Head trauma in the cat: 2. assessment and management of traumatic brain injury

Laurent Garosi, Sophie Adamantos

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: Feline trauma patients are commonly seen in general practice and frequently have sustained some degree of brain injury.

CLINICAL CHALLENGES: Cats with traumatic brain injuries may have a variety of clinical signs, ranging from minor neurological deficits to life-threatening neurological impairment. Appropriate management depends on prompt and accurate patient assessment, and an understanding of the pathophysiology of brain injury. The most important consideration in managing these patients is maintenance of cerebral perfusion and oxygenation. For cats with severe head injury requiring decompressive surgery, early intervention is critical.

EVIDENCE BASE: There is a limited clinical evidence base to support the treatment of traumatic brain injury in cats, despite its relative frequency in general practice. Appropriate therapy is, therefore, controversial in veterinary medicine and mostly based on experimental studies or human head trauma studies. This review, which sets out to describe the specific approach to diagnosis and management of traumatic brain injury in cats, draws on the current evidence, as far as it exists, as well as the authors' clinical experience.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)815-23
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
Volume13
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2011

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2011 ISFM and AAFP. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Animals
  • Brain Injuries
  • Cats
  • Craniocerebral Trauma
  • Emergency Treatment
  • Glasgow Coma Scale
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Pain Management
  • Respiration, Artificial
  • Spinal Injuries

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