Table 1 Characteristics of the population

Demographic data

• Age (years)

48 [32–60]

48 [32–61]

49 [22–59]

0.627

• Male sex

53 (88)

39 (89)

14 (88)

0.903

• Weight (kg)

76 [67–88]

78 [69–90]

72 [60–83]

0.143

Comorbidities

• Chronic hypertension

12 (20)

9 (20)

3 (19)

0.957

• Diabetes mellitus

3 (5)

3 (7)

0 (0)

0.501

• Previous use of ACE inhibitors

5 (8)

3 (7)

2 (13)

0.876

• Previous use of β-blockers

3 (5)

2 (3)

1 (6)

0.927

Reason for admission

• Isolated TBI

• Multiple trauma with TBI

26 (43)

34 (57)

17 (39)

27 (61)

9 (56)

7 (44)

0.223

0.223

Prognostic scores

• Initial GCS

9 [5–14]

10 [6–14]

7 [4–12]

0.213

• SAPS II

45 [36–52]

44 [36–50]

39 [45–53]

0.484

Neurosurgical procedures

• Intracranial pressure monitoring

35 (58)

27 (57)

10 (63)

0.693

• External CSF derivation

16 (27)

10 (23)

6 (38)

0.253

• Parietal craniotomy

17 (28)

14 (32)

3 (19)

0.321

• Craniectomy

9 (15)

7 (16)

2 (13)

0.744

Intracranial hypertension

24 (40)

14 (33)

9 (56)

0.097

Management in the ICU

• Use of mechanical ventilation

58 (97)

41 (95)

16 (100)

0.380

• Use of vasopressors

56 (93)

40 (93)

15 (94)

0.921

• Use of osmotherapy

17 (28)

10 (23)

7 (44)

0.122

• Use of hypothermia

17 (28)

10 (23)

6 (38)

0.274

• Use of barbiturates

14 (23)

8 (19)

5 (31)

0.297

• Use of NSAIDs

10 (17)

8 (19)

2 (13)

0.578

• Use of hydrocortisone

6 (10)

6 (14)

0 (0)

0.115

• Use of desmopressine

4 (7)

3 (7)

1 (6)

0.921

Mean fluid and sodium balances

• Mean fluid balance (L)

0.8 [0.6–1.2]

0.9 [0.5–1.2]

0.6 [0.6–0.9]

0.115

• Mean sodium balance (mmol)

41 [− 33–104]

41 [−7–104]

29 [−41–100]

0.621

• Loss of weight

0 [−1–2]

0 [−2 − + 2]

0 [− 1–0]

0.843

Outcome

• Death during the ICU stay

7 (12)

3 (7)

4 (25)

0.052

• Duration under ventilation

9 [5–17]

9 [3–17]

10 [7–15]

0.412

• ICU length of stay

16 [11–28]

15 [11–26]

18 [13–24]

0.616