Clinical and tomographic evaluation of patients with severe traumatic brain injury in Intensive Care
Keywords:
Brain deathAbstract
Introduction: traumatic brain injury is a health problem due to the costs generated by its care and its impact on the patient’s life.
Objective: to clinically and tomographically evaluate patients with traumatic brain injury. Methods: an observational, descriptive, prospective longitudinal study was conducted in patients with traumatic brain injury admitted to the intensive care unit of “Abel Santamaría Cuadrado” Hospital in Pinar del Río during the years 2022–2024. A purposive sample of 51 individuals who met the selection criteria was included. Documentary review of medical records and physical examination allowed the collection of information that yielded the analyzed variables, respecting medical ethics.
Results: the mean age was 44 years, with a predominance of males (80,40 %). Pedestrian accidents were the main injury mechanism (96,07 %). At admission, the mean Glasgow Coma Scale score was 8 points. Endotracheal intubation was required in 84,31 % of the sample, and 82,35 % underwent surgery. The mean hospital stay was 20 days, with a mortality rate of 37,30 %. A total of 45,10 % had Glasgow scores between 3–8 points, with a mortality of 27,45 %, showing improvement in this scale when reassessed at 72 hours. Diffuse brain injuries predominated (76,47 %), resulting in death in 25,49 % of patients with Glasgow scores <8 points.
Conclusions: clinical and tomographic evaluation of patients with traumatic brain injury are vital tools for diagnosis and treatment, thereby improving indicators related to this disease.
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References
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