External Lumbar Drainage to Reduce ICP in Severe TBI: a Phase 1 Clinical Trial

The goal of this phase 1 randomized controlled safety and feasibility clinical trial are to determine the safety of external lumbar drainage (ELD) in select patients with severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The main questions it aims to answer are (i) if ELD is feasible and (ii) safe to perform in severe TBI patients who have radiological evidence of patent basal cisterns and midline shift \<5mm without increasing the risk of neurological worsening or cerebral herniation. All participants will receive routine usual care. The study group will additionally have ELD for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage. A comparison will be made between the usual treatment plus ELD (interventional) groups, and the usual treatment (control) groups on incidence rate of neurological worsening or cerebral herniation events, and whether total hours with raised intracranial pressure (ICP) are different.

This is a randomized controlled trial to determine the safety and feasibility of external lumbar drainage (ELD) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as an adjunct to existing treatments to lower brain pressure, in select patients suffering severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). This trial is funded by the Department of Defense, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine (CNRM). Following a severe TBI, the brain swells and the pressure in the cranium rises causing further brain injury, The goal of treatment of such patients is to use treatments that lower brain swelling or pressure - directly by removing blood clots or indirectly by trying to lower the volume of contents in the cranium, viz. CSF or blood. Routinely a drain is placed in the skull to drain CSF out to provide space for brain swelling, thus keeping intracranial pressure (ICP) low. In some instances, all treatments available are unable to control swelling and the skull may need to be removed from one side, and in spite of this patients may die or suffer severe neurological injury and remain disabled. Several non-randomized studies have shown that ELD is very effective in lowering intracranial pressure (ICP) in an immediate and lasting manner. While historical concerns remain that the brain may shift downwards causing herniation, this is not supported by recent studies. However, due to the historic nature of such teachings, some physicians may not use this potentially effective treatment in treating severe TBI patients with high ICP. Therefore, in this trial we will determine the safety ELD in treating severe TBI patients, in a randomized controlled manner, whereby two-thirds of the patients will be randomized to routine usual treatments and either early or late ELD, and a third to only routine usual treatments. The patient randomized to ELD will receive this in addition to all other usual treatments, and no available treatment will be withheld The secondary objectives are to determine if routine quantitative pupillometry can be used for safety determination and monitoring of ELD by evaluating: 1. Correlation with ELD safety score 2. Temporally changes prior to occurrence of any 'critical neuro-worsening events Comparison / Usual treatment All participants will undergo usual treatment as per evidence- and guidelines-based Seattle International Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Consensus Conference (SIBICC) algorithm (36, 71). Routine non-invasive automated infra-red pupillometry will be performed bilaterally every hour as part of routine neurological checks for neuro-worsening in addition to hourly Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score checks and other routine intensive care unit (ICU) protocols. No treatment will be withheld. ICP monitoring will be performed with intra-parenchymal monitor or external ventricular drainage (EVD) as per local protocols. RISKS TO HUMAN SUBJECTS: The assessments for this study involve risk and benefits to patients trial.show_full_description

Inclusion Criteria: 1. 18-65 years age 2. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 3-8 3. Pupils symmetric and bilaterally reactive 4. Midline shift ≤5mm at the level of foramen of Monro on admission or post-operative brain CT 5. Patent (complete or partial) quadrigeminal cisterns on admission or post-operative brain CT 6. First randomization and intervention may be commenced within 24 hours of injury 7. ELD safety score ≥5 Exclusion Criteria: 1. GCS \>8 2. Cisterns on CT completely effaced 3. Midline shift on CT \>5mm 4. GCS 3 with dilated and fixed pupils 5. Uncal or tonsillar herniation on admission or post-operative brain CT 6. Temporal lobe contusions with effaced ipsilateral cisterns 7. Penetrating TBI 8. Primary hemicraniectomy 9. Pregnancy 10. Prisoners 11. Patients previously lacking capacity to consent or refuse treatment, or with advanced directives to forego aggressive care 12. Pre-existing conditions affecting functional status or life expectancy to less than 1 year 13. Contra-indications for ELD placement: coagulopathy, use of anticoagulants or anti-thrombotics, thrombocytopenia \<50,000, or severe spinal deformity. 14. posterior fossa hemorrhage