title: Gunshot wounds in brains of children: prognostic variables in mortality, course, and outcome.
abstract: A retrospective study of 51 children presenting with craniocerebral gunshot lesions was carried out to identify predictors of outcome. The patients ranged in age from 2 months to 17 years, with a mean of 14.5 years. The outcome was good in 20 patients, and seven and four were moderately and severely disabled, respectively. Twenty patients died. Statistical analysis showed prognostic significance of the admission Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), computerized tomographic findings of intraventricular hemorrhage and midline shift, and metabolic abnormalities, including hypokalemia and hyperglycemia. These prognostic factors may have implications regarding counseling of families, utilization of resources, and organ transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paret
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barzilai
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lahat
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ohad
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vardi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ben-Abraham
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Barzilay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000378:metabolism; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011516:Prothrombin; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D011516:Prothrombin; D011188:Potassium