Protocol can double survival rates for TBI patients

A large study published in JAMA Surgery last week looked at instances when prehospital treatment guidelines for traumatic brain injury (TBI) were followed consistently by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel treating patients who had experienced head injury with loss of consciousness. Implementing the guidelines did not improve survival rates for the entire group, but survival rates doubled for people with severe TBI and tripled for those with severe TBI who received a breathing tube while in EMS care. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), funded the study. “This demonstrates the significance of conducting studies in real-world settings and brings a strong evidence base to the guidelines,” said Patrick Bellgowan, PhD, program director at NINDS. (NIH news release, 5/8/19)