Severe traumatic brain injury is associated with an increased production of free radicals causing brain damage. First line treatment of these patients aims to maintain cerebral perfusion and includes deep anaesthesia. Propofol has recently shown anti oxidant properties that need to be confirmed when used in these patients. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of propofol compared to midazolam on intra cerebral oxidative stress following severe traumatic brain injury.

Severe traumatic brain injury is associated with an increased production of free radicals causing brain damage. First line treatment of these patients aims to maintain cerebral perfusion and includes deep anaesthesia. Propofol has recently shown anti oxidant properties that need to be confirmed when used in these patients. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of propofol compared to midazolam on intra cerebral oxidative stress following severe traumatic brain injury. Measurements will be performed by use of intracerebral microdialysis.

Inclusion Criteria:

Age≥18 years, Severe traumatic brain injury with a Glasgow coma scale ≤8 related to the trauma, Stage II, III or IV of the US Trauma Data Bank on the CT scan, Need for intracranial pressure monitoring, Written informed consent from the patient's next-of-kin. If no relative is present as the time of inclusion, the patients will be included according to the emergency procedure.

Non-inclusion Criteria:

Traumatic brain injury requiring urgent neurosurgical intervention due to blood collection, Contraindication to propofol or midazolam, History of head trauma > 12 hours before intra cranial pressure monitoring, Patient receiving propofol by continuous infusion since head trauma.