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Fulltext Better Glasgow outcome score, cerebral perfusion pressure and focal brain oxygenation in severely traumatized brain following direct regional brain hypothermia therapy: A prospective randomized study

Idris Z, Zenian MS, Muzaimi M, Hamid WZ

Asian J Neurosurg, 2014 Jul-Sep;9(3):115-23.
PMID: 25685201 DOI: 10.4103/1793-5482.142690

Induced hypothermia for treatment of traumatic brain injury is controversial. Since many pathways involved in the pathophysiology of secondary brain injury are temperature dependent, regional brain hypothermia is thought capable to mitigate those processes. The objectives of this study are to assess the therapeutic effects and complications of regional brain cooling in severe head injury with Glasgow coma scale (GCS) 6-7.

Matched MeSH terms: Glasgow Coma Scale
Cerebrospinal fluid nitric oxide metabolite levels as a biomarker in severe traumatic brain injury

Kandasamy R, Kanti Pal H, Swamy M, Abdullah J

Int J Neurosci, 2013 Jun;123(6):385-91.
PMID: 23270401 DOI: 10.3109/00207454.2012.761983

Nitric oxide has a definitive role in the complex pathophysiology of traumatc brain injury (TBI). This prospective cohort study investigated the changes in nitric oxide metabolite (NOx) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and their correlation with factors associated with severity and prognosis after severe TBI. NOx levels were measured in CSF obtained via ventriculostomy in 44 adult patients admitted after severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 8/15). The overall mean level of CSF NOx in the study population was 7.40 ± 1.59 μmol/L. Levels of CSF NOx were found to be significantly higher in subgroups of patients with poorer outcome measured by Glasgow Outcome Scale score (p < 0.042), in patients with high intracranial pressure (ICP) readings (p < 0.027) and in those with higher Marshall computed tomography (CT) grading scores (p < 0.026). Simple logistic regression demonstrated that CSF NOx levels were a significant predictor of ICP (b = 0.493, 95%CI: 1.03, 2.58, p = 0.033). A patient with 1 μmol/L increase in NOx level had 1.6 times the odds to have an ICP ≥ 20 mmHg when other confounders were not adjusted. NOx level is also a significant predictor of Marshall CT grading (b = 0.473, 95%CI: 1.02, 2.50, p = 0.037). A patient with 1 μmol/L increase in NOx level had 1.6 times the odds to have a high Marshall grade when other confounders were not adjusted. It can be concluded that CSF NOx levels may serve as a potentially useful biomarker in severe TBI given its significant association with ICP readings as well as Marshall CT grading.

Matched MeSH terms: Glasgow Coma Scale
Fulltext Coma due to malplaced external ventricular drain

Chai FY, Farizal F, Jegan T

Turk Neurosurg, 2013;23(4):561-3.
PMID: 24101284 DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.5724-12.1

Ventriculostomy or external ventricular drain (EVD) placement by free-hand technique has a high malplacement rate. It is a blind procedure that often requires multiple attempts and revisions. To date, no neurological complication due to EVD malplacement has been reported in the literature. In this report, we present the first case of coma induced by a malplaced EVD and the patient regained consciousness after the drain was adjusted. Our discussion focused on various techniques that can improve the accuracy of EVD insertion. EVD insertion under image guidance provides better accuracy with limited disadvantages. We hypothesized that the patient's coma was due to the mass effect and irritation of the malplaced EVD exerted onto the ventral periaqueductal grey matter and the ascending neurons from upper brainstem.

