Brain hypoxia is exacerbated in hypobaria during aeromedical evacuation in swine with traumatic brain injury

摘要

BACKGROUND: There is inadequate information on the physiologic effects of aeromedical evacuation on wounded war fighters with traumatic brain injury (TBI). At altitudes of 8,000 ft, the inspired oxygen is lower than standard sea level values. In troops experiencing TBI, this reduced oxygen may worsen or cause secondary brain injury. We tested the hypothesis that the effects of prolonged aeromedical evacuation on critical neurophysiologic parameters (i.e., brain oxygenation [PbtO2]) of swine with a fluid percussion injury/TBI would be detrimental compared with ground (normobaric) transport.