GUIDELINES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PEDIATRIC TRAUMATIC
BRAIN INJURY
These guidelines are to be considered in patients 21 years of age or below with traumatic brain injury. While these are only guidelines, they are based on recommendations published in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine February 16, 2012
Volume 13 (2) March 2012 - pg. 131-252,e64-e132
Volume 13 Supplement 1_Suppl, Guidelines for the Acute Medical Management of Severe Traumatic
Brain Injury in Infants, Children, and Adolescents-Second Edition
Endorsed by the following organizations:
International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery
American Association for the Surgery of Trauma
Society of Critical Care Medicine
Child Neurology Society
International Trauma, Anesthesia, and Critical Care Society
The following organizations also supported those guidelines:
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
The International Brain Injury Association
National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Synthes USA

INITIAL ER MANAGEMENT
1.
Upon arrival to the ER, an assessment will be made by the ER staff concerning the patients’ respiratory, hemodynamic, and neurologic status. Patients with poor gas exchange and/or hemodynamic instability will be first stabilized prior to any radiographic studies or neurosurgical interventions.
2.
If a patient has a GCS < or = to 8, endotracheal intubation using head injury precautions should be performed. Intubation should also be considered in cases of hemodynamic instability or if a patient needs sedation for transport. When stable, the patient should then have the appropriate studies performed. Appropriate sedation and analgesia should be used while the patient is intubated and/or transported.
GOALS FOR GAS EXCHANGE
3.
The goals for gas exchange should be normoxia (SaO
2
> 90%, PaO
2
> 60) and normocarbia (pCO
2
~ 40). Hyperventilation to a pCO
2
~ 30-35 should only used if there are clinical signs of intracranial hypertension as manifest by signs of herniation
(pupillary dilatation, motor posturing, deteriorating mental status, etc) for the first 24 hours after injury.
HEMODYNAMIC GOALS
4.
The goal for blood pressures should be > than 5 th
% for age, until further physiologic parameters (i.e. CPP) can be determined. Arterial catheters and central venous catheters should be considered in patients with respiratory, hemodynamic, or neurologic instability.
SURGICAL INTERVENTIONS
5.
Patients with mild (GCS 14-15) and moderate head injuries (GCS 9-13) may have their neurologic status monitored clinically, without ICP monitoring devices (this will be at the discretion of the Attending Neurosurgeon).
6.
In cases of severe head injury an ICP monitor should be placed. Severe head injury is defined as:
(a). GCS < or = 8 and an abnormal head CT scan or
(b). GCS < or = 8 and motor posturing and systemic hypotension or
(c). Absence of purposeful movements and an abnormal head CT scan

7.
Those patients with moderate TBI that will undergo anesthesia for the management of extracranial injuries should also have ICP monitoring.
8.
The type of monitor used (Camino vs. EVD vs. Dual Bolt/EVD) will be determined by the Attending Neurosurgeon. Consideration should be made about the placement of a lumbar drain.
9.
If upon placement of an ICP monitor, ICPs are found to be significantly elevated, despite sedation, CSF drainage, and osmotherapy, decompressive craniectomy should be strongly considered at this point.
PICU MANAGEMENT OF HIGH ICP/LOW CPP: FIRST TIER THEAPIES
10.
Appropriate sedation and analgesia regimens for patients with secured airways will be determined by the PICU Attending, once the patient arrives in the PICU. Intravenous lidocaine may be given prior to noxious stimuli (ex. endotracheal tube suctioning).
11.
While in the PICU, the patient’s head will be elevated to 30 o
and in midline. The patient’s temperature will be aggressively controlled with antipyretics and will be held less than 38.5
o
C. Seizure prophylaxis will be administered. All patients will be given NS at a maintenance rate for the first 24-48 hours. Glucose levels will be followed and will be maintained between 80-120 when possible.
12.
Acute rises in ICP (>20) or decreased CPP (> 70 in adults, > 50 in children between 8 and 16 years of age, and > 40 in children less than 8 years of age) will be managed with sedation and/or mannitol or 3% saline. Mannitol may only be used for a serum osmolarity < or = 320. When using 3% saline, a serum osmolarity of 360 may be used as the cutoff. Mild hyperventilation (Pco
2
= 30-35) may be used for acute rises in ICP while the osmotic agent is being obtained. EtCO
2
should be used to titrate the degree of hyperventilation.
13.
If the patient’s ICP remains stable but elevated, the PICU attending will then consider the use of vasoactive drugs to improve CPP.
14.
Should the ICP remain elevated (>20) despite medical interventions including TWO doses of mannitol within 12 hours at a minimum dose of 0.25 g/kg, surgical management should progress to the insertion of a ventricular drain.

SECOND TIER THERAPIES: SURGICAL MANAGEMENT
15.
If medical management of ICP is unsuccessful, or if the need for osmotherapy is more frequent than every 4 hours, and no drain has been placed to this point, than a ventricular drain should be placed. The patient will then be placed on prophylactic antibiotics per the Neurosurgery EVD protocol.
SECOND TIER THERAPIES: MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
16.
If the ICP continues to be > 20, despite sedation, osmotherapy, and ventricular drainage, and if the time since injury is > 24 hours, the patient can then be hyperventilated to a pCO
2
~ 35. End-tidal CO
2
may be used to titrate this therapy
17.
If the ICP continues to be > 20, despite sedation, osmotherapy, mild hyperventilation, and ventricular drainage, the patient will then be placed in a pentobarbital coma with continuous EEG monitoring until burst suppression is achieved. Burst suppression will be defined as the presence of generalized bursts of sharp and slow waves followed by generalized amplitude suppression for 8-12 seconds. Other sedating and analgesic agents should then be discontinued.
TERTIARY TIER THERAPIES
18.
If the ICP continues to be elevated, the Attending Neurosurgeon should then consider the use of decompressive craniectomy, if not already done.
19.
If ICP remains persistently high (>20), the PICU Attending should consider 3% saline infusion.

CRITICAL PATHWAY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PEDIATRIC TBI
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: See Physiologic Parameters Below*
Intubation using Head Injury Precautions
Appropriate Sedation/Analgesia for Radiographic Studies
ICP monitor and/or drain and other neurosurgical intervention for intracranial bleeding.
This should include consideration of the placement of a lumbar drain as well as decompressive craniectomy if ICPs are significantly elevated despite sedation/CSF drainage/osmotherapy after insertion of a monitor in the OR
Sedation/Analgesia, Osmotherapy, Vasoactive Drugs for High ICP or Low CPP *
Consideration of 3% Saline Infusion
Ventricular Drain (if not done previously) if Medical Therapy Unsuccessful
Recommended for continued ICP’s (>20) despite two mannitol doses and continuous sedation.
Mild Hyperventilation to a pCO
2
= 30-35 if > 24 hrs since injury
Pentobarbital Coma for Unrelenting High ICP or Low CPP *
Consideration of Decompressive Craniectomy (if not done previously)
Goal Physiologic Parameters :
SaO
2
> 90%, PaO
2
> 60
PCO
2
~ 40
Mean BP > 5 % for age
ICP < 20
CPP: >70 in patients 17 years of age or older
>50 in patients 8-16 years of age
>40 in patients < 8 years of age