Evaluating the Efficacy of Aggressive Treatments and Palliative Care for Traumatic Brain Injuries in Elderly Patients: A Review

Abstract

Introduction: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are caused by trauma to the head or body, and are a prominent issue within the geriatric population. Severe TBIs can result in a myriad of symptoms including headaches, problems with speech, loss of consciousness, coma, and potential death. Methods: The goal of this paper is to determine if aggressive treatment would be better suited to treat severe TBIs in the elderly population as compared to the standard cons. A primary literature search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar, and 9 articles were chosen based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria identified. Results: It was found that aggressive treatments such as depressive craniotomies are effective in treating TBIs, improving GCS scores and decreasing mortality rates. Despite this, aggressive treatment cannot be universally applied, as many factors beyond age contribute to the type of treatment that can be administered. Furthermore, when aggressive treatment could not be used, palliative care is useful in treating TBIs in the elderly population, but it does not contribute significantly to the decrease in mortality. Discussion: As a result, the study concludes that while aggressive treatment is often more beneficial than palliative care, the specific combinatorial of these treatments should be considered based on the individual needs and medical history of each patient Conclusion: This finding is essential as it contributes to the limited body of knowledge currently available for the treatment of TBIs in the elderly population.