@article{ref1,
title="Pulmonary function in patients with multiple trauma and associated severe head injury",
journal="Journal of trauma",
year="1976",
author="Abrams, J. S. and Deane, R. S. and Davis, J. H.",
volume="16",
number="7",
pages="543-549",
abstract="1) Sodium and water balance and pulmonary function studies were obtained in five patients with multiple injuries, including pulmonary contusion, plus severe intracranial trauma. All patients received dexamethasone, 4-6 every 6 hours during the 72-hour study period after injury. 2) Results were compared with those from 14 previously reported patients without head injury; none had received corticosteroids. 3) Study patients with head injury achieved negative water balance and almost-zero sodium balance within 72 hours of injury be excreting a high-volume, low-sodium urine. Despite elevated alveolar-arterial oxygen gradients and low-normal pulmonary compliance initially, there was progressive improvement and no patient developed post-traumatic pulmonary insufficiency. 4) The data suggest that the &quot;negative&quot; effects of major intracranial trauma on the kidney, heart, and lung are cancelled by dexamethasone, or that corticosteroids protect pulmonary function in the patient with multiple injuries and prevent post-traumatic pulmonary insufficiency, perhaps through their effect on the kidney leading to rapid restoration of sodium and water balance.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-5282",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}