................ 4 Incidence ...................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Factors in the Rural Environment ............................................................................................................................... 4 Factors Adversely Influencing Outcome (Death and Disability) ................................................................................. 4 Avoidable Causes of Death or Disability ..................................................................................................................... 4 EVIDENCE OF THE MECHANISM OF HEAD INJURY .......................................................................................... 4 Site of Injury ................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Type of Injury ............................................................................................................................................................... 5 Pathology of Injury ...................................................................................................................................................... 5 Secondary Insults ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 PREHOSPITAL CARE ................................................................................................................................................... 6 Position of the Unconscious Patient ............................................................................................................................ 6 Tracheal Intubation ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 Spinal Injury ................................................................................................................................................................ 6 PRIMARY HOSPITAL INITIAL MANGEMENT ....................................................................................................... 7 Stages of Initial Management ...................................................................................................................................... 7 STAGE 1: PRIMARY SURVEY .................................................................................................................................... 7 Primary Survey Considerations ................................................................................................................................... 7 STAGE 2: RESUSCITATION ........................................................................................................................................ 7 Resuscitation Considerations ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Important Notes ........................................................................................................................................................... 8 STAGE 3: SECONDARY SURVEY .............................................................................................................................. 8 Secondary Survey Considerations ............................................................................................................................... 8 Specific Neurosurgical Assessment .............................................................................................................................. 8 Using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ........................................................................................................................ 9 Glasgow Coma Score ................................................................................................................................................... 9 CT Head Scan ............................................................................................................................................................ 10 Skull Xray Indicators ................................................................................................................................................. 11 STAGE 4: DEFINITIVE CARE .................................................................................................................................... 12 Definitive Care Considerations ................................................................................................................................. 12 Criteria for Admission to Hospital ............................................................................................................................. 12 Criteria for Neurosurgical Consultation ................................................................................................................... 13 Indications for Transfer to a Neurosurgical Service ................................................................................................. 13 What the neurosurgeon will need to know ................................................................................................................. 13 Transport and Retrieval ............................................................................................................................................. 13 Management options for a deteriorating patient with suspected intracranial haemorrhage..................................... 13 EMERGENCY SURGICAL TREATMENT ............................................................................................................... 14 The Side of Surgery .................................................................................................................................................... 14 Technique ................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Surgery for an acute subdural haematoma ................................................................................................................ 17 Instrumentation .......................................................................................................................................................... 17 COMA MANAGEMENT– NEUROLOGICAL DETERIORATION ....................................................................... 18 Intubation and Ventilation ......................................................................................................................................... 18 Intravenous Fluids and Electrolytes .......................................................................................................................... 19 Active Treatment of Raised Intracranial Pressure ....................................................................................................