Matched MeSH terms: Coma/etiology*; Glasgow Coma Scale
Fulltext The role of repeat head computed tomography in the management of mild traumatic brain injury patients with a positive initial head CT

Sharifuddin A, Adnan J, Ghani AR, Abdullah JM

Med J Malaysia, 2012 Jun;67(3):305-8.
PMID: 23082423 MyJurnal

This was a prospective observational study done to evaluate the role of a repeat head CT in patients with mild traumatic brain injury. The aim was to evaluate wether the repeat head CT were useful in providing information that leads to any neurosurgical intervention. 279 adult patients with a mild head injury (GCS 13-15) were enrolled, and these comprised of patients with an initial traumatic intracranial haemorrhage not warranting any surgical intervention. All patients were subjected to a repeat head CT within 48 hours of admission and these showed no change or improvements of the brain lesion in 217 patients (79.2%) and worsening in 62 patients (20.8%). In thirty-one patients, surgical intervention was done following the repeat head CT. All of these patients had a clinical deterioration prior to the repeat head CT. Even if a repeat head CT had not been ordered on these patients, they would have had a repeat head CT due to deteriorating neurological status. When the 62 patients with a worsening repeat head CT were compared with the 217 patients with an improved or unchanged repeat head CT, they were found to have older age, lower GCS on admission, presenting symptoms of headache, higher incidence of multiple traumatic intracranial pathology and lower haemoglobin level on admission. On stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis, three factors were found to independently predict a worse repeat head CT (Table IV). This includes age of 65 years or older, GCS score of less than 15 and multiple traumatic intracranial lesion on initial head CT. As a conclusion, we recommend that, in patients with a MTBI and a normal neurological examination, a repeat cranial CT is not indicated, as it resulted in no change in management or neurosurgical intervention. Close monitoring is warranted in a subset of patients with risk factors for a worsening repeat head CT.
Keywords: Computed tomography, brain injury, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Glasgow Coma Scale
Fulltext Wernicke's Encephalopathy in a Patient with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings

Law HL, Tan S, Sedi R

Malays J Med Sci, 2011 Jul;18(3):71-4.
PMID: 22135604

We report a case of Wernicke's encephalopathy in a patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma with a 3-month history of poor oral intake related to nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy. The patient later developed deep coma while receiving in-patient therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed typical findings of Wernicke's encephalopathy. The patient was treated with thiamine injections, which resulted in subsequent partial recovery of neurological function. This paper stresses the importance of magnetic resonance imaging for prompt diagnosis of Wernicke's encephalopathy.

Matched MeSH terms: Coma
APOE genotype and neuropsychological outcome in mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury: a pilot study

Shadli RM, Pieter MS, Yaacob MJ, Rashid FA

Brain Inj, 2011;25(6):596-603.
PMID: 21534737 DOI: 10.3109/02699052.2011.572947

The influence of apolipoprotein (APOE) on neuropsychological outcome was investigated in 19 patients (25.79 ± 7.22 years) with mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury and 14 matched healthy control subjects (27.43 ± 6.65 years).

Matched MeSH terms: Glasgow Coma Scale
Intravascular hypothermia for acute hemorrhagic stroke: a pilot study

Abdullah JM, Husin A

Acta Neurochir. Suppl., 2011;111:421-4.
PMID: 21725794 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-7091-0693-8_72

The use of intravascular hypothermia in the treatment of hemorrhagic stroke is currently still being researched. The exact therapeutic properties and effect of hypothermia on the natural progression of the disease are not known, and a only small number of papers has been published with results from these studies. Mild hypothermia at 34°C was induced in six patients with hemorrhagic stroke in the first 48 h after presentation, using an intravascular catheter placed in the inferior vena cava. The hypothermia was induced and maintained for 24 h followed by gradual rewarming. Another 18 patients with hemorrhagic stroke but not receiving hypothermia were then taken as the control group, and all patients were treated with standard stroke management. The patients were then followed up using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) for 6 months and 1 year. There was a statistically significant improvement at 6 months and 1 year follow-up using the mRS score in the hypothermia group, indicating a possible beneficial effect of early therapeutic hypothermia in the management of acute hemorrhagic stroke. However, a larger study is needed in order to confirm our finding.

