Traumatic brain injury (TBI) accounts for a substantial portion of the morbidity and mortality caused by all types of trauma, significantly contributing to more than half of trauma-related deaths. It is the most-frequent cause of mortality and morbidity in those aged up to 45 years, not only in the Western world, but also in developing countries [1-3]. It is also the leading cause of loss of years of productive life. The cost to American society is over 40 billion dollars annually [4]. Neurotrauma is a serious public health problem, demanding continuing efforts in the areas of prevention and treatment [5]. Secondary brain injury of extracranial origin affects the outcome in head--injured patients. A distinctive feature of head injury is the brain's vulnerability to ischemia. The extents of hypoxemia and hypotension suffered by the patient with a TBI are usually underestimated in the pre-hospital phase. Hypotension affects directly cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) and diminishes cerebral blood flow (CBF).
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