Extracranial complications of craniocerebral injuries during the early post-traumatic period
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 1998 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | CESKA A SLOVENSKA NEUROLOGIE A NEUROCHIRURGIE |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Neurology, neurosurgery, neurosciences |
| Keywords | extracranial complications; craniocerebral injury |
| Description | The incidence of serious extracranial complications during the first ten days after injury and their influence on the post-traumatic course was evaluated in 150 patients, treated on account of craniocerebral injuries in 1994-1996. Serious complications were recorded in 76 patients (51%). Complications were more frequent in injuries with cerebral contusion (63%) and in multiple injuries (71%). The most frequent extracranial complications were pneumonia and respiratory complications (29%), ion disbalance (17%) and coagulopathies (15%). The majority of these complications was twice to six times more frequent in the group of patients with GCS less than or equal to 8. In patients with complications and GCS less than or equal to 8 during the early period of hospitalization deterioration of the clinical condition or death occurred in 7% and 21% resp. In patients without complications and with GCS less than or equal to 8 death occurred in 20%. The other patients of this group either improved or their state did not change. In less severe injuries (GCS > 8) in case of complications deterioration occurred in 15% and death in 5%. If in this group no complications developed neither deterioration nor death occurred. The early results were influenced most by coagulopathies which cause deterioration of the clinical condition or death in 55% and by pulmonary complications in 33%. Complications caused a prolongation of the mean period of hospitalization at the neurosurgical department from 9 to 12.8 days (p < 0.01). The authors conclude that prevention, early diagnosis and intensive treatment of extracranial complications after head injuries can improve the therapeutic results and reduce the hospitalization period at a neurosurgical department |