The authors retrospectively analysed two groups of consecutive patients who were similarly matched for brain injury severity. From a total of 39 severe head injury patients, 23 were treated according to the Guidelines for the Management of Severe Head Injury with intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring ("Guidelines group"). Such an approach allowed the maintenance of ICP within normal values, especially in patients with intraventricular ICP monitoring allowing the release of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the ventricular system. In the Guidelines group only two patients were administered barbiturates, after all other means of ICP lowering had been exhausted. The second group consisted of 16 patients who were not monitored for ICP ("non-Guidelines group"). In this group, management consisted of the prophylactic administration of barbiturates, high dose osmotic diuretics and hyperventilation usually at levels below 25 mm Hg. In the Guidelines group the mortality rate was 30% compared to 44% in the non-Guidelines group. Almost twice as many patients achieved a "favourable" (good recovery and moderate disability) outcome (49%) compared to the non-Guidelines treated patients (25%). Furthermore, there was a 32% decrease in severe neurological disabilities in those patients in the Guidelines group. It seems that the implementation of "Guidelines" in the treatment of severe head injury, based on the result of our clinical study, reduces death and disability rates in patients with severe head injury. The administration of therapy based on the "Guidelines principles" and monitoring of ICP, can minimise the application of those therapeutic modalities (barbiturate coma and prolonged hyperventilation) which, in addition to favourable effects, may also have harmful effects on patients with severe head injury.

This paper presents the pilot project of application of recycled aggregate during construction of a new day hospital in Zadar. The project included the demolition of an existing hospital building and the use of generated construction waste as recycled aggregate in the construction of a part of the building. The 16/32 mm fraction of aggregate was obtained by mechanical processing of the generated waste which was then tested in accordance with the HRN EN 206 and HRN EN 12620 standards. Four concrete mixes were prepared, and the fresh (slump, density, air content) and hardened properties were tested (compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, capillary absorption, water permeability, drying shrinkage). The obtained results confirm that by complying with the standards for recycled aggregates and knowing their origin it is possible to produce concrete with properties equivalent to those of ordinary concrete for specified durability conditions.