search
for
 About Bioline  All Journals  Testimonials  Membership  News


East and Central African Journal of Surgery
Association of Surgeons of East Africa and College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa
ISSN: 1024-297X
EISSN: 1024-297X
Vol. 22, No. 2, 2017, pp. 9-16
Bioline Code: js17019
Full paper language: English
Document type: Review Article
Document available free of charge

East and Central African Journal of Surgery, Vol. 22, No. 2, 2017, pp. 9-16

 en Review of adult head injury admissions into the intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital in Nigeria
Owojuyigbe, Afolabi M.; Komolafe, Edward O.; Dada, Olumuyiwa A.; Dada, Olufunke F.; Adenekan, Anthony T.; Faponle, Aramide F.; Ogunbameru, Ibironke O.; Owagbemi, Oluwafemi F.; Ige-Orhionkpaibima, Fred S.; Onyia, Chiazor U. & Olanrewaju, Oluseun A.

Abstract

Background: Head injury is frequently associated with death and disability and imposes considerable demands on health services. Outcome after head injury is closely related to prompt management, including prevention of secondary brain injury and intensive care unit (ICU) management. This study aimed at determining the aetiological spectrum, injury characteristics, ICU admission patterns, and treatment outcomes of adult head-injured patients at a sub-Saharan tertiary hospital.

Methods: A retrospective study on adult head-injured patients admitted to the ICU of a sub-Saharan tertiary hospital between July 2000 and June 2010.

Results: A total of 198 head-injured adult patients were managed in the ICU during the study period. This included 128 males and 70 females with a male-to-female ratio of 1.8:1. The most common mode of injury was road traffic accident. All the patients admitted to ICU had either moderate or severe head injury, with 73.7% having severe head injury. About 26.3% of the patients had associated cervical spine injuries and 50% had various musculoskeletal and soft tissue injuries. Cranial computed tomography findings included brain contusions and intracranial haematomas. Mean duration of ICU stay was 18 days (range 24 hours-42 days), with 89.9% discharged out of ICU care. The overall mortality was 10.1%, although only 36.9% had satisfactory outcomes, as determined by the Glasgow Outcome Scale. Outcome had statistically significant (P < 0.05) relationship with severity of head injury and surgical intervention.

Conclusions: Head injury management in the ICU requires an approach to ensure prevention of secondary brain injury; appropriate and early neuroimaging to diagnose lesions that would benefit from timely surgical intervention; as well as management of fluid, electrolyte and haematological derangements.

Keywords
head injury; admissions; ICU

 
© Copyright 2017 - East and Central African Journal of Surgery

Home Faq Resources Email Bioline
© Bioline International, 1989 - 2024, Site last up-dated on 01-Sep-2022.
Site created and maintained by the Reference Center on Environmental Information, CRIA, Brazil
System hosted by the Google Cloud Platform, GCP, Brazil