Table 3

Changes in laboratory and clinical variables following severe traumatic brain injury

First week

Second week

P value

Laboratory values

Platelets, × 10³/μL

150 ± 6

215 ± 10^a

<0.001

Lowest values

128 ± 14; day 1

Highest values

224 ± 23; day 14

Leukocytes, × 10³/μL

8.7 ± 0.4

12.3 ± 1^a

<0.01

C-reactive protein, mg/L

121 ± 26

133 ± 23

NS

Interleukin-6, ng/L

142 ± 40

78 ± 21

NS

Calculated arterio-jugular venous differences

AJVD platelets, × 10³/μL

1.5 ± 0.9

5.8 ± 2^a

<0.01

AJVD leukocytes, × 10³/μL

-0.12±0.05

-0.02±0.1^a

<0.03

AJVD glucose, mM

0.33 ± 0.02

0.43 ± 0.04^a

<0.04

AJVD lactate, mM

-0.03±0.006

-0.06±0.01^a

<0.04

AJVD sP-selectin, pg/mL

454 ± 932

700 ± 1,254

NS

Neuromonitoring

Mean arterial pressure, mm Hg

97 ± 1

96 ± 1

NS

Intracranial pressure, mm Hg

13 ± 0.7

16 ± 0.5^a

0.019

Cerebral perfusion pressure, mm Hg

83 ± 1

80 ± 1

NS

SjvO₂, percentage

76 ± 1

69 ± 1^a

<0.001

Temperature, °C

36.2 ± 0.1

35.5 ± 0.1^a

<0.001

Pharmacologic treatment/platelet transfusions

Norepinephrine, μg/minute

7 ± 0.64

7.2 ± 1.03

NS

Fentanyl, mg/hour

0.6 ± 0.05

0.59 ± 0.08

NS

Midazolam, mg/hour

62 ± 5

59 ± 8

NS

Platelet transfusions, ml

300 ± 227 (n = 4)

0

HES 130/0.4, mL (Voluven^®

Cumulative

11,935 ± 1,826^a

3,000 ± 2,100

<0.001

Daily average

1,571 ± 260^a

429 ± 300

<0.001

Positive arterio-jugular venous differences (AJVDs) reflect cerebral uptake, while negative AJVD values unmask release or decreased uptake/binding. Values are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean. ^aDifferences are rated significant at the corresponding levels of significance using the t test or Mann-Whitney test, respectively. a, significant differences; HES, hydroxyethyl starch; NS, not significant; SjvO₂, jugular venous oxygen saturation.

Tschuor et al. Critical Care 2008 12:R80   doi:10.1186/cc6931