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April 27, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Traumatic brain injuries are some of the most troubling consequences of a motor vehicle accident. They can cause severe damage, especially if left unchecked, but are sometimes very hard to detect. Further, until recently, doctors have not had a safe way to monitor the intracranial pressure that follows a severe head injury.
Head trauma can lead to elevated pressure within the skull, crushing brain tissue and cutting off blood supply to the brain. Doctors have long thought that the only way to monitor this pressure was to drill a hole in the skull though which they could insert a catheter into the damaged tissue. This procedure is invasive -- and sometimes quite risky -- so doctors have traditionally reserved it for only the most critically ill patients.
Unfortunately, this meant that doctors could not track the progression of head trauma in non-critical patients. Even for these patients, increasing pressure comes with significant risk of long-term brain damage.
New Method to Track Intracranial Pressure
Recently, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a new method for monitoring the progression of intracranial pressure after a concussion or other traumatic head injury.
The researchers found that intracranial pressure could be accurately measured by inserting a catheter at the wrist to measure radial arterial pressure. That pressure reading is then run though a computer model that uses the arterial blood flow to determine pressure on the brain.
Accessible Technology Still Needs to be Developed
Researchers are now working on a way to translate this discovery into an easily accessible tool for doctors and hospital staff. They also hope to develop a non-invasive continuous monitoring system that head injury victims can wear.
If their efforts work out, the innovation could have striking effects on the prognoses of brain injury victims in Denver. Since most of the negative effects of traumatic brain injuries are related to tissue damage caused by pressure on the brain, knowing when a patient is in trouble can help doctors intervene appropriately.
Treating brain injuries can be an arduous and costly experience. Victims may suffer long-lasting consequences, even if their injury was detected and treated early. If you have been the victim of a traumatic brain injury caused by a traffic accident or other negligent act, a Colorado personal injury attorney can help you understand your options.
Article provided by Coppola & Marlin PC
Visit us at www.coppolamarlin.com
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