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they do not complain of worsening headache or the loss of ability to see or hear or feel. The patient should also be watched for nausea or vomiting that gets worse and cannot be attributed to abdominal injuries. If any of these things happen, your physician should be contacted immediately. People who are observed in the hospital and then are discharged when they are considered medically stable with no additional bleeding in their brain should also be observed in the same way as above. Individuals who have had a loss of consciousness due to concussion should not return to contact sports for a month or longer, depending on the severity of injury. Concussions are additive.
Each subsequent concussion destroys more brain cells. Patients who have had a concussion can have temporary or permanent difficulties with mood, judgment, memory, concentration, or other higher functions. These conditions are not necessarily treated in the hospital but are usually addressed on an outpatient basis. If behavioral changes are observed that do not improve or become difficult to deal with, then the patient's physician should be contacted. Patients who initially go to the ICU will be reassigned to the general hospital floor as they improve. Some individuals may require more extensive therapy after their hospital stay.
TREATMENT OF HEAD INJURY
Head injury has an initial phase that requires emergency treatment, which may include insertion of a specialized device into the water-collecting system of the brain (the ventricles) in order to monitor the intracranial pressure or to remove additional fluid. Patients may also have a tube placed down their throat in order to assist their breathing Patients placed in the Intensive Care Unit will be hooked up to a variety of monitors that help the medical staff keep track of their medical conditions. Do not be concerned about the numbers on the monitors. The numbers mean different things in each circumstance. Monitors have alarms that go off if the measurements they record exceed certain limits. Tests, such as angiograms, MRI, CT scans, or SPECT scans are done whenever they are deemed appropriate. These tests are not done on certain time intervals, but only as required. The most important information obtained from the patient during their stay in the ICU typically is through the neurological exam that is performed frequently by the nursing and medical staff.
Even though we do our best to try to improve the patient's condition, the outcome is usually based on the passage of time and on the patient's ability to heal them. It is usually the case that the sooner the patient awakens, the less damage they have. On the other hand, unfortunately, usually the longer the patient is unresponsive the less likely the chance they have of functional recovery.
SUPPORT STAFF
Along with the neurosurgical and nursing staff, patients are evaluated and treated by other physicians. Internists handle severe medical problems, and neurologists assist in determining function. Speech pathologists help if the patient has difficulty with speaking or swallowing, and dietitians help in determining adequate nutritional needs. Physical therapists, occupational therapists or rehabilitation doctors help in determining what patients need when they are getting ready to leave the hospital. Social workers help make arrangements for the family members during the hospital stay, as well as help with the disposition of the patient.
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