Abstract

Introduction: Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major and challenging problem in critical care medicine. Aim: To assess the outcome and predicting factor following severe TBI. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective and cross-sectional study. Data were collected from two sections; one section consisting of a questionnaire answered by the patients and other section from the patient records. The instruments used included the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), SF-36 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). Results: The mortality rate of the patients was 46.2. The quality of life (QOL) of the patients in most dimension were impaired and (58) of patients had unfavourable QOL. About (37.5) of patients with anxiety and (27.5) had a depression. A significant correlation was found between age, GCS arrival, length of ICU stay, mechanical ventilation, VAP & ARDS and pupil reactivity with QOL, GOS, HAD-A and HAD-D (p< 0.05, p< 0.001). GCS arrival a predicate factor for QOL and GOS (p < 0.001, OR: 1.75, 1.94 respectively); length of ICU stay a predicate factor for QOL and GOS (p < 0.05, OR : 1.11, 1.28 respectively); mechanical ventilation a predicate factor for GOS (p < 0.001, OR : 1.78); ventilation associated pneumonia (VAP) & acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and pupil reactivity a predicate factor for GOS (p < 0.05, OR : 1.36; p< 0.001, OR: 1.94 respectively). The GCS arrival and ICU stay a predicate factor for HAD-A (p< 0.05, OR: 1.73, 1.38 respectively). Conclusion: With respect to results advanced in pre hospital, medical and surgical care for the decrease in mortality rates of Head trauma (HT), the use of trauma triage tools and strict enforcement of traffic rules are necessary.