BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to ascertain the role of clinical variables and neuromonitoring data as predictors of brain death (BD) after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study involved severe TBI patients admitted to the intensive care unit between October 2009 and May 2011. The following variables were recorded: gender, age, reference Glasgow Coma Scale after resuscitation, pupillary reactivity, prehospital hypotension and desaturation, injury severity score, computed tomography (CT) findings, intracranial hypertension, and low brain tissue oxygenation (Pti02) levels (<16 mm Hg), as well as the final result of BD. RESULTS: Among 61 patients (86.9% males) who met the inclusion criteria, the average age was 37.69 ± 16.44 years. Traffic accidents were the main cause of TBI (62.3%). The patients at risk of progressing to BD (14.8% of the entire cohort) were those with a mass lesion on CT (odds ratio [OR] 33.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.75-300.30; P = .002), altered pupillary reaction at admission (OR 25.5; 95% CI: 2.27-285.65; P = .009), as well low Pti02 levels on admission (OR 20.41; 95% CI: 3.52-118.33; P < .001) and during the first 24 hours of neuromonitoring (OR 20; 95% CI: 2.90-137.83; P < .001). Multivariate logistic regression showed that a low Pti02 level on admission was the best independent predictor for BD (OR 20.41; 95% CI: 3.53-118.33; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical variables and neuromonitoring information may identify TBI patients at risk of deterioration to BD.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to ascertain the role of clinical variables and neuromonitoring data as predictors of brain death (BD) after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study involved severe TBIpatients admitted to the intensive care unit between October 2009 and May 2011. The following variables were recorded: gender, age, reference Glasgow Coma Scale after resuscitation, pupillary reactivity, prehospital hypotension and desaturation, injury severity score, computed tomography (CT) findings, intracranial hypertension, and low brain tissue oxygenation (Pti02) levels (<16 mm Hg), as well as the final result of BD. RESULTS: Among 61 patients (86.9% males) who met the inclusion criteria, the average age was 37.69 ± 16.44 years. Traffic accidents were the main cause of TBI (62.3%). The patients at risk of progressing to BD (14.8% of the entire cohort) were those with a mass lesion on CT (odds ratio [OR] 33.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.75-300.30; P = .002), altered pupillary reaction at admission (OR 25.5; 95% CI: 2.27-285.65; P = .009), as well low Pti02 levels on admission (OR 20.41; 95% CI: 3.52-118.33; P < .001) and during the first 24 hours of neuromonitoring (OR 20; 95% CI: 2.90-137.83; P < .001). Multivariate logistic regression showed that a low Pti02 level on admission was the best independent predictor for BD (OR 20.41; 95% CI: 3.53-118.33; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical variables and neuromonitoring information may identify TBIpatients at risk of deterioration to BD.
Authors: Juan J Egea-Guerrero; Francisco Murillo-Cabezas; Elena Gordillo-Escobar; Ana Rodríguez-Rodríguez; Judy Enamorado-Enamorado; Jaume Revuelto-Rey; María Pacheco-Sánchez; Antonio León-Justel; Jose M Domínguez-Roldán; Angel Vilches-Arenas Journal: J Neurotrauma Date: 2013-08-28 Impact factor: 5.269