A single equimolar infusion of 20% mannitol is as effective as 7.45% HSS in decreasing ICP in patients with brain injury. Mannitol exerts additional effects on brain circulation through a possible improvement in blood rheology. Pretreatment factors, such as serum sodium, systemic hemodynamics, and brain hemodynamics, thus should be considered when choosing between mannitol and HSS for patients with increased ICP.

The use of Stericath reduced the incidence rate of VAP without demonstrating any adverse effect.

Increased pulsatility index after mild or moderate TBI is a reason for concern about the possibility of further neurological deterioration. Computed tomography and Doppler measurements could be combined to detect on admission patients at risk for secondary neurological deterioration in order to improve their initial disposition.

Our results encourage prospectively testing the hypothesis that patients with immediate, successful tracheal extubation after elective craniotomy for brain surgery, with a surgical duration of less than 4 hours in a nonlateral position could be monitored safely in the postanesthesia care unit before being discharged to a neurosurgical ward.

Clinicians can determine the odds of a good outcome from the combination of three easily measurable factors using a simple diagram constructed from logistic regression. Survival analysis showed that motor score adjusted values greater than 3 had the same prognosis.