Protective effect of anisodamine on respiratory function after severe brain injury.

OBJECTIVE:To study the clinical therapeutic effect of anisodamine on respiratory function after severe brain injury. METHODS:Ninety patients with respiratory dysfunction following severe brain injury were divided into two groups: a treatment group (n = 45, treated with routine therapy plus anisodamine) and a control group (n = 45, treated with routine therapy only). The pulmonary ventilation function and oxygenation function were compared between the two groups. RESULTS:In the treatment group, 12 hours after treatment the respiratory rate reduced, the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO(2)), the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO(2)) and oxygenation exponent increased, the dead space ventilation dose and the pulmonary alveolus-partial pressure of arterial oxygen difference decreased, and the ventilation function of the respiratory tract and pulmonary oxygenation function improved. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). No side-effect was found except a slight increase of intracranial pressure and heart rate. CONCLUSIONS:Anisodamine can improve pulmonary ventilation function and oxygenation function and decrease the incidence of hypoxemia markedly. It is effective in treating respiratory dysfunction after severe brain injury.