Brain Tissue Oxygen Monitoring in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Design and Outcomes This study is a two-arm, single-blind, randomized, controlled, phase II, multi-center pilot trial of the efficacy of pBrO2 monitoring, and is designed to obtain data required for a definitive phase III study, such as efficacy of physiologic maneuvers aimed at normalizing pBrO2. 182 patients with severe TBI who require ICP monitoring will be recruited into this study at 4 clinical sites in the US (Univ. of Texas Southwestern/Parkland Memorial Hospital, Univ. of Washington/Harborview Medical Center, Univ. of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, and Univ. of Pennsylvania/Hospital of the Univ. of Pennsylvania). All patients will have both ICP monitors and pBrO2 monitors inserted through the same burr hole. Half of the patients will be randomized to a treatment protocol based on both ICP and pBrO2 readings, while the control group will be randomized to a treatment protocol based only on ICP readings. The pBrO2monitors of the control arm will be masked, so that the treating physicians will be unaware of the pBrO2 information. Patients will have telephone follow-up interview to assess their level of recovery 6 months post injury, using the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended. Interventions and Duration Patients randomized to the control group will have pBrO2 implanted in a similar fashion as patients in the treatment group, but after calibration of the device, the display will be covered with opaque tape. Patients in the control will be treated with a protocol based on ICP measures only. Patients in the treatment group (both ICP and pBrO2 measures are visible) will be treated according to a protocol that incorporates both ICP and pBrO2 measures. The treatment protocols are based on current standards of care, but are described in detail to insure uniformity in treatments across the 4 study sites. The probe will remain in place for a maximum or 5 days, until all values are normal for 48 hours, or sooner if a complication arises. If the patient has normal values, monitors will be removed after 48 hours. Objectives Primary Objective: The prescribed treatment protocol, based on pBrO2 monitoring, results in reduction of the fraction of time that brain oxygen levels are below the critical threshold of 20 mm Hg in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Secondary Objectives: * Safety hypotheses: Adverse events associated with pBrO2 monitoring are rare. * Feasibility hypotheses: Episodes of decreased pBrO2 can be identified and treatment protocol instituted comparably across 4 clinical sites, and protocol violations will be low (\<10%) and uniform across different clinical sites. * Non-futility hypothesis: A relative risk of good outcome measured by the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended 6 months after injury of 2.0 is consistent with the results of this phase II study.