Drenaje lumbar exteno como tratamiento de la hipertensión endocraneal refractaria en el paciente con traumatismo craneoencefálico

Endocranial hypertension is a frequent complication in severe head trauma appearing up to in 50-75% of cases. At times it is impossible to manage endocranial hypertension despite the treatment, and in these cases mortality reaches 84-100%. External lumbar drainage is a therapeutic option in refractory endocranial hypertension. Although it has been used predominantly in pediatric patients there is also experience in adult patients. The literature shows that this technique frequently controls intracranial pressure and that is associated with a limited incidence of serious complications. We present our experience in the use of external lumbar drainage in four patients admitted because of severe head trauma who showed refractory to the habitual treatment; endocranial hypertension in this case was controlled with external lumbar drainage.