A retrospective study of 130 consecutive multiple trauma patients in an intensive care unit.

A retrospective study of 130 multiple trauma patients admitted to an intensive care unit is presented. Overall mortality was 33% for a mean ISS of 39.4. Craniocerebral trauma, multiple organ failure, sepsis and ARDS are the main causes of death, although there is no statistical difference for these between survivors and non-survivors. There is a good correlation between ISS and mortality (r = 0.86). Patients developing MOF, sepsis and ARDS have significantly higher ISS. Mortality from complications such as sepsis, MOF, ARDS and aspiration pneumonia seems more related to age.