Emergency management of the head trauma patient. Principles and practice.

Management of the severely brain-injured dog or cat can be frustrating, especially considering the lack of proven effective therapies for head trauma patients. A working knowledge of the basic pathophysiology of head trauma and intracranial pressure (ICP) dynamics is essential to the logical treatment of head traumatized patients. Prevention and correction of hypotension and hypoxemia are necessary for preventing progressive increases in ICP. Mannitol is recommended in most cases of severe head trauma, but there is little evidence to support the use of glucocorticoids in acutely brain-injured dogs and cats. The role of surgical intervention for head-traumatized dogs and cats is still uncertain, but may be beneficial in some cases. Aggressive, expedient treatment and attentive patient monitoring are key aspects of successfully managing canine and feline head trauma patients.