Trauma in Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital of Brazzaville

Abstract

Aim: To describe the epidemiological, clinical aspects and outcomes of trauma patients admitted to polyvalent intensive care unit at University Hospital of Brazzaville (UHB).

Materials and methods: It was retrospective, cross-sectional study carried out in polyvalent intensive care at UHB, during five (05) years. We included all trauma patients regardless of injury involved. Epidemiological, clinical and outcomes parameters were recorded. Data analysis was performed with Excel 2016 for Windows.

Results: During the study period, 239 out of 244 trauma patients recorded were eligible. The mean age was 36.6 ± 17.0 years. The sex ratio was 4.1. Most of the trauma patients came from surgical emergencies and the operating room in 62.3% and 24.3% of cases respectively. The most common mechanism of injury involved was Road Traffic Collisions (84.9%). Trauma brain injury (47.7%) was the most frequently clinical symptomatology followed by poly trauma with 38.1% of cases. Evolution was favorable in 57.3% of cases by transfer (51.9%) and evacuation (10.0%). In our study, the mortality rate was 38.1%. In 39.6% of cases, the death occurred in the 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. time period. The median length of hospital stay was 3 days (quartiles : 2-7 days).

Conclusion: Trauma remain a common reason for admission in intensive care unit. Most of these patients are young and male genre. Road traffic collisions were the most common mechanism of injury. Severe trauma brain injury and poly trauma were the mainly reason for admission. The mortality rate was high.