Fatores de avaliação precoce da mortalidade em traumatizados de crânio com ênfase na escala de coma de Glasgow

Two hundred patients admitted on due to a head injury were analysed, trying to identify clinical parameters for an early prognosis (first 6 hours) as regards the mortality, with emphasys in the level of consciusness evaluated with the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The overall mortality was 19,5% - 18,4% among those until 40 years-old and 24,3% above 40 years-old. Considering the cause, the mortality rates was 20,4% in traffic accidents (32,5% among pedestrians and 13,2% in vehicle passengers), 27,5% in assaults (61,1% in gunshot wounds), and 7,7% in those due to falls. Focal motor deficits related to a 39,3% mortality rate and uni or bilateral pupilar dilatation to a 78,8%. A strong correlation between GSC rate in the admissions and in the fatal outcome was observed: no patientes with GSC from 13 to 15 died, while the mortality rate was 6,4% in the 9 to 12 group, 40,0% in the 6 to 8 and 92,6% in the 3 to 5.