A population-based study on epidemiology of intensive care unit treated traumatic brain injury in Iceland

BACKGROUND

Traumatic brain injury is a worldwide health issue and a significant cause of preventable deaths and disabilities. We aimed to describe population-based data on intensive care treated traumatic brain injury in Iceland over 15 years period.

METHODS

Retrospective review of all intensive care unit admissions due to traumatic brain injury at The National University Hospital of Iceland 1999-2013. Data were collected on demographics, mechanism of injury, alcohol consumption, glasgow come scale upon admission, Injury Severity Scoring, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score, length of stay, interventions and mortality (defined as glasgow outcome score one). All computerized tomography scans were reviewed for Marshall score classification.

RESULTS

Intensive care unit admissions due to traumatic brain injury were 583. The incidence decreased significantly from 14/100.000/year to 12/100.000/year. Males were 72% and the mean age was 41 year. Majority of patients (42%) had severe traumatic brain injury. The most common mechanism of injury was a fall from low heights (36.3%). The mortality was 18.2%. Increasing age, injury severity score, Marshall score and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score are all independent risk factors for death. Glasgow coma scale was not an independent prognostic factor for outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Incidence decreased with a shift in injury mechanism from road traffic accidents to falls and an increased rate of traumatic brain injury in older patients following a fall from standing or low heights. Mortality was higher in older patients falling from low heights than in younger patients suffering multiple injuries in road traffic accidents. Age, injury severity score, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score and Marshall score are good prognostic factors for outcome. Traumatic brain injury continues to be a considerable problem and the increase in severe traumatic brain injury in the middle age and older age groups after a seemingly innocent accident needs a special attention.

Dilute versus concentrated vasopressin administration during laparoscopic myomectomy: a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To determine if higher-volume, fixed-dose administration of vasopressin further reduces blood loss at the time of minimally invasive myomectomy.

DESIGN

Randomised multicentre clinical trial.

SETTING

Tertiary-care academic centres in the USA.

POPULATION

Women undergoing conventional laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy.

METHODS

All participants received the same 10-unit (U) dose of vasopressin, but were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (i) received 200 ml of diluted vasopressin solution (20 U in 400 ml normal saline), and (ii) received 30 ml of concentrated vasopressin solution (20 U in 60 ml normal saline).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary study outcome was estimated blood loss; the study was powered to detect a 100-ml difference.

RESULTS

A total of 152 women were randomised; 76 patients in each group. Baseline demographics were similar between groups. The primary outcome of intraoperative blood loss was not significantly different, as measured by three parameters: surgeon estimate (mean estimated blood loss 178 ± 265 ml and 198 ± 232 ml, dilute and concentrated groups respectively, P = 0.65), suction canister-calculated blood loss, or change in haematocrit levels. There were no vasopressin-related adverse events.

CONCLUSION

Both dilute and concentrated vasopressin solutions that use the same drug dosing demonstrate comparable safety and tolerability when administered for minimally invasive myomectomy; however, higher volume administration of vasopressin does not reduce blood loss.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

This randomised trial failed to show benefit of high-volume dilute vasopression.