Severe brain injuries in children.

Authors present a seven years retrospective study on 85 cases of severe brain injuries (SBI) in children (GCS </= 8) treated in the Pediatric and ICU Departments of the Clinic Hospital "Bagdasar-Arseni" Bucharest, Romania. The relationship between ICP, GCS on admission, the CT-scan/MRI alteration and the outcome evaluated by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) were studied in order to highlight the most important factors to improve prognosis. An overall mortality of 25.9% was found in this series. Authors concluded that the ICP values at admission >/= 20 mmHg, the Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI) on MRI and the GCS on admission are factors of prognosis in SBI in children. The politrauma context is an aggravating factor for SBI in this age group. Other factors which influence GCS on admission may have prognostic importance i.e.: prehospital care, transport time and adequate transport conditions.