UNM Hospital Participating in Severe Brain Trauma Study

A study of emergency care involving victims of severe brain trauma is to be performed in this area.

Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability in children and adults up to 44 years of age. Every 15 seconds someone in the US suffers a major traumatic brain injury, and every five minutes someone is forever disabled from traumatic brain injury.

The University of New Mexico Hospital is conducting a research study to learn if either of two strategies currently used for monitoring and treating patients with severe traumatic brain injury in the intensive care unit (ICU) is more likely to help them get better. Both of these alternative strategies are used in standard care. It is unknown if one is more effective than the other.

In one strategy doctors concentrate on preventing high intracranial pressure caused by a swollen brain. In the other strategy doctors try to prevent high intracranial pressure and also try to prevent low brain oxygen levels. This study will discover if either strategy is more safe and effective.

The study will include adults and children older than 14 years with severe brain injury requiring admission to the ICU with brain monitoring. The research will be part of the Brain Oxygen Optimization in Severe TBI Phase-3 (BOODT-3) study..Hospitals across the country are conducting the study which is funded by the US National Institutes of Health.

Because head injury is a life threatening condition requiring immediate treatment, some patients will be enrolled without consent if a family member or other representative is not rapidly available. Every attempt will be made to locate family prior to enrollment to allow them to decide about the patient's participation in the study.

Before the study starts, the research team will will consult with the community. Feedback and questions are welcome.

For more information or to decline participation in this study, please visit boost3trial.org or contact the study staff at 505-925-4392

The study's Primary Investigato is Huy Tran, MD, and the Study Coordinator is Devon Lara.