Matched MeSH terms: Glasgow Coma Scale
The role of a high augmentation index in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage to prognosticate mortality

Keong LH, Ghani AR, Awang MS, Sayuthi S, Idris B, Abdullah JM

Acta Neurochir. Suppl., 2011;111:375-9.
PMID: 21725785 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-7091-0693-8_63

The aim of the study was to determine the prognostic value of a high augmentation index, which was a surrogate marker of arterial stiffness in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. The outcome was divided into two groups in which the following data were collected in a computer running SphygmoCor CvMS software version 8.2. Logistic regression analysis was carried out among significant variables to identify an independent predictor of 6-month outcome and mortality. Sixty patients were recruited into the study. Admission Glasgow Coma Scale score (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.450-0.971; P=0.035), total white cell count (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.028-1.453; P=0.023) and hematoma volume (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.024-1.204; P=0.011) were found to be statistically significant for identifying poor 6-month outcome in multivariate analysis. Factors independently associated with mortality were a high augmentation index (OR, 8.6; 95% CI, 1.794-40.940; P=0.007) and midline shift (OR, 7.5; 95% CI, 1.809-31.004; P=0.005). Admission Glasgow Coma Scale score, total white cell count and hematoma volume were significant predictors for poor 6-month outcome, and a high augmentation index and midline shift were predictors for 6-month mortality in this study.

Matched MeSH terms: Glasgow Coma Scale
Fulltext Role of high augmentation index in spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage

Lee HK, Ghani AR, Awang MS, Sayuthi S, Idris B, Abdullah JM

Asian J Surg, 2010 Jan;33(1):42-50.
PMID: 20497882 DOI: 10.1016/S1015-9584(10)60008-5

Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is the most disabling and least treatable form of stroke. Its risk factors include old age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolaemia, smoking and high alcohol intake, which are also associated with arterial stiffness. The aim of the present study was to determine the prognostic value of high augmentation index (AI), which is a surrogate marker of arterial stiffness, in patients with spontaneous ICH.

Matched MeSH terms: Glasgow Coma Scale
Fulltext Severe traumatic brain injury: outcome in patients with diffuse axonal injury managed conservatively in Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Bahru--an observational study

Liew BS, Johari SA, Nasser AW, Abdullah J

Med J Malaysia, 2009 Dec;64(4):280-8.
PMID: 20954551

Patients with isolated severe head injury with diffuse axonal injury and without any surgical lesion may be treated safely without cerebral resuscitation and intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring. Seventy two patients were divided into three groups of patients receiving treatment based on ICP-CPP-targeted, or conservative methods either with or without ventilation support. The characteristics of these three groups were compared based on age, gender, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), pupillary reaction to light, computerized tomography scanning according to the Marshall classification, duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stays, Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) and possible complications. There were higher risk of mortality (p < 0.001), worse GCS improvement upon discharge (p < 0.001) and longer ICU stays (p = 0.016) in ICP group compared to Intubation group. There were no significant statistical differences of GOS at 3rd and 6th months between all three groups.

Matched MeSH terms: Glasgow Coma Scale
Fulltext Prognostic factors of severe traumatic brain injury outcome in children aged 2-16 years at a major neurosurgical referral centre

Kan CH, Saffari M, Khoo TH

Malays J Med Sci, 2009 Oct;16(4):25-33.
PMID: 22135509 MyJurnal

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in children has been poorly studied, and the literature is limited. We evaluated 146 children with severe TBI (coma score less than 8) in an attempt to establish the prognostic factors of severe TBI in children.

Matched MeSH terms: Coma; Glasgow Coma Scale
Fulltext Delayed traumatic intracranial haemorrhage and progressive traumatic brain injury in a major referral centre based in a developing country

