[Neuro-link, an Italian traumatic coma data bank: what did we learn from the first 1000 patients and how can we do better? ].
To understand the complex physiopathology of post-traumatic brain damage is important to have data on epidemiology, clinical course, monitoring, effect of therapy and outcomes. In 1997 3 neuro-intensive care units in the Milan metropolitan area developed a computer assisted database named Neuro-Link (NL) for collection of information on head injury. All head injured patients requiring intensive care during the first 24 hours post-trauma were eligible. The data collection form was designed for use with a computer interface to cover: 1) general, previous and admission data; 2) secondary insults and complication; 3) CT scan and monitoring data; 4) outcome data. Two different data collections were performed: 1) NL domestic (data from 3 centres from 1997); 2) NL 18 centres (3 month survey of Italian centres with interest in neurotrauma care). An audit of the data was performed. NL domestic included 1 085 patients from 1997 to 2002. NL 18 centres included 282 patients in the 3 month period. Audit is performed on 35 000 data per year.A large number of good quality information on head injury patients is now available. The database is useful for: 1) production of information; 2) base for prospective studies.
Beretta
I
I
Neurorianimazione, Istituto Scientifico, H. S. Raffaele, Milano, Italy.
Grandi
E
E
Citerio
G
G
Cormio
M
M
Stocchetti
N
N
D003128:Coma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome