Multiple Medical Therapies for Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Comparative Effectiveness Approach
Investigators at Boston Children’s Hospital (Robert Tasker and Kerri LaRovere) have partnered with Dr. Michael Bell at the University of Pittsburgh and investigators at other institutions throughout the world to conduct an observational cohort study of 1000 children with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) to compare the effectiveness of several pediatric TBI therapies. Working as part of an international consortium from the US, UK and EU, Drs. Tasker and LaRovere are looking at multiple types of TBI therapies including intracranial hypertension strategies, including cerebrospinal fluid diversion and hyperosmolar therapies; secondary insult detection, including prophylactic hyperventilation and brain tissue oxygen monitoring (PbO2); and metabolic support, including nutritional support and glucose management. This project may provide compelling evidence to change clinical practices, provide evidence for several new recommendations for future guidelines and lead to improved research protocols that would be limit variability and increase the effectiveness of treatment strategies for traumatic brain injuries.