Jeng TC, Haspani MS, Adnan JS, Naing NN

Malays J Med Sci, 2008 Oct;15(4):56-67.
PMID: 22589639

A repeat Computer Tomographic (CT) brain after 24-48 hours from the 1(st) scanning is usually practiced in most hospitals in South East Asia where intracranial pressure monitoring (ICP) is routinely not done. This interval for repeat CT would be shortened if there was a deterioration in Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Most of the time the prognosis of any intervention may be too late especially in hospitals with high patient-to-doctor ratio causing high mortality and morbidity. The purpose of this study was to determine the important predictors for early detection of Delayed Traumatic Intracranial Haemorrhage (DTICH) and Progressive Traumatic Brain Injury (PTBI) before deterioration of GCS occurred, as well as the most ideal timing of repeated CT brain for patients admitted in Malaysian hospitals. A total of 81 patients were included in this study over a period of six months. The CT scan brain was studied by comparing the first and second CT brain to diagnose the presence of DTICH/PTBI. The predictors tested were categorised into patient factors, CT brain findings and laboratory investigations. The mean age was 33.1 ± 15.7 years with a male preponderance of 6.36:1. Among them, 81.5% were patients from road traffic accidents with Glasgow Coma Scale ranging from 4 - 15 (median of 12) upon admission. The mean time interval delay between trauma and first CT brain was 179.8 ± 121.3 minutes for the PTBI group. The DTICH group, 9.9% of the patients were found to have new intracranial clots. Significant predictors detected were different referral hospitals (p=0.02), total GCS status (p=0.026), motor component of GCS (p=0.043), haemoglobin level (p<0.001), platelet count (p=0.011) and time interval between trauma and first CT brain (p=0.022). In the PTBI group, 42.0% of the patients were found to have new changes (new clot occurrence, old clot expansion and oedema) in the repeat CT brain. Univariate statistical analysis revealed that age (p=0.03), race (p=0.035), types of admission (p=0.024), GCS status (p=0.02), pupillary changes (p=0.014), number of intracranial lesion (p=0.004), haemoglobin level (p=0.038), prothrombin time (p=0.016) as the best predictors of early detection of changes. Multiple logistics regression analysis indicated that age, severity, GCS status (motor component) and GCS during admission were significantly associated with second CT scan with changes. This study showed that 9.9% of the total patients seen in the period of study had DTICH and 42% had PTBI. In the early period after traumatic head injury, the initial CT brain did not reveal the full extent of haemorrhagic injury and associated cerebral oedema. Different referral hospitals of different trauma level, GCS status, motor component of the GCS, haemoglobin level, platelet count and time interval between trauma and the first CT brain were the significant predictors for DTICH. Whereas the key determinants of PTBI were age, race, types of admission, GCS status, pupillary changes, number of intracranial bleed, haemoglobin level, prothrombin time and of course time interval between trauma and first CT brain. Any patients who had traumatic head injury in hospitals with no protocol of repeat CT scan or intracranial pressure monitoring especially in developing countries are advised to have to repeat CT brain at the appropriate quickest time .

Matched MeSH terms: Glasgow Coma Scale
Fulltext Functional outcome at 6 months in surgical treatment of spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage

Ghani AR, John JT, Idris Z, Ghazali MM, Murshid NL, Musa KI

Malays J Med Sci, 2008 Oct;15(4):48-55.
PMID: 22589638 MyJurnal

A prospective cohort study was done to evaluate the role of surgery in patients with spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage (SICH) and to identify predictors of outcome including the use of invasive regional cortical cerebral blood flow (rCoBF) and microdialysis. Surgery consisted of craniotomy or decompressive craniectomy. The ventriculostomy for intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring and drainage and regional cortical cerebral blood flow (rCoBF) and microdialysis were performed in all subjects. Pre and post operative information on subjects were collected. The study end points was functional outcome at 6 months based on a dichotomised Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS).The selected clinical, radiological, biochemical and treatment factors that may influence the functional outcome were analysed for their significance. A total of 36 patients were recruited with 27(75%) patients had Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) between 5 to 8 on admission and 9(25%) were admitted with GCS of 9. At 6 months, 86 % had a poor or unfavourable outcome (GOS I-III) and 14% had good or favourable outcome (GOS IV-V). The mortality rate at 6 months was 55%. Univariate analysis for the functional outcome identified 2 significant variables, the midline shift (p=0.013) and mean lactate:pyruvate ratio (p=0.038). Multivariate analysis identified midline shift as the single significant independent predictor of functional outcome (p=0.013).Despite aggressive regional cortical cerebral blood flow (rCoBF) and microdialysis study for detection of early ischemia, surgical treatment for spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage only benefited a small number of patients in terms of favourable outcome (14%) and in the majority of patients (86%), the outcome was unfavourable. Patients with midline shift > 5mm has almost 21 times higher chances (adj) OR 20.8 of being associated with poor outcome (GOS I-III).

