A descriptive profile of trauma patients related to road traffic collisions admitted in a tertiary level intensive care unit: a concurrent cohort study.

Dr PRITISH JOHNK KORULA; Dr Praveen Benjamin Dennis; Dr B Antonisamy; Dr. Subramani Kandasamy

Volume : VI, Issue : VI, June - 2016

A descriptive profile of trauma patients related to road traffic collisions admitted in a tertiary level intensive care unit: a concurrent cohort study.

Dr Pritish Johnk Korula, Dr Praveen Benjamin Dennis, Dr B Antonisamy, Dr. Subramani Kandasamy

Abstract :

 Background : Trauma secondary to road traffic accidents is a pandemic in India for various reasons. However data on trauma, it’s burden on healthcare and specifically on Intensive care is scarce. Thus from a clinical, epidemiology and health care perspective we intended to verify the burden of trauma in a tertiary level ICU. In a single centre concurrent cohort study, our objective was to verify the morbidity and mortality of patients admitted to the ICU following road traffic collisions. Methods : Patients admitted with polytrauma following road traffic collisions over a 10 month period were included. Baseline characteristics including vehicles involved, site of injury, acuity scores were recorded. Primary outcomes measured were days in ICU mortality. Secondary outcomes planned were, number of days in ICU, Hospital stay and ventilator free days, prevalence of rhabdomyolysis (defined by the authors as creatine kinase level above > 500), a clinical diagnosis of fat embolism syndrome, and acute renal failure. RESULTS: Trauma related to road traffic accidents accounted for 15% of all admissions. 84.4% were male and average age was 35.4.Commonest vehicles implicated were two wheelers and commonest injuries were to extremities and abdomen. Mortality was 21.9% and average ICU stay was 4 days, hospital stay was 12 days. Injury Severity score was most predictive of mortality. Conclusion: Trauma related to road traffic collisions results in a significant burden to the ICU (and the individual) and is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. ISS is predictive of mortality. Preventive measures, training and resources need to be improved to deal with the burden of trauma, and the mortality and morbidity associated with it.