title: Does base deficit predict mortality in patients with severe traumatic brain injury?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Base Deficit (BD) is a marker of tissue hypoxia in polytrauma patients. It guides resuscitative measures, and predicts outcomes, complications and mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the presence of BD in patients with isolated severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to assess if it correlates with the outcomes in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective observational study. All patients over the age of 16 years presenting to Aga Khan University Hospital from 2009 to 2013 with isolated TBI, were included. Data was extracted from 2009 to 2013. Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) of 4 and 5 at last follow up was categorized as favorable outcome. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 19 and receiver operative curve (ROC) was generated for BD as a predictor of mortality and unfavorable outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and eight patients were analyzed. Ninety-eight (90.7%) were males. Mean age was 36.69 ± 17.65. Eighty-eight (81.5%) patients had BD, while 20 (18.5%) patients had base excess. 62 (58.5%) of the patients had unfavorable outcomes. BD on admission had a statistically significant negative correlation with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on presentation (r = -0.239, p = 0.025) and Revised Trauma Score (RTS) (r = -0.214, p = 0.046). However, there was no statistically significant difference in means of BD between survivors and non survivors. Area under receiver operator curve (ROC) for BD as a predictor of mortality statistically non-significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although BD is correlated with GCS at presentation and RTS, it is not a reliable prognostic marker for outcome and mortality in patients with isolated TBI.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurosurgery, The Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan. Electronic address: hussainshallwani@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hussain
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shallwani
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurosurgery, The Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan. Electronic address: shaiq_waqas@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waqas
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan. Electronic address: docshahan83@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Shahan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Waheed
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurosurgery, The Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan. Electronic address: mubbashira_siddiqui@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mubbashira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.affiliation: The Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan. Electronic address: asher.froz@aku.edu.
authors.forename: Asher
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Froz
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurosurgery, The Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan. Electronic address: ehsan.bari@aku.edu.
authors.forename: Muhammad Ehsan
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bari
mesh_terms: D000137:Acid-Base Imbalance / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Base deficit; Outcomes; Traumatic brain injury