title: Validation of a prognostic system in severe brain-injured patients.
abstract: Seventy-six patients with severe isolated head trauma (GCS score of 7 or less) were prospectively studied in order to valuate the prognostic power of the APACHE II system. In nonsurvivor patients the APACHE II score was higher than in survivor patients (24.7 +/- 3.2 (SD) vs 18.7 +/- 3.1; p less than .001). With an APACHE II cut-off point of 20 the sensitivity was 100% and the specificity was 70% while a cut-off point of 21 the sensibility decreased to 97.2% but the specificity increased to 72.5%. We conclude that the APACHE II is an effective mean to predict the prognosis of severe brain-injured patients.
authors.affiliation: Centro di Rianimazione Ospedale di Legnano, USSL n. 70, Legnano, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zagara
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scaravilli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mastorgio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seveso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003128:Coma / Q000503:physiopathology; D003422:Critical Care; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008353:Mannitol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D008353:Mannitol; D003907:Dexamethasone