Evaluation of the Safety of Inhaled Sedation With Isoflurane in Head Trauma Patients

Overview

Intensive care management of patient with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) includes deep and prolonged sedation with intravenous hypnotics (propofol, midazolam, ketamine) in combination with opioids to prevent and/or treat episodes of intracranial hypertension. However, some patients may develop tachyphylaxis with a gradual increase of administered intravenous hypnotics and opioids to maintain the same level of sedation. This situation leads to a failure in controlling intracranial pressure (ICP) and/or to the risk of adverse effects due to high-dose sedatives: haemodynamic instability, prolonged mechanical ventilation, neuromyopathy, delirium, withdrawal syndrome. Halogenated agents (Isoflurane, Sevoflurane) are a class of hypnotics routinely used in the operating room. However, doses used in surgical patients (\> 1 Minimal Alveolar Concentration, MAC) are not suitable in neuro-intensive care unit (ICU) patients at risk of intracranial hypertension because of the cerebral vasodilator effects of halogenated agents at this dosage, hence the risk of high ICP and compromised cerebral perfusion pressure. The use of halogenated agents has been recently possible in the ICU through dedicated medical devices (Sedaconda ACD, Mirus). Recommended dosage are lower in the ICU, i.e. 0.3-0.7 MAC, because of their association with intravenous hypnotics and the absence of surgical stimuli. Several clinical studies in general ICUs showed improved sedation quality, reduced duration of mechanical ventilation, faster arousal and shorter extubation time, and lower costs in halogenated group compared with control group receiving midazolam or propofol. At low doses, the effects on ICP and intracerebral haemodynamics of halogenated agents are minor according to the available literature. In addition, beneficial effects were found on cerebral ischaemic volume in animal models treated with halogenated agents. However, there is a need to explore the benefit-risk ratio of the use of halogenated agents in the severe TBI population. The investigator hypothesise that 0.7 MAC Isoflurane can be administered in this population without deleterious effect on ICP.

Intensive care management of patients with severe neurological injury regularly involves deep and prolonged sedation with intravenous hypnotics (propofol, midazolam, ketamine) in combination with morphine, with the aim of preventing and/or treating episodes of intracranial hypertension (ICHT). However, the tachyphylaxis associated with intravenous hypnotics requires a continuous increase in the doses administered to maintain the same level of sedation, or even a combination of several pharmacological classes. This progressive tolerance to hypnotics may result in the failure of the sedation strategy for certain neuro-injured patients and/or expose them to the undesirable effects of high doses of intravenous hypnotics: haemodynamic instability, longer periods of mechanical ventilation, neuromyopathy, mental confusion and withdrawal syndrome. Inhaled halogens are a class of hypnotics used daily in the operating theatre to maintain anaesthesia. At the doses used in anaesthesia (\> 1 MAC - Minimal Alveolar Concentration), they are contraindicated in neuro-injured patients at risk of HTIC because of their cerebral vasodilatory effects, which can lead to an increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) and compromise cerebral perfusion. Halogens (Isoflurane, Sevoflurane) can be used in intensive care with appropriate medical devices (Isoconda, Mirus). They are used at more moderate doses (\< 1 MAC) because they are combined with intravenous hypnotics and because there is no surgical stimulus. Several clinical studies in general intensive care have shown improved sedation quality, reduced duration of mechanical ventilation, quicker awakening and shorter time to tracheal extubation, and lower costs in the group treated with a halogenated agent compared with the control group receiving midazolam or propofol. At these low concentrations, the effects on ICP and intracerebral haemodynamics are much less marked, according to the studies published on this subject. In addition, beneficial effects on the volume of cerebral ischaemia have been shown in animal models treated with halogenated agents. However, there is a need for a precise study of the benefit-risk ratio of using halogenated agents in neurological patients. The Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Unit at the CHUGA has been internationally recognised for many years in the management of sedation-analgesia in intensive care. In connection with this, the experience acquired by the CHUGA's neuro-resuscitation unit in brain monitoring will be used to explore in detail the effects of halogenated agents on intracerebral haemodynamics and intracranial pressure. the investigator hypothesise that the administration of Isoflurane at 0.7 MAC can be used in this population without deleterious effect on ICP.