Matched MeSH terms: Coma
Fulltext National Trauma Database (NTrD)--improving trauma care: first year report

Sabariah FJ, Ramesh N, Mahathar AW

Med J Malaysia, 2008 Sep;63 Suppl C:45-9.
PMID: 19227673

The first Malaysian National Trauma Database was launched in May 2006 with five tertiary referral centres to determine the fundamental data on major trauma, subsequently to evaluate the major trauma management and to come up with guidelines for improved trauma care. A prospective study, using standardized and validated questionnaires, was carried out from May 2006 till April 2007 for all cases admitted and referred to the participating hospitals. During the one year period, 123,916 trauma patients were registered, of which 933 (0.75%) were classified as major trauma. Patients with blunt injury made up for 83.9% of cases and RTA accounted for 72.6% of injuries with 64.9% involving motorcyclist and pillion rider. 42.8% had severe head injury with an admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 3-8 and the Revised Trauma Score (RTS) of 5-6 were recorded in 28.8% of patients. The distribution of Injury Severity Score (ISS) showed that 42.9% of cases were in the range of 16-24. Only 1.9% and 6.3% of the patients were reviewed by the Emergency Physician and Surgeon respectively. Patients with admission systolic blood pressure of less than 90 mmHg had a death rate of 54.6%. Patients with severe head injury (GCS < 9), 45.1% died while 79% patients with moderate head injury survived. There were more survivors within the higher RTS range compared to the lower RTS. Patients with direct admission accounted for 52.3% of survivors and there were 61.7% survivors for referred cases. In conclusion, NTrD first report has successfully demonstrated its significance in giving essential data on major trauma in Malaysia, however further expansion of the study may reflect more comprehensive trauma database in this country.

Matched MeSH terms: Glasgow Coma Scale
The epidemiology, clinical features, and long-term prognosis of Japanese encephalitis in central sarawak, malaysia, 1997-2005

Ooi MH, Lewthwaite P, Lai BF, Mohan A, Clear D, Lim L, et al.

Clin Infect Dis, 2008 Aug 15;47(4):458-68.
PMID: 18616397 DOI: 10.1086/590008

BACKGROUND: Japanese encephalitis is a major public health problem in Asia. However, there is little data on the long-term outcome of Japanese encephalitis survivors.
METHODS: We prospectively evaluated children with serologically confirmed Japanese encephalitis over an 8.3-year period. The patients were assessed and their outcomes were graded with a functional outcome score at hospital discharge and at follow-up appointments. We examined how patient outcome at hospital discharge compared with that at long-term follow-up visits, when changes in outcome occurred, and the prognostic indicators of the eventual outcome.
RESULTS: One hundred and eighteen patients were recruited into the study, and 10 (8%) died during the acute phase of illness. At hospital discharge, 44 (41%) of the 108 patients who survived had apparent full recovery; 3 (3%) had mild, 28 (26%) had moderate, and 33 (31%) had severe neurological sequelae. Eighty six of the 108 patients were followed up for a median duration of 52.9 months (range, 0.9-114.9 months). During follow-up, 31 patients experienced improvement, but 15 patients experienced deterioration in their outcome grade. In most cases, assessment during the first 3-6 months after hospital discharge was predictive of the long-term outcome. More than one-half of the patients continued to experience neuropsychological sequelae and behavioral disorders. A combination of poor perfusion, Glasgow coma score < or =8, and > or =2 witnessed seizures predicted a poor long-term outcome with 65% sensitivity and 92% specificity.
CONCLUSIONS: Neurological assessment of Japanese encephalitis survivors at hospital discharge does not predict long-term outcome. Seizures and shock are treatable risk factors for a poor outcome at hospital discharge and at long-term follow-up visits.

