Factors predicting mortality in victims of blunt trauma brain injury in emergency department settings.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to identify risk factors for mortality in patients brought to the emergency department (ED) after blunt traumatic brain injury (TBI).

METHODS

The medical records of such patients who visited the ED from June 2004 to May 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Data (age, gender, initial Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores, initial vital signs, brain computed tomography scan findings and cause of trauma) were collected from the records of 204 TBI patients, who were treated at the ED and needed intensive care. Among these patients, 48 died in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital. Logistic regression was used to assess factors affecting mortality after trauma.

RESULTS

Age (odds ratio (OR) 1.04; 95% CI 1.01 to approximately 1.07), GCS score less than 9 (OR 19.29; 95% CI 5.04 to approximately 73.82) and skull bone fracture (OR 10.44; 95% CI 3.59 to approximately 30.38) were identified as possible risk factors of mortality in TBI patients.

CONCLUSION

These predictors appear to be clinically relevant and may help improve ED triage of TBI patients in need of ICU care.