Pulmonary Complications in Patients with Brain Injury

Abstract

The severity of brain injury is the main determinant of morbidity and mortality in neurocritical patients. However, the role of other associated extracranial complications should not be disregarded1 with pulmonary complications being among the most common ones (Figure 1).2 Major respiratory complications associated with injury to the Central Nervous System (CNS) are caused by airways dysfunction (inability to maintain passage due to neurologic depression or damage), respiratory muscles dysfunction (nerve injury) or intrinsic pulmonary disorders (infection, embolism, acute respiratory distress syndrome, etc.). The occurrence of such complications could potentially cause hypoxemia, which would secondarily aggravate the brain damage. This situation is known to account for up to 50% deaths resulting from brain injury and is considered to be an independent factor for mortality.