Matched MeSH terms: Glasgow Coma Scale
Relationship between markers of lipid peroxidation, thiol oxidation and Glasgow coma scale scores of moderate head injury patients in the 7 day post-traumatic period

Nayak C, Nayak D, Raja A, Rao A

Neurol Res, 2008 Jun;30(5):461-4.
PMID: 18953735

Epidemiologic works reveal that moderate head injury (MHI) is more frequent and a substantial number of these patients develop complications resulting in neurological disabilities. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a major role in post-traumatic neuronal damage following traumatic head injury. Thus, the current study analysed the post-traumatic changes in the erythrocyte markers of oxidative damage and the relationship between these parameters and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores of MHI patients during the 7 day study period.

Matched MeSH terms: Glasgow Coma Scale*
Erythrocyte indicators of oxidative changes in patients with graded traumatic head injury

Nayak CD, Nayak DM, Raja A, Rao A

Neurol India, 2008 3 4;56(1):31-5.
PMID: 18310834

CONTEXT: Acute oxidative stress following a traumatic head injury (HI) has been implicated in inducing severe secondary brain damage and influencing the clinical outcome of HI patients.
AIMS: This study was performed to evaluate and compare the oxidative changes in patients with varying severity of HI in the early posttraumatic period using erythrocyte indicators.
SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Head injury patients were divided into two groups based on their Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores recorded at admission to the hospital on the day of trauma itself. Accordingly, the study included 30 severe HI (SHI, GCS scores 8 or less) and 25 Mild HI (MHI, GCS scores more than 8) patients. Thirty age and sex-matched healthy individuals were included in this comparative study as controls.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from controls and HI patients (within 24 h of trauma onset). Erythrocyte oxidative changes were studied by estimating thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR).
RESULTS: Erythrocyte TBARS levels were significantly higher and GSH levels were significantly lower in SHI and MHI patients as compared to controls. The SOD activity was significantly increased only in SHI patients and remained unchanged in MHI patients as compared to controls. As compared to MHI patients, erythrocyte TBARS levels were significantly higher, GSH levels were significantly lower and SOD activity was markedly elevated in SHI patients. Erythrocyte GR activity did not show significant changes in both groups of patients as compared to controls.
CONCLUSION: Oxidative stress is evident in both SHI and MHI patients in the early posttraumatic period as reflected by their erythrocyte indicators, but the severity of oxidative stress has varied relatively with the severity of head injury. The present findings provide indications that early oxidative changes could influence the neurological recovery of HI patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Glasgow Coma Scale
Fulltext A rare case of paediatric pontine glioblastoma presenting as a cerebellopontine angle otogenic abscess

Rasalingam K, Abdullah JM, Idris Z, Pal HK, Wahab N, Omar E, et al.

Malays J Med Sci, 2008 Jan;15(1):44-8.
PMID: 22589615

We describe rare case of a 9-year old boy who presented with a two-week history of right ear discharge and mild fever. Contrast enhanced CT scan of the brain showed a lesion in the right cerebellopontine angle with mild enhancement mimicking early abscess formation. Involvement of the mastoid air cells pointing towards a radiological diagnosis of mastoiditis reinforced the diagnosis of an abscess. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was planned for the patient but his conscious level deteriorated and patient slipped into coma warranting immediate surgical intervention. Intraoperatively, about 90% of the tumour was removed and the appearance of the tumour resembled that of an acoustic schwannoma but histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). MRI done post operatively showed lesion in the pons confirming the diagnosis of an exophytic pontine glioblastoma multiforme.

Matched MeSH terms: Coma
Fulltext An epidemiological study of abdominal and pelvic injury trauma in post-mortem cases at Hospital Kuala Lumpur between the year of 2002-2003

Abdul Halim Mansar, Muhammad Aadeel T., Khairul Osman, Sharin Iskandar, A.W.

Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia, 2008;6(2):65-73.
MyJurnal

The abdominal pelvic cavity has always been regarded as one of the most vulnerable regions of the body. Injuries to this part have been known to be very serious. Based on this a retrospective study was performed on postmortem cases with abdominal and pelvic trauma from 1 October 2002 to 31 January 2003 at the Forensic Institute, Hospital Kuala Lumpur to determine the common pattern of abdomino-pelvic injuries, the injury’s relationship to epidemiological and socio-economic factors, risk organ within the abdominopelvic region and relationship between injuries and survival period. A total of 122 cases abdomino-pelvic were obtained stemming from medico legal postmortems procedures. Results indicated that those aged between 21 to 30 years (38.5%) had the highest incidence of this type of injury. Categorization based on gender showed that males (90.2%) dominated most of the cases. Prevalence based on socio-economic status showed that lower socioeconomy class (52.5%) had the highest incident. This was followed by the middle income (39.3%) and finally the higher income group. The most numerous type of trauma was non-penetrating trauma (94.3%). It was also found that victims with low injury severity score (ISS) had a longer survival period as compared to those with high ISS. It was also noted that victims with two or more region injuries either were spot dead or brought dead. The most common combination of injuries was abdomen, pelvic, chest and limb. In most blunt trauma cases majority of victims had one or two organ involvement while penetrating injuries were difficult to asses. The most common organ involved in this type of trauma was liver (72.1%), pelvic bone (47.5%) and spleen (43.4%). In conclusion, abdomino-pelvic injury is a serious condition and should not be overlooked. Proper attention towards their diagnosis and management is important and so any patient of head injury with coma must be considered as having intra-abdominal injury until proven otherwise.

Matched MeSH terms: Coma
The use of an In House Scoring System Scale versus Glasgow Coma Scale in non-traumatic altered states of consciousness patients: can it be used for triaging patients in Southeast Asian developing countries?

Maheswaran M, Adnan WA, Ahmad R, Ab Rahman NH, Naing NN, Abdullah J

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2007 Nov;38(6):1126-40.
PMID: 18613557

Non-traumatic Altered States of Consciousness (ASC) are a non-specific consequence of various etiologies, and are normally monitored by Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The GCS gives varriable results among untrained emergency medicine personel in developing countries where English is not the first language. An In House Scoring System (IHSS) scale was made by the first author for the purpose of triaging so as to quickly asses patients when seen by medical personel. This IHSS scale was compared to the GCS to determine it's specificity and sensitivity in the accident and emergency department (ED) of Hospital University Sains Malaysia (HUSM). All patients with non-traumatic ASC were selected by purposive sampling according to pre-determined criteria. Patients were evaluated by the two systems, IHSS and GCS, by emergency physicians who were on call. Patient demographics, clinical features, investigations, treatment given and outcomes were collected and followed for a period of 14 days. A total of 221 patients with non-traumatic ASC were studied, 54.3% were males. The mean age of the patients was 56 years old. The mean overall GCS score on presentation to the ED was 10.3. The mean duration of ASC was 11.6 hours. One hundred thirty patients (58.8%) experienced ASC secondary to general or focal cerebral disorders. The mortality rate was 40.3% 2 weeks after the ED visit. Fifty-four point three percent of the patients were awake and considered to have good outcomes while 45.7% of the patients had poor outcomes (comatose or dead) 2 weeks after the ED visit. The mean overall GCS score, verbal and motor subscores as well as the IHSS had significantly decreased (worsened) after treatment in the ED. A poor IHSS scale, hypertension, current smoking, abnormal pupillary reflexes and acidosis were associated with a worse 2-week outcome. The mean age and WBC count was lower and the mean overall GCS score and eye, verbal and motor subscores were higher as well as those having a lower IHSS scale for the good outcome category. Multivariate analysis revealed that smokers and hypertensives were at higher risk for a poor outcome. Higher eye scores on the GCS were associated fewer poor outcomes. There was significant agreement between the IHSS scale and GCS scores in the assessment of non-traumatic ASC. The sensitivity and specificity of the IHSS score versus GCS were 71.9% and 100.0%, respectively.

Matched MeSH terms: Glasgow Coma Scale/standards*

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