title: [Study of the deterioration factors in adult patients with cranio-cerebral injuries who "talk and die"].
abstract: Between 1978 and 1984, the University Hospital of Geneva (Hôpital Cantonal Universitaire) received 46 head injured patients who "talked and died" after their brain insult. Only 14 of them had associated systemic lesions whilst two thirds of the series had an isolated head injury. Detailed review of the case records shows that death was preventable in a quarter of the cases. For 28 patients (60%), the factors contributing to death are avoidable or, at least, their management should be greatly improved. The diagnosis was confirmed by autopsy in 31 patients (67%).
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000401:mortality*; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality; D003243:Consciousness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
vernacular_title: Etude des facteurs de détérioration des traumatisés cranio-cérébraux adultes qui "parlent et meurent".