Abstract
ABSTRACT Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a public health problem with high mortality and socioeconomic repercussions. We aimed to investigate the influence of TBI severity on the length of mechanical ventilation (MV) stay and length of hospital stay and on the prevalence of tracheostomy, pneumonia, neurosurgery and death. This retrospective, observational study evaluated medical records of 67 patients with TBI admitted to Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo. Severity was determined according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS): mild (13-15 points; 36 patients; 53.7%), moderate (9-12 points; 14 patients; 20.9%) or severe (3-8 points; 17 patients; 25.4%). Severe TBI patients had higher prevalence of tracheostomy, pneumonia and neurosurgery. No significant differences were observed between TBI severity, mortality and length of MV stay. However, TBI severity influenced the length of hospital stay. TBI severity at admission, evaluated according to the GCS, influenced the prevalence of tracheostomy, pneumonia, neurosurgery and was associated to prolonged hospital stay.
Highlights
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a major public health problem with high mortality and socioeconomic repercussions
Sixty-seven charts of patients with TBI were analyzed between September 2013 and February 2014
Regarding TBI severity, evaluated according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), 36 subjects (53.7%) were admitted with mild injury, 14 (20.9%) with moderate and 17 (25.4%) with severe injury
Summary
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a major public health problem with high mortality and socioeconomic repercussions. TBI causes temporary or irreversible physical, cognitive, emotional and/or social deficits. It is caused by external physical forces and results in anatomical injury and/or functional impairment of the scalp, skull, meninges, or brain; with no degenerative or congenital nature[1]. It is the main cause of death and sequelae in young adults[2] and has a high socioeconomic impact[3]. Severity is determined by the impact itself and by the pathological and clinical processes that occur as a result of the trauma[5]
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