New research may save brain cells

A tsunami is a massive wave of destruction, but it doesn’t just happen on the coast. It can happen inside your brain.

These brain tsunamis, or spreading depolarizations happen in people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury, or TBI.

“We’re finding out is a likely culprit in more and more diseases than we ever thought imaginable. It’s kind of like the hidden iceberg below the surface.” said Dr. Jed Hartings.

After a TBI, brain cells can begin to short-circuit and die. For the first time ever, researchers at the University of Cincinnati have found a way to diagnose and test tsunamis to prevent more from happening.

“This has actually been revolutionary in terms of how we think about how we treat brain injury patients,” said Dr. Laura Ngwenya.

Neurosurgeon Laura Ngwenya is using the same technology they currently use to monitor TBI patients but with a new algorithm.

“We place an electrode strip on the surface of the brain, and this allows us to detect seizure activity, but it also allows us to detect these abnormal brain tsunamis,” said Ngwenya.

Researchers found the drug ketamine can stop the wave. Also, doctors can monitor blood pressure and body temperature to prevent the spreading depolarization.

Brain tsunamis can happen continuously for up to a couple of days in traumatic brain injury patients or continue on and off for up to two weeks after a severe injury.

There is no standard of care, but doctors hope after a larger clinical trial they will be able